Staal, Johnson help Pens bust the slump and beat Atlanta 5-2
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 6, 2010 2:13 AM EST
in Game Recaps
31 comments
Thrashers vs Penguins coverage - Thrashers vs Penguins boxscore - Bird Watchers Anonymous
Playing the Atlanta Thrashers is usually an elixir for what ails the Pittsburgh Penguins and tonight's 5-2 victory was no different. Brent Johnson held the fort in net when the T-bombs out shot the Pens 11-1 early in the game and Jordan Staal supplied 2 goals and an assist to lead the charge on offense. Slump busted.
- Luca Caputi only scored one goal in his five games last season in the NHL, and it came in his first game. Tonight again he scored on his NHL season debut, benefiting from an empty net after a magnificent rush and play from Evgeni Malkin pulled Atlanta netminder Ondrej Pavelec out of his cage.
- As much credit to Staal you must reciprocate to his wingman Tyler Kennedy. On Staal goal #1, TK dug the puck from down low and threw it out for him. Staal goal #2 was initiated when Mr. Kennedy took a bad angle shot that Pavelec was forced to kick into the middle of the ice for Staal to deposit into the empty net.
- Ruslan Fedotenko also got out of a funk of his own with the eventual game winner when he drove the net, collected Staal's rebound and put it past Pavelec. Second chances was definitely the theme of the evening on the goals.
- Brent Johnson didn't earn one of the three stars of the night, but without his 31 save on 33 shot performance the Penguins wouldn't have broken out. He deserves credit and recognition.
- For Atlanta, Jim Slater came into the season with one goal and left with three. With the puck on his stick he, not Ilya Kovalchuk or Rich Peverley was the most dangerous play.
- Kovalchuk, for his part, saw a lot of Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik. Letang, in particular played his D role well, and Kovy was limited to 3 shots on goal to go with his plus/minus of -3.
- Besides just playing defense, Letang got off the schnide by scoring his first goal in 20, with a nice move skating into space and getting a good shot.
The first at home game after a long roadie is often seen as a letdown, but the Penguins seemed determined not to let that happen, since they lost all four road games. It wasn't purely Crosby and Malkin that carried the weight, other guys like Letang, Staal, Kennedy and Fedotenko stepped up. And sometimes that's what you need to get out of a slump.
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Great game by the 2nd and 3rd lines. It’s always exciting when a youngster gets a goal and I really cheered when Caputi scored.
And Staal is playing as good as ever and it makes the decision of Team Canada to pick Mike Richards over him look quite stupid indeed.
Although the game itself was good the 4th line didn’t have very good shifts imo and I reckon therefore they were “rewarded” with a very limited ice time. I really hope our coaching staff will soon stop burning a roster spot by dressing Godard… really!
You have to see it for yourself...
Staal is really starting to contribute offensively on a consistant basis. He has been awsome, he just keeps getting better and better. If theres another injury for Team Canada I don’t see how Staal isn’t the first guy they go to. Jeff Carter…give me a freakin break. Honestly I think the only thing that kept Staal off the team is that hes still not a great faceoff guy. Bergeron only made it over him because he played well with Sid a few years ago. Faceoffs are the only thing that put Richards on the team over Staal. What they are going to use Mike Richards to shut down Evgeni Malkin…..yea thats worked well in the past.
Not a great game for the Pens last night, but it was a win and they needed one no matter how they got it. Glad Caputi got one last night, he’ll only get more comfortable with time. We’ll see how he handles a Pens Flyers game this week.
On another note I don’t know if 39 is the only number they had ready in a 3rd jersey or if he picked that number, but what an awfull number for a forward. It always annoys me when players where goalie numbers I have no idea why.
he skated with the same number during camp and preseason. I don’t know if he’s picked it, but there sure have been a lot more other free numbers.
You have to see it for yourself...
oh i thought he was wearing 61 still then…not that it matters at all just wanted to see if that bothers anyone else or if is just me thats weird.
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 8:38 AM EST up reply actions
I read the Bird Watchers post about Kovalchuk, and from watching the clips, it seems like they do have a point — on one of the Staal goals, and on the Letang goal, Kovalchuck seems to skate away from the play to wait for a possible breakaway, rather than playing defense. The Thrashers fans speculate that he is being lazy/selfish — which seems possible — but it could also be a legitimate strategy. Who knows. But, I don’t see Crosby or Malkin avoiding defense to wait for breakaways.
On Letangs goal both Kovalchuk and Afiniganov skated away from Letang like they were alergic to defense or something. Kovy was just banging his stick at Tanger and Afinifanov skated in the general direction of an irrelevant Brooks Orpik who was staying back.
Their reaction strange, to say the least. I don’t think I’ve seen so much open ice for a Dman all year.
You have to see it for yourself...
