Penguins lead the league in shootout wins with six

by FrankD on Dec 20, 2009 12:22 PM EST in News Comment 9 comments

We've had a good share of discussions here on Pensburgh surrounding the concept of the shootout lately. Since it came into effect after the lockout, experts, players and coaches have sided with it or against it. For all that can be said of the shootout though, it's an element of the league that remains until the playoffs. In other words, love it or hate it, you have to deal with it.

But for the Penguins, and especially us fans, we shouldn't have any problem dealing with it. While most of us may be confident enough in this corp of players to think they could take it down in sudden death come playoff time, for the time being it's nice to know that whenever the Pens go up against anyone in the shootout they remain one of the toughest teams to beat.

Following last night's 2-1 shootout win over the Sabres, the Pens are now 6-0 in the shootout. Guys like Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury just know how to step it up an extra notch and really shine in the one-on-one element.

It may "just" be one extra point at the time, but as we look to close out the first three months of the season, the Penguins have six extra points in the standings because of how well they do after they take it past overtime. It all adds up in the end, especially for a team that gives every indication of a playoff berth.

After the jump, we take a look at how each Penguin shooter (and goalie) is doing in the shootout.

Player	Goals	Attempts
Sidney Crosby	5	6
Kris Letang	3	6
Chris Kunitz	1	1
Evgeni Malkin	0	1
Alex Goligoski	0	1
Bill Guerin	0	2

Player	Saves	Attempts
Marc-Andre Fleury	13	14
Brent Johnson	6	6

Both Fleury and Johnson combine for a .947 save percentage, also the best in the league in the shootout. Buffalo ranks second with .833.

Again, say what you will about the shootout, but this group of guys knows how to get it done. You also have to chalk up some praise for Dan Bylsma, who insists on making a game out of the shootout during practice. Each guy gets a chance to work on some moves, Fleury gets a chance to defend against some of the best shooters in the league and, in the long run, the Pens will be a better team because of it.

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Comments

Those shootout games really do work, it definitely wasn’t some hidden talent this team had – we just needed more practice.
Thank you for preparing the ream so well, Disco Dan.
Keep up the good work, boys.

871

by PensFan8725 on Dec 20, 2009 1:33 PM EST reply actions

I have to say I hate the shootout

a bad team could theoretically just pack it in every game and play to get to the shootout, get lucky in some breakaways, and make the playoffs.

Obviously in practice it doesn’t work that way but I still hate seeing games decided that way.

by fetch9 on Dec 20, 2009 3:51 PM EST reply actions

Despite my misgivings about the shootout system, it is a part of the game and I’m very glad that Bylsma seems to recognize this and get the guys ready for it. The fact is that we have six more points than we would have had under the old tie system. It’s Disco’s job to rack up points, not fret about whether that’s how the game should work. Lucky for us, he’s racked up more than any other coach over the same period.

by OlenWhitaker on Dec 20, 2009 6:17 PM EST reply actions

I thought Crosby was a perfect 6 for 6 in the shootout. They showed him as 5 for 5 before he shot in the Buffalo Game.

by PensFan024 on Dec 21, 2009 8:58 AM EST reply actions

har har

by Richard R on Dec 21, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

he should’ve been. But the puck disappeared under Lalime and I’d imagine that even if they did try to review it they wouldn’t have had enough evidence to rule it a goal. Of course, with the refs in our corner for the past three years, it should’ve been a goal before Crosby even shot.

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by FrankD on Dec 21, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

It looked to me like he had it in his glove, and Lalimes entire glove was in the net.

by PensFan024 on Dec 21, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

What's striking is how rarely it's gotten past the first two shooters

LeTang puts one on the board, like he’s done the last two games, and Fleury or Johnson shuts the other team down, and that’s the ball game. Yeah, Sid’s 5 of 6, but with that goaltending, that’s essentially been overkill, strange as that sounds.

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by ahtrap on Dec 21, 2009 10:10 AM EST reply actions