It was not a pretty performance from the home town team tonight in their home opener. And tonight, I hold nothing back in my post game thoughts.
This was the view from where I sat on the Pens and Canadiens tonight...
The Game In Review
Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
The first period was far from spectacular for the home team. They generated just four shots on net, were sloppy on the puck and found themselves trailing going into the first intermission. Sounds pretty familiar to the other two games this year. Max Pacioretty opened up the scoring at the 5:46 mark with a shot from the slot that exposed Marc-Andre Fleury. The Flower was off his line and never had a chance at stopping it. Pacioretty's third of the season was assisted by Brendan Gallagher and Andrei Markov. It also gave the Canadiens the lead going into the break.
The Pens came out with more urgency in the second and got some outstanding play from the bottom six. Beau Bennett got the Penguins on the board when he made an excellent play in the neutral zone and sniped home a shot. His goal was unassisted at 5:31. Unfortunately, the Habs answered back with a power play tally at 8:45. Pacioretty got his second of the game when he beat Fleury. His fourth of the year was assisted by Jeff Petry and Nathan Beaulieu. The Pens fought right back thought, something we hadn't seen yet this season. Phil Kessel received a pass from Malkin behind the net and he found Letang in the slot. Letang snapped home his first of the season and tied the game for the Pens. They entered the intermission with the game tied at two.
The third was a mixed bag for the Penguins. They struggled with their breakouts while Montreal played the neutral zone trap. Though the Pens generated 14 shots in the period, they got nothing to show for it. The Pens would be dealt the lethal blow at the 5:20 mark of the period, when Tomas Fleischmann scored after David Desharnais completely obstructed Sergei Plotnikov. Fleury allowed an easy short sided goal to Fleischmann and the Habs had the final nail. The Pens dropped their third straight by a count of three to two.
My 3 Stars
2. Kris Letang: Letang was really good tonight, even though he was on the ice for two goals against. He had a great goal to tie the game in the second, had five shots on net and had four hits. Letang struggled on the power play, but lets face it, who didn't?
3. Nick Bonino: Another great game by Bonino. He was one of my three players to watch in the pregame and he was worth the watch tonight. He had four shots on net and played excellent defense and on the PK. He drew a huge penalty and won 50% of his faceoffs. I want to see more minutes out of him. He is responsible and capable in all three areas of the ice, he deserves more than 13:00 minutes.
Making the Grade
Olli Maatta (C+): Maatta again was very average. I was glad to see his minutes up tonight, he played 19:17, but he didn't do a ton to standout. He had a blocked shot and one shot on net. Other than that, not much to say. He's still working his way back, and he doesn't seem completely comfortable with Lovejoy yet, so I don't think it should be too much cause for concern. However, his best shift came when he was out late with Kris Letang. Just saying.
Rob Scuderi (D): It is getting harder and harder to find positives in his game. He was atrocious tonight. He had three give aways officially, and I cannot even count the number of times he flicked the puck in the neutral zone to clear it and it led to Montreal skating right back in and dictating play. Scuds was just bad and it was good to see his minutes go down tonight since he was struggling.
Matt Cullen (B): I thought Cullen was really good tonight. He played exceptional defense, won 86% of his faceoffs and even generated some offensive chances with Porter and Sprong. He was brought in for the PK and to be a solid, dependable, veteran presence on the fourth line. He has certainly lived up to that and been one of the most consistent Penguins over the three games.
Brian Dumoulin (C-): Dumoulin was not good tonight, but part of me feels a little bad for him too. He's tethered to Scuds and that's not helping. He was having a hard time starting the breakout, which led to turnovers and then he was caught out of position. Dumoulin wasn't great, but circumstance played a role tonight.
Kevin Porter (B): I was impressed. I don't think he should see more minutes than Sprong, Plotnikov or Cullen, but he played well tonight. He was very good on the PK, generated a few scoring opportunities and won 50% of his faceoffs. He is a more rounded player than Bobby Farnham, which is why I have no problem with him getting the playing time. He has certainly earned it with the way he's played.