Kovalchuk scores goals. Nobody ever said he could play defense. I don’t know if you can really tell just from watching him play, but it seemed like he just didnt want to be there. Hes not going to be a Thrasher next year. Seems like hes already started counting down the days
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Even though I said this to my buddies last year when Caputi scored in his first game up and it didn’t come true, I willsay it again. Luca Caputi is not going back to the minors. He is going to be the legitimate scoring winger that gets Geno out of his extended slump. This guy is going to turn into a consistent 30 goal guy, who has one or two break-out years over 40. Good things happen when the puck is on his stick and ha has a nose for the goal.
The only problem is that someone else becomes expendable. At this point I would say it is Max.
Thats a pretty bold statement for a guy thats played in 6 NHL games. Granted I would love to see it, and Im a huge fan of Captui. He seems to have a knack for the puck which is something you cant teach. That said its going to take some time. Malkin is very unpredictable on the ice it will take some time to build some chemistry. I still think Caputi needs to add about 15 lbs. For the type of game he plays he needs to be up around 200lbs. Theres not doubt in my mind thought that Luca can score a lot of goals in the NHL. As Kevin Stevens put it guys like Lemieux, Crosby and Malkin can make you a millionare awful quick.
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
Last year I kept thinking he was always “this close” to scoring a bunch of times in those 5 games. I just felt he was gonna be GOOD. The last time that happened was with Marcus Naslund (in all honesty, I had that feeling with Milan Kraft also, but let’s forget that :)) It is a pretty bold statement, and I agree he needs at least 15 more pounds, but he has the frame to hold 25-30 more pounds, so I think it will happen. Geno needs a winger like Malone that will make goalies pay for being out of position, and I think he will fill this role admirably. I stand by my statement.
Thats exactly what I was saying the other day. Caputi plays a similar style to what Malone did, and Malone put up a lot of points playing with Geno. I think Luca is going to score a lot of goals playing with Geno too.
I’m almost afraid to admit this, but I felt the same way when I saw Milan Kraft play. I thought he was going to be great. Maybe it was just in comparison to the rest of the players the Pens had at that time. He looked good compared to them…..
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
I was so convinced that I bought the regulation Kraft jersey ($250). :( I had a little girl (15 or so) try to make fun of me at a game for being the “dork” who had my own name on the jersey. Her boyfriend was not happy with my response, but no bloodshed occured. (little known secret is that I can be that “dork” if I wear a #55 from 1990)
Showing my age...
but I have no idea what that means, but I will guess that “Jersey Fouls” is kinda like the “Only at Walmart” website? People who have nothing better to do than to pick on someone else? .
Not Max
Max is one of the last guys you cut on the lineup. The guy has heart plays 100% and is clutch (SCF game 7 FTW). If somethings gotta give I’d push for Cooke before anything else. He seems to take penalties at bad times and the “agitator” role is something you can find in other players (a la rupp).
Cooke is part of the reason our 3rd line is so successful. Hes excellent on the PK and one of our better forecheckers. Typically Cooke is the kind of guy Shero would sign for 2 years then part ways with, but I could see him getting another deal. I wouldn’t exactly say Max would be one of the last guys to part ways with. You cant provide energy from the press box. Max still has a role on this team, but he really needs to start playing better.
I’m not a guy that hates the fact that Goddard dresses most nights, but there doesn’t seem to be too many heavy weights left. At least in the east, the only team you need him for would be Philly. Brashear doesnt even dress anymore hes the only other heavyweight type i can think of outside of Philly. its seems like the “enforcer” role is kind of becoming extinct.
I dont think it really matters all that much either way. When you have 3 centers that youd like to get 20 mins each a night theres not much ice time for a 4th line anyway. I’d rather see Sid or Geno center the 4th line like they do a lot anyway, then you really only need 11 forwards. at that point does it really matter who forward #12 is?
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Why not Godard? There seems to be a lot of hate for Adams lately and I really don’t know why.
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unfortunately we’re stuck with Godard for one more season… I don’t think he’ll be much of a trade bate for any team in the league and the only opportunity might be to waive him… (so that he doesn’t take a roster spot).
Frank I wouldn’t call it “hate” on Adams. I think he’s just too nondescript for people to like, especially during losing stretches. I have nothing against him, he’s a steady veteran and is cheap (salary-wise), but I wouldn’t mind seeing him scratched for a few games in the midst of the long regular season…
You have to see it for yourself...
There are certain guys that don’t score that need to be kept around. Our best penalty killers are Dupuis, Staal, Cooke, and Adams. I’m not suggesting that special teams outweighs the rest of the game, but you need solid PK men if your going to win games. The only one I see as truly “expendible” is Godard. The fourth line is what it is. It’s a place to hide some guys that have “other” roles on the team. I don’t understand why everyone expects so much out of them. Their job is to provide energy.
And I feel you especially need a solid PK to represent special teams when the other side of it isn’t getting things done.
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Adams puck management has been terrible lately. 5on5 all he needs to do is dump the puck in and hit someone. Hes just been a little careless with the puck. Still doing good work on the PK. I think some people expect everyone in the line up has to score goals.
by genomachine-O on Jan 6, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
So basically what you’re saying is, he doesn’t need to deal with this crap. He has braaaaaains. haha
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