Make no mistake, the Florida Panthers took it to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second half of the game and on most nights probably did enough for the victory. However, the plucky Penguins were able to stave off the waves of attack with timely goaltending and scoring, winning 5-3 and doing so in a new way for them
Last night was a huge departure from the situation of the past few seasons. In year’s past if they were a 30.29 xGF% team at 5v5 like they were last night it was lights out for them. There were too many passengers and the success was thrust upon mid to late thirties superstar players and goaltending that couldn’t meet the moment.
Yesterday, was the first time in a long time where you got a glimpse of a new path to victory. Mind you, not a path you want to rely on, but a path to a positive result on a night where you don’t deserve it. They have the ability to steal a game now.
More than two scoring lines
The first reason is because the Penguins have more offensive players in their bottom six. At any point in the game they have some individuals who can take advantage of time and space and do something with it. Ben Kindel being the third line center makes them offensively dangerous regardless of the territorial play that evening. Tommy Novak might be off to a slower start, but he has offensive skill. Filip Hallander was a point per game player in the SHL which is not easy to do. Even someone like Blake Lizotte can use his speed to create offensive chances. This diversifies the attack in a way they haven’t had for a while.
Kindel scored a terrific goal on a give and go play with Tommy Novak. This is a great example of how the Penguins can take advantage of a sequence where they have time and space.
When Sidney crosby and Evgeni Malkin are on the other two lines and you can come back with Kindel on the third these types of things are possible. Florida was pushing back and on their way to tying the game when this sequence restored the two-goal cushion. It is the type of goal that will keep an 18 year old kid earning an NHL paycheck for the entire year.
Goaltending is much better
The other variable the Penguins were missing last year was goaltending. They couldn’t count on getting saves at the proper times. Both Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic were not capable of providing consistent and capable NHL goaltending.
The start to 2025-26 has been the opposite. Tristan Jarry had an outstanding start last night. He stopped 32 out of 35 shots with a lot of those being of the difficult variety. Including this early candidate for save of the year
When you combine timely scoring with above average goaltending you can steal a game like last night.
To put things into perspective the Penguins 5v5 high-danger save percentage is currently .898. Their overall 5v5 save percentage last year was .899. They can’t maintain the .898 high danger save percentage (league leader was .858 last year) but they can keep providing appropriate looking NHL goaltending and that would be a huge difference for the team and their ability to compete.
Jarry is currently a .921 goaltender in all-situations, .937 at 5v5, and leads the league in 5v5 high-danger save percentage at .958 among goaltenders with 200 minutes. He is also finishing strong
Perhaps the goalie rotation is keeping him fresh and sharp
Whatever the reasons, goaltending has been a strength for the first time in a long time.
Penguins power play getting it done
The Pittsburgh Penguins lead the NHL with a 33.3% power play right now. It looks so much better than it has in year’s past. The big difference, for me, is that they are getting Sid moving around and he is finding himself closer to the net and down low. This is where he is going to do the most damage.
The Penguins are also using the entire zone, both low and high. By doing so they will create more lanes. The past few seasons they were static and kept the puck at the hashes and above the circles the majority of the time. Here’s how great things can be when you use all the space you have.
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s some extra room in the Louvre now, so you can hang that power play goal in there where it belongs. What a thing of beauty.
Their other power play goal on the night was not as aestetically pleasing, but it shows getting pucks to the net and getting bodies there can create chaos, and sometimes it is chaos the killers just can’t sort out.
Great job by the Pens.
Keep an eye on the second line
The big line of Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau has created a good amount of tangible offense to start the season. The rate of production has exceeded expectations and helped the Penguins rack up early season wins.
However, there is an underlying current developing lately and it is worth keeping an eye on.
They finished with a 33.33 CF% and a 23.37 xGF% against the Panthers. If this were to continue trending this way these are not markers for long term sustained success. I don’t think it is realistic for Justin Brazeau to continue producing the way he has. Additionally, the overall foot speed, or lack thereof, is going to give them problems on a lot of nights.
Florida’s reputation is that they are a pretty physical team and I can see thinking Malkin, Brazeau, and Mantha’s size would be advantageous in such a setting, but what isn’t talked about as much is that the Panthers can skate, and those three big Penguins kinda can’t.
The key to this line is to not treat it like an SNL sketch that overstays its welcome.
Overall, what a start for the Penguins this year. Only the Colorado Avalanche have more standings points than them with 13. The Penguins have 12 and are currently tied for the division lead with the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes who each have a game in hand on Pittsburgh.
Up next a divisional tilt with the Blue Jackets tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.
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Tagged: ben kindel, Evgeni Malkin, nhl, panthers, penguins, Sidney Crosby, Tristan Jarry