Ben Lovejoy (B-): I thought Lovejoy was solid tonight and at both ends of the ice. He had two hits and two shots. I know many think Ben is "worthless," or whatever other adjective you want to use. However, besides Letang and Cole, Lovejoy has been the most consistent defenseman this year.
Nick Bonino (A): See above
Chris Kunitz (B-): Kunitz continues to be a physical presence, posting another five hits tonight. That part of his game I like. I also like that he shot more tonight, posting three shots on net. However, he still isn't getting much done in the offensive zone and it is concerning me. I know the whole team is struggling scoring, but Kunitz seems to have the same struggles he had from the end of last year.
Beau Bennett (A): See above
Ian Cole (C+): While his partner was very good, I was not overly impressed by Mr. Cole tonight. He didn't do much to distinguish himself, nor did he do much to be infuriated with. However, he was definitely down from his first two games. I think he is still top-four, but I really would like to see Maatta and Letang get paired up in the future. I think it's just better in the long run for the team.
Daniel Sprong (C+): Once again, completely misused. Johnston only let the kid play 9 minutes, granted that's more than the first two games, but he still doesn't seem to trust him. I think the Pens need to play him more and in a more important role. Play him with Crosby or Malkin, see what you have in the kid. Why give him 9 games of fourth line duty and then wonder why he didn't do anything? He's being misused and underutilized, shocking he's not producing.
David Perron (B): Definitely looked much better playing in the top six role. He had 6 hits and two shots. He was solid. I think it was his best game since last January.
Kris Letang (A-): See above.
Sergei Plotnikov (B): I thought Plotnikov was very good tonight. However, Mike Johnston played him as much as Daniel Sprong. Plotnikov looked more like the guy we saw in the preseason and that good. He will build off this game, in which he created some chances and looked really good alongside Bonino and Bennett. He is charged with a giveaway, but that was only because he was obstructed egregiously by a Canadien forward and the refs didn't have the common sense to call a penalty. That's not on him, he played well.
Evgeni Malkin (B-): Had an assist but didn't create much otherwise. He was called offsides a few times and though he wasn't charged with any giveaways, he was far from smart on the puck. Geno is a little off, but I'm hoping he will turn it around.
Patric Hornqvist (B-): I thought this was Hornqvist worst game this season. That being said, he didn't play particularly poorly. He had two hits and a shot, but didn't generate as many scoring chances in front of Carey Price, nor did he disrupt things like he did in Dallas and Arizona.
Phil Kessel (C+): He may have had an assist tonight but Kessel did not look very good. He was tentative and seemed a little lethargic out there. Maybe the nerves of the home opener got to him, but he was not nearly as good as we saw him in Dallas or Arizona.
Sidney Crosby (B): He finally shot the puck! All jokes aside, Sid actually played very well tonight. He had four shots on goal, had five hits and created a lot of offensive chances in the second period. However, he had to bury that late third period opportunity when he had the whole net open and plenty of time to shoot. Price made a hell of a save, but Sid needed to lift that puck more. Also, I'd like to see his faceoff numbers improve. This is the third straight game where he's been under 50% in the circle.
My Final Thoughts
Let me start with Mike Johnston. This “system” of his is non-existent. The Pens are doing the same things they were doing under Dan Bylsma and they still are not working! They are trying to force the stretch pass, not carry the puck in a pack like Johnston’s “system” is supposed to. They aren’t shooting 40+ shots a night like the Johnston “system” calls for. So what the hell is going on?
There is no doubt in my mind that Johnston is coaching scared. He seems too scared to screw up that the Pens are too predictable in their approach. He keeps saying they need to get to “the system.” Well, he’s said that for three games this year and two months to end last system. It seems pretty apparent that his players aren’t interested in playing his “system.” If they were, they probably wouldn’t look this bad.
