The Game Recap
Coming out in the Pens looked to add to the lead early. Just two minutes in, Brandon Sutter would snap one home. Rob Scuderi would get his second assist on the night and Minnesota native Paul Martin would get the secondary assist on Sutter's tally. The Pens would successfully kill off a Comeau interference call before getting their own power play marker. Just 13 seconds into the power play, Chris Kunitz redirected a Evgeni Malkin shot. It would be Kunitz's 5th goal in three game and would extend Malkin's scoring streak to 11 straight games. The Pens would kill off another penalty for their 28th straight before the period would end. With just thirty seconds left, some extracurricular activities would occur after Ryan Carter went hard to the net after Greiss froze a puck. The Pens got a power play out of the scrum, but Malkin was sent to the box too. The horn sounded with 1:35 left on the Pens power play and them holding a three to nothing lead going into the third period.
Special teams would be both good and bad in the final period. The penalty kill continued its flawless performance and got the consecutive kill streak up to 30. The power play however, did not score and gave up a short hander to Nino Niederreiter at 10:42. The Pens would hold down the fort despite giving up the momentum in the final few minutes. Hornqvist would fire home an empty netter with roughly 90 seconds remaining to clinch the game and the Pens 5th straight win.
My 3 Stars
2. Brandon Sutter: Thought this was his best game since being relegated to the third line. He got a nice goal, was on the ice for another. His defensive play was a solid as ever but his faceoff percentage was rather horrible tonight. Despite that, he played really well and deserved a star tonight.
3. Thomas Greiss: Another solid performance for the Pens and really deserved the shutout. He didn't have much of a chance on the Niederreiter breakaway, but he made some big saves at big moments in the game. I think he plays another game on this road trip, maybe two. For tonight, he was incredibly solid for a guy who hadn't played in two weeks. Props to him.
Making the Grade
Paul Martin (B+): There's Paul Martin! He played much better tonight and I don't think its any coincidence it happened with him skating with Letang. He got an assist tonight and was great defensively. Hope to see more of "this" Paul Martin the rest of the season.
Pascal Dupuis (B-): Thought he was average, slightly above average but not great tonight. He did his job well but he didn't seem to be out there a ton. Just a down night I think, not too concerned.
Christian Ehrhoff (B): Seemed to play pretty well tonight but, like Dupuis, was nothing special. Definitely an adjustment playing with Bortuzzo, but he was not a negative to the team at all.
Nick Spaling (B): Got a nifty goal to end the first period and was pretty solid overall. He played in just under 14 minutes and was a +2. He finally seems to have found some chemistry with Sutter and Downie, which is good.
Chris Kunitz (B+): 5th goal in three games for the Honey Badger. Did his thing and did it well tonight. Went to the net, was physical and got a big goal on the power play. He was what you expect from him.
Brandon Sutter (B+): See above.
Blake Comeau (C+): Wasn't blown away by his play tonight. He only played about 14 minutes but he wasn't overly physical to make up for it. Just a down game I think, but I'm more concerned with him than say, Dupuis.
Steve Downie (B): A great pass to Nick Spaling got him another assist on the season. He was physical, he was good offensively. A good game by Downie overall. Took a stupid penalty, but didn't cost the Pens.
Craig Adams (B-): Solid on the PK alongside Goc and was instrumental to its success. Played close to 13 minutes tonight which I really like to see as well.
Zach Sill (C): I'll be glad when Bennett is back and they don't waste a spot on him. Just doesn't do much and only see 6 or 7 minutes a night (tonight he saw 7:11).
Robert Bortuzzo (B): A good first game back. Was glad to see them watch his minutes. He played pretty solid; a couple errors here and there but solid. His physicality was outstanding, only credited with 2 hits but he definitely had more than that.
Simon Despres (B): Solid again tonight. He really is becoming what the Pens hoped he would when they drafted him. I will once again eat crow, he was solid.
Marcel Goc (B): Doesn't have a lot to work with even strength, but is still creating opportunities. He did that again tonight. Again, his penalty killing performance was solid and he led all Pens forwards in short handed ice time.
Kris Letang (B+): A really good game at both ends for Letang. He assisted on Kunitz's goal and was creating opportunities in the offensive zone. He played very well defensively and found immediate chemistry with Paul Martin.
Evgeni Malkin (B-): Got the assist that extended the point streak to 11 games but other than that I didn't think he was that great. Also, his 32% from the faceoff circle was nothing to ride home about.
Patric Hornqvis (B): Got the empty netter and did his job in front of the net. The big guys didn't get a lot going even strength tonight, so Horny wasn't as "impactful" as usual, but he was still good tonight.
Sidney Crosby (B): Got the assist and was better in the faceoff circle (60%). Played a relatively solid game throughout but this was just one of those games where the grinders get more of the attention.
My Final Thoughts
That being said, there is no reason why the boys cannot take the final two games this week and all five on the road trip. The Wild were the toughest opponent on the docket for the trip, the rest are not playing that well. The Pens should win these games, as long as they show up.
The penalty kill is now up to 30 straight kills. Defense isn't usually sexy, but that stat is sexy. I love seeing that kind of streak. That means they are confident and aren't getting down even when the team takes stupid penalties. Lets hope it keeps going on Thursday.
That'll do it for tonight. Thank you all for tuning in. I will be back on Thursday with the Pregame show before the Pens play the Jets in Winnipeg. For now, I will bid you all a fond adieu.
Cheers!