Without Crosby and Malkin, the Pens lean on the Penalty Kill...Again
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 12, 2011 10:23 AM EDT
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Last season when the Pittsburgh Penguins had to play short handed in the total of 80 man games lost by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin they turned to, well, their short handed unit. Pittsburgh's penalty killing unit was #1 in the league, turning away 86.1% of all power play chances (which is a good thing, being as the Pens also dubiously led the NHL in minor penalties taken).
The PK unit has picked up right where it has left off in the early 2011-12 season, killing a perfect 16 for 16 and chipping in two short handed goals. The rest of the NHL has just two short handed goals...Combined.
So the scene has sounded very familiar. Credit the players, coaching staff and goalies for coming together as a unit and becoming a strength for what was a team weakness in the past for so long.
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4 games into an 82 game season is basically embryonic, but here's the stats and trends already jumping out at me:
Kris Letang: 4 games, 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points, +4, 26:48 played. Letang's been the player leaned upon the most, especially in light of Brooks Orpik's injury, and he's answered the bell amazingly. The second half of last season, playing without Crosby/Malkin saw Letang's production trickle almost to a halt. That hasn't been the case at all in the early part of this season.
Joe Vitale: 4 games, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, even, 61.8% faceoffs (2nd on team in number of draws). As the defacto replacement for Max Talbot, Vitale has been a revelation. He's added speed and grit, has been much better in the circle than Talbot ever was and his puck skills have earned him a couple of assists. He's playing tremendously and starting to earn the coach's trust (and the greater ice-time that comes with it).
Brent Johnson, Marc-Andre Fleury: 116 saves on 125 shots faced for a .928 save percentage. And only nine total goals surrendered in four games (and two over-times). Perfect on the PK. Can't ask for a much better performance from the netminders this early in the year.
Mark Letestu: 4 gp, 0g, 0a, -3. Letestu hasn't exactly stood out in the good way. Only Richard Park and Arron Asham got less ice-time last night than ML10 did. With Crosby and Dustin Jeffrey on the rehab trail, Letestu is going to have to pick his play up or his regular lineup spot- and possibly place on the roster- could be in jeopardy.
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No real thoughts here on the Jeremy Roenick Crosby comments. JR is trying to stir the pot, stay relevant and edgy as a commentator and make outrageous claims. Meh. Not worth getting worked up over.
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The NHL schedule is always a tricky beast. The Pens have played four games already, the most in the league. Three teams have only played a single game to this point. Throw in Pittsburgh's travel and heavy workload and you'd wonder if that's an advantage or disadvantage.
Take the Washington Capitals, who'll come to town Thursday having played just two games and ought to be rested considering the break between.
But then again, the Pens have the routine of playing (at least) every other day down and could be in better game condition in terms of endurance and in-game recovery. It'll be interesting to see if any notable areas stand out on Thursday night.
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Two questions that I should know the answers to
1) When does it look like Orpik returns?
2) What were Roenick’s comments?
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Oct 12, 2011 10:27 AM EDT reply actions
Orpik’s not going to be skating for the next few days. I would think he’s still weeks away.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 12, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Love what I am seeing so far and this team is getting Malkin, Sid, DJ, and Orpik back! Looking good.
We all know Engo is out when Orpik comes back, but who do we think is out when Malkin, Sid, and DJ come back, assuming DJ plays wing?
My money is on Letestu, Asham, and Park losing their spots.
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
Engelland’s played a lot more than Lovejoy has, and I think he’s done an OK job too. I think the 6th D will probably rotate between Engelland and Lovejoy, if/when the Pens are lucky enough to be fully healthy
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 12, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
As you can see from what I was typing while you posted, I mostly agree. But I’d dress Park over Adams if they had everyone available. I think he can be every bit as good (if not better) on the PK and his speed & shot offer some hope for even-strength contributions as well.
If/when everyone is healthy, I think Letestu is an odd man out. If the Pens line up Crosby/Malkin/Staal down the middle, Vitale is an ideal 4th line center who brings more to that role than Letestu can – more speed, grit, better on draws. A healthy Jeffrey offers more in the ‘swingman’ role as someone who can move up to the top six temporarily or regularly play on the 3rd/4th line.
No need to rush Letestu out of town, especially with the health of Sid & Geno up in the air. But as it stands now, he may not have a place eventually and I believe he has to pass through waivers to go the AHL (which I doubt he would).
I also wonder if Craig Adams should be a regular if everyone is healthy. Yes, I know everyone probably won’t be healthy all at once, but a 4th line of Jeffrey/Vitale/Park is much more to the even-strength table and still offers Staal/Cooke, Vitale/Dupuis, Jeffrey/Park as PK combos (or however they pair ‘em up). Craig is a great foot soldier and I’d certainly like to see he remain in the fold to step in when needed.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 12, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeremy Roenick has a brain the size of a Q-Tip. He and Don Cherry are always battling to be King of the Morons.
The scary thing is the bar has been raised for Cherry for this coming weekend’s Coach’s Corner. And it’s unusual for him to disappoint.
(Also Mike Milbury wants to be in this competition)
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Oct 12, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree. Don Cherry is being sued over his statements in coaches corner, about enforcers. Sto Grimson, Nilan and another player are suing him.
The Hockey Dr.
Suing Don Cherry? What a bunch of pukes… :P
by Hatt the Moople on Oct 12, 2011 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
1) Have to admire and like the way this team (already) is coming together. It starts and ends with one of the best coaches in the business. This team is prepared and ready for almost any adversity. Great testiment to the charactar of the assembled roster and the coaching.
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
When you think about it though, Roenick is right and I kind of agree with him, but just because it was JR it makes it much worse and the guy is such an ass clown that he makes something that a lot of people are thinking sound horrible.
But I do love it when Eddie O is on the panel with him, because Eddie obviously is a smart guy and knows what he’s talking about and always argues back to JR and calls him out.
It’s really not Sid’s doing that they are talking about him everyday, it’s the media. The media is fueled by the NHL, because Sid is worth megamillions to the NHL.
The Hockey Dr.
Hard to know who his rant was directed to, from what I listened in Mar Madden show. I didn’t see it live. I couldn’t tell who he was telling that to, the media or Sid himself.
The Hockey Dr.
Excellent job by Tony G. On that vein I’m kind of surprised nobody offered him a head coaching job. I hope for selfish reasons that he continues to be “under the radar”, but he’s done a great job.
The Hockey Dr.
These days it seems like everyone’s trying to find the next big coach from juniors/the minors, etc. Sometimes it works out (Bylsma, Guy Boucher, etc) but a lot of times it does not.
Granato’s a re-tread with the experience and his age, but I think he’d definitely be worthy for consideration for an NHL head coaching gig. I think he’s proven he’s very capable.
And that said, I agree with you that he’s sticking around with the Pens. The Pens assistant coaches are signed longer than just this season, though I’m sure if an NHL head coaching gig came his way the team would step aside and let Tony G get his chance at advancement.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
Malkin?
Any word if he’s good to go for the game against the Caps. The Pens have been playing well without him, but against Washington its probably a different story.
I expected the Pens’ PK to be good – maybe not 100% to open up, but very good – so that hasn’t really surprised me. The biggest shocker to me has been the PP. I’ve only seen one game, and it was againt Florida, but still…the PP looked dangerous for a lot of the time.
If that continues, PIT is going to be a handful for the present and when Sid and Geno are back, they’ll be beasts.
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