Johnston seems to try to send the message in practice. The Pens end up doing “Herbies” for 20 minutes to end practice. Great, the legs feed the wolf and all that jazz. But wouldn’t that twenty minutes be better spent working on the power play or breakouts? Also, wouldn’t it be better to not have optional, game-day morning skates so you can work on the power play and breakout? Let me make a suggestion coach, run them ragged all you want, but make sure you figure out the breakout, the power play and the “system” before you do it.
I don’t know whether Mike Johnston needs to go or not. I think three games into the season is a little premature to make a move, but at the same time, the players don’t seem to responding to what he’s asking for. Where is the “system?” I sure as hell haven’t seen in it, not since last October anyway.
Next, let me rip the players on their breakouts and power plays.
This I won’t pin entirely on Johnston so much, but on the players. Why are there three forwards standing flat-footed on the red line waiting for a stretch pass instead of supporting the puck? Even better question, why do they continue to do it when it is obvious that it is not working? It is the definition of insanity!
The Pens need to work on their breakouts. It was absolutely atrocious tonight and only got worse as the game went on. The stretch pass just does not work. It’s too predictable and leads to a lot of turnover and odd-man rushes coming back at you. Case in point, go back and watch just about every time Brian Dumoulin was looking to begin the breakout and had to stop, hold the puck and force a pass because the three forwards were standing next to a Canadien and not moving. It’s obviously not working, so why don’t you try Johnston’s “system.” At least that makes some sense.
Now for the power play.
Wow…
The play in that situation is so ugly; it looks like it fell out of the ugly tree, hitting every branch on the way down to face planting on the pavement. Again, the breakout was a problem. The Pens couldn’t gain the zone and when they did, it was cleared immediately. They generated little, again.
I don’t know what Rick Tocchet is trying to do. I don’t know if Mike Johnston is handcuffing it somehow. All I know is it sure as hell isn’t working; yet nothing seems to be being done to fix it.
My final rip goes to the NHL and its atrocious officiating. How is the league not ashamed with how these games are being called? It is absolutely disgusting the way the refs are working these games.
Case in point for tonight, why was the hook, holding, interference, take your pick, not called on the Canadien who obstructed Plotnikov that led to the game-winning goal?
Phil Bourque said it was a penalty. Bob Errey as well. Hell, 18,000 fans at Consol knew it was a penalty and so did several of the Canadiens.
So why no call? Watch the replay of it, it fits every criteria in the rule book to be called a penalty. But absolutely nothing was called.
The officiating in this league is only getting worse. Scoring is down over the last few years because things that used to be penalties are being ignored. It makes the game infuriating to watch and I'm sure the players are as upset as us. It is appalling and the league should be ashamed of itself for the state of its officiating.
Alright, a couple good things from tonight I'd be remissed if I did not mention:
- The third line of Plotnikov-Bonino-Bennett was outstanding all 60 minutes. They were smart with the puck, made great passes, were physical along the boards and generated offense all night. They played outstanding and were definitely a bright spot on another aggravating evening.
- The fourth line was also very good. Matt Cullem continues to impress me with his play. Kevin Porter was good tonight in every facet. Same can be said for Daniel Sprong when he was given Ice time. The fourth line is good, can't wait to see how good when Fehr is added to it.
Let me finish by saying the following few things.
First, this is a new team that needs time to gel. They were never going to instantly click, and it takes time to build chemistry. I think with more time together, they will look much better.
Next, I am not calling for staff changes, yet. What I am calling for is for this team, these players to buy into what Mike Johnston is trying to sell. The "system" he wants can work; we saw it last October. However, whether its the egos or whatever, the players seem hell bent on not playing that way. Keep losing if that's more fun, but if it don't work, it should be fixed. Put your pride aside and buy into something different.
Finally, this goes to myself and the entire fan base. We do need more patience. Rome was not built in a day, though it was sacked in one. Regardless, this will take some time to build and it has only been three games. Call for heads all you want, but if at the 25-game mark things still look like this, then scream for the apocalypse all you want. We, myself included, need to have a little patience.
That's it for me tonight. Thank you for reading and I will see you on Thursday with the latest edition of the Pregame for our matchup with Ottawa.
Until then, good night and Lets Go Pens!!!