Penguins Report Card: Crosby Dominance; Inside the Pens’ Change

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ first period was a master class in tight puck support, speed through the neutral zone, and the greatness of some guy named Sidney Crosby. The Penguins led 4-1.

The second period was just short of a debacle as the Philadelphia Flyers outshot the Penguins 12-4 and pulled to within 4-3 before Michael Bunting scored a late goal to up the Penguins’ lead to 5-3.

The third period was the one to watch because the Penguins showcased the defensive structure they’re still learning to love. Penguins added an empty netter (Crosby) and a late power-play goal (Blake Lizotte) for a lopsided 7-3 win, but the game was competitive.

Which period to analyze and take more seriously?

When averaged, the Penguins’ distinct three periods were incredible. It would be quite difficult to play any better than the first period, but that shouldn’t mean giving it all back with a period in which it would be hard to be less engaged. Yet they became a brick wall in the third.

Go figure.

However, even before the Penguins’ awful period became obvious, fans booed their team for allowing a second goal. Yikes. A 4-2 lead wasn’t good enough.

Of course, a few groans may have been well warranted after the third goal, which was Charmin-soft. Flyers center Sean Couturier merely swept the puck toward the Penguins net from more than 20 feet, but it eluded Jarry.

That was the last time Philadelphia scored.

Penguins Xs and Os

Let’s focus on what the Penguins did right in the first. It was a brilliant show of game plan tweaks, as Penguins coach Mike Sullivan attacked Flyers coach John Tortorella’s aggressive three-zone coverage.

“Torts” loves a good forecheck, but the Penguins’ tight support zoomed past. Sullivan didn’t admit to any tweaks, but clearly, there was some extra coaching going on.

“You know, whenever I coach against ‘Torts,’ I know what he’s trying to do. I think he knows what I’m trying to do. So there’s a little bit of a cat-and-mouse game that goes on. It’s a game inside the game,” said Sullivan. “He was looking for certain matchups, trying to get certain guys out against Sid’s line. And we were looking for certain things on our side … when it’s on the fly, you’re trying to anticipate who’s coming over the boards, and you’re not always right. And so those are situations that are not as easy to control. But my sense is he probably knows where I’m going with my bench. And I’ve got a pretty good idea of where he’s going with his.”

After starting the answer with a stoic expression, Sullivan devolved into a smile about competing and playing cat-and-mouse with his friend.

Read More: Penguins Skate: Pickering, Pettersson Updates; Sullivan vs. Tortorella

In the opening 20, the Penguins deployed tight puck support. Few passes were more than 10 feet. The Penguins puck carriers always had multiple options and support. Mistakes were swallowed up, and as confidence grew, the Penguins built speed out of their zone into the neutral zone.

From the red-line forward, the Penguins had the speed to be first on the puck for soft dump-ins or carry it deep.

“I think we were just playing on our toes, playing in their face,” said winger Bryan Rust. “I think we weren’t afraid of their aggression. We just tried to be aggressive right back, and I think we were able to capitalize on their mistakes.”

From there, the Penguins held onto the puck, making sharp passing plays. The short distances of the passes only enhanced the Penguins’ control and precision.

And Crosby, Rust, and Rickard Rakell were unstoppable.

Perhaps only the Penguins could stop the Penguins.

“In the second period, we were losing puck battles. I don’t think our intentions were in the right place,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We weren’t playing straight ahead; we were turning pucks over and getting beat one-on-one. There was no physicality to our game.

Third Period

The Penguins buttoned up in the third period. With the game on the line, they suffocated Philadelphia, allowing only six shots on goal in the third period.

The term we keep using is layers. The Penguins didn’t chase on the forecheck, again creating neutral zone traffic—that’s layers. The Penguins had superior numbers to defend, stayed between the puck and the net, blocked shots, and generally kept to their assignment.

It wasn’t the near boat race of the first period, but it was gritty, responsible hockey.

“I thought the players reacted extremely well. We were above the puck in the third period. We were above the attack in the third period. The neutral zone was way tighter. They had to get through numbers in the neutral zone,” Sullivan said. “I felt like we took some of their speed away because of the numbers and the structure of the neutral zone, and I think we’re a lot harder to play against when we have that discipline and diligence and play with structure.”

Penguins Report Card

Just the good grades. What am I, Scrooge?

Team: B

The second-period collapse was awful. Otherwise, the Penguins did everything they needed to do. Good speed and offense in the beginning. Great defense at the end.

The team also avoided the ghastly turnovers that yielded offense in the first and third periods.

Rakell-Crosby-Rust: An A+ isn’t enough

They were dominant. A treat to watch as they worked the puck down low, made passes that seemed to be two seconds ahead of the defense and finished their chances. Crosby had four points (1-3-4). Rust and Rakell had two points (1-1-2) each.

P.O Joseph-Kris Letang: B+

Like the rest of the team, they dragged their feet in the second period. They finished minus-2, but let’s be honest: The second goal was a pretty bad goal, and they had coverage. It happens. P.O Joseph is showing well in his return. He’s moving decisively and jumping to close gaps and nullify offensive options.

Ryan Shea: A

Shea had a little ax to grind after the New Jersey game. He wasn’t happy with the second goal and subsequent exchanges with the referee. Shea felt he was playing very well in New Jersey, and he continued that Monday. He was sharp–a noticeably good game.

And the report card is a little shorter tonight. A happy holiday (Merry Christmas and a happy first night of Channukah). My present is only 1100 words tonight!