Empty Thoughts: Penguins 3, Rangers 2



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Observations of the Penguins’ 3-2 win over Rangers:

First of all, there has been no update on Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues. He left the game at 9:11 of the second period after fielding Rangers forward Filip Chytil for a hit inside the Penguins blue line.

Just as a whistle sounded, Rodrigues left Chytil down with a train crash from a collision that injured both players. Each of them seemed to lower their right knees.

Rodrigues left the mirror immediately leaning over while Chytil took a few moments to recover before going to the bench. Chytil got another shift after that but didn’t finish the game.

The same could be said of Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin.

One might even wonder if he really started the game.

Recording of only 14:23 of ice time on 23 shifts – one of the lowest ice totals of his career – Malkin didn’t even manage to register a shot attempt.

Admittedly, the lack of power play opportunities for the Penguins – compared to both Rangers – likely cut Malkin’s ice time. But he was just a non-factor in every way.

He didn’t even take a bad stick penalty out of exuberance or frustration. He was just inert.

As he usually does with all of his struggling players, coach Mike Sullivan went to bat for Malkin after the game.

“When he scores a goal or two, his confidence goes to another level and he tends to take off,” Sullivan said via video conference. “When he doesn’t, he tends to be hard on himself because he cares so much and wants to help the Penguins win. And he knows that’s how he can help us win. My conversations with (Malkin) so far are just to encourage him, just to make sure he’s trying to play the game the right way and play both sides of the puck. When he has a chance to shoot the puck, shoot the puck and let his instincts take over.

In six games, Malkin had two points, one being a power play goal and the other a secondary assist. But even beyond the raw baseline data, he looks like another player on the ice. That push he creates when he skates with the puck – the same one that has distinguished him throughout his career – isn’t evident at this point in the season, at least to the naked eye to one point. certainly amateur view.

Either way, the Penguins continue to profess their faith. He has certainly earned that trust over the past 15 years.

“We will continue to encourage (Malkin), we will continue to try to find him the right people to surround him who will give him a chance to succeed,” said Sullivan. “But we know he’s a very good player. He’s a guy who, once we get him started, he can take off.

What happened

New York claimed a 1-0 16:36 lead in settlement. Corralling a puck in the right spot, Rangers defenseman Adam Fox pushed a wringer towards the cage. Rangers forward Colin Blackwell, who was recalled from the taxi team earlier today, established his position in the enclosure against Penguins defenseman Cody This and deflected the puck with the handle of his stick. through the five holes of goalkeeper Tristan Jarry for his first goal of the season. . Fox and forward Brett Howden got some assists.

After Rodrigues ‘injury, forward Bryan Rust was promoted to number one and scored the Penguins’ first goal 11:24 of the second. After Rust interrupted a pass from Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby grabbed the puck and slipped a pass over the ice to knock Rust out on a breakaway. Attacking the net, Rust shot a twist through goalie Igor Shesterkin’s five hole for his second goal of the season. The only pass went to Crosby.

The Rangers responded at 5:17 of the second with a scoring on a scorching goal. Landing a low rebound in the left circle, Panarin gave a pass to Rangers defender Jacob Trouba, rushing from the right circle. Trouba forward hit Rangers forward Ryan Strome’s right skate, positioned in the crease. Fighting Cette and Penguins defenseman John Marino, Strome cut the loose puck over the glove of a struggling Jarry for his first goal. Trouba and Panarin collected assists.

The Penguins tied just 2:26 in the third period. After Penguins forward Brandon Tanev stalked Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith in a turnaround in the New York left corner, Penguins forward Jared McCann jumped on the loose puck along the left half-wall and shot makes a floating twist float. The puck appeared to glance at Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo’s right hip and caught Shesterkin off guard, beating him over his right shoulder on the near side. It was McCann’s second goal of the season and he wasn’t helped.

It looked like the Penguins might be going above regulation for the fourth game in a row, but their front row struck again at 6:29 of the third. Sinking the puck deep into the left wing, Penguins defenseman Kris Letang drew Rangers forward Chris Kreider and left space in the left circle. Sensing an opportunity, Guentzel settled himself above the circle, took a feed from Letang and hit a stopwatch that glanced at Shesterkin’s stick, then through his five holes for his second goal. . Letang and Crosby had assists.

Statistically speaking

• The Rangers led in shots, 26-19.

• Strome led the game with four shots.

• Crosby, Guentzel and Rust each led the Penguins with three shots.

• Letang led the game with 28:08 of ice time on 28 shifts.

• Fox led the Rangers with 25:42 of ice time on 32 shifts.

• The Rangers had a 29-28 lead in faceoffs (51%).

• Strome was 12 out of 18 years old (67%).

• Penguins forward Mark Jankowski was 7 for 8 (88%).

• Fox led the game with four blocked shots.

• This led the Penguins with three blocked shots.

Randomly

• This and Marino’s second defensive duo had a tough game. In particular the part This.

This was beaten in individual physical battles – an area of ​​the sport he’s supposed to be proficient at – which led to each of the Rangers’ goals. Additionally, he took a hooking penalty early in the third period with the game tied and even had a poor clearance attempt in the first period which led to an icing violation after his team had a long shift.

After gaining ground with a great game on Friday, This took a step back on Sunday.

• Marino was not much better. He sometimes seemed physically overwhelmed. To be fair to him, he’s played on the left side (he’s right-handed) the past few games due to injuries on the blue line. It is therefore not exactly in an optimal position. But he’s been a little disappointing most of the season, to be honest.

• Rust’s malleability continues to be his hallmark. He scored a pretty important goal almost as soon as he got promoted. Then he drove the net to help open a shooting lane for Guentzel on the winning score.

• Rust was stoned during a breakaway moments before his goal. He did a backhand on that first shot, then changed it with a forehand on his second attempt.

• Jarry looked really sharp. It was easily his best game of the season. He was aggressive with his stick, breaking the odds and coming close to the crease. And he was precise enough to locate shots in traffic.

He just watched in full control most of the game. That handful of days Jarry spent honing his game with goalie coach Mike Buckley has made a world of wonder. He looks like a completely different player than the one who looked lost in the first two games of the season in Philadelphia.

• The Penguins changed their last three lines to open the game, but those designs came out of the window following Rodrigues’ injury.

Historically speaking

• Rust (175 points) passed forward Pat Boutette (174) for 47th place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

• Guentzel’s goal was the 100th of his career.

• Blackwell’s goal was the first as a member of the Rangers.

Speaking in public

• Sullivan is satisfied with his team’s play but not satisfied:

“We have a long way to go. We need to improve in some areas. We need to get more people to try and capture their best game. But on the bright side, I think the resilience this group has shown in the first handful of games here is encouraging. It’s such an important aspect of winning in this league. Things don’t always turn out the way you want them to. Your ability to respond to these adversities and the ebb and flow of the game largely determines your ability to be successful. We’re really encouraged by this, but we also know we have a way to get there. “

• Rust on its lens:

“The puck was kind of wobbling on (the defenseman’s) stick, so I just tried to take off behind their (defense). I didn’t really need to yell at Sid. Sid is going to make these parts. On my first breakaway, the goalkeeper was very patient. So I just tried to beat (Shesterkin) quickly.

Sullivan on Jarry:

“Tristan was really strong. He’s had two solid games here, back to back. He follows the puck very well, he sees the puck very well. You can see how he plays the puck when they drop it. He plays the puck extremely well, which helps us. The last two games were really encouraging. He played two solid games for us.

• Rangers coach David Quinn was pretty crazy about Guentzel’s goal:

“A guy can’t get a picture of that area with (1:31) to do. You have to have an emergency, you have to know who is dangerous. Really disappointing. “

Visually speaking

–Summary of the game.

–Summary of the event.

-Strong points:

Follow the penguins all season long.

Seth Rorabaugh is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Seth by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

Categories:
Penguins / NHL | Sports



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