Penguins Wrap: What of the Core? Reading the Room; Score-a-palooza

The Penguins had more ups than downs over the past week, which ended with a score-a-palooza win. Bryan Rust continues to prove he is part of the backbone of the team, and he got help from expected and less likely places.

Problems and questions still remain, and PHN took a look in several posts that analyzed the defensemen, made some predictions and some underlying frustration. In particular, you’ll certainly want to read and weigh in on one thought about the Penguins’ core players and what the fans might be thinking of them at this point.

In the locker room, PHN gauged the sentiment, belief and outlook from the players themselves as they traversed some mixed results.

Catch up on all that and more from the past week. Click the links.

Saturday: With the poor start the Penguins had over the first several weeks of the season, there were all sorts of culprits to blame. One problem stands out. That is the collective of the defensemen.

Newcomer Phil Tomasino has been impactful since he was acquired in a trade with Nashville. However, after he left a game the night before, the Penguins revealed the forward was out because of an injury.

They had squandered a good opportunity the night before with a lackluster game in a loss to the Rangers in New York. The Penguins responded in a strong way by riding a complete game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and notching a satisfying win.

As you might imagine, the win over the Leafs was pretty easy to evaluate. A’s and B’s and lots of “best” descriptions dominated in the Penguins report card.

Sunday: The fans have voiced their displeasure at several point this season. Pundits have pointed out the Penguins flaws. That’s not the sentiment in the locker room after the Penguins won five of six games. Read about why the players still believe.

Monday: For many reasons, the Penguins were coming off a big weekend. A bad loss. A big bounce-back win. That led to a lot of observations and predictions. It’s all spelled out in a Penguins blog.

We got an update on injured forward Phil Tomasino, and the Penguins power play — which had recently gotten better play from the second unit than the first — continued to get overhauled. The news is in the practice update.

The Penguins players already had been through a lot. Hey, they are human. They analyze and reflect like everyone else. They opened up to PHN about what they have learned about themselves.

Tuesday: Things happen. Fluky things. And the Penguins have learned that at several points this season. The latest? Backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was minding his business sitting on the bench when he had to leave a game for a time after he got plunked in the face by a puck.

What happened to “Ned” was bad luck. What happened with the Penguins in their game against the Colorado Avalanche was bad hockey. They got pummeled because of too many mistakes.

After that loss, the Penguins players had some things to say about the team. And not necessarily pleasant things. In particular, check out what defenseman Kris Letang and goaltender Tristan Jarry said in this locker room report.

Wednesday: With a lot going on, there are bound to be lots of thoughts. About things such as the Penguins being too soft. About some underlying frustration. Check it all out in 5 Thoughts.

Drew O’Connor is trying. He’s shooting the puck. But he’s not scoring. Read about that and other things in the Penguins practice report.

A big, young right-handed defenseman would seem to be on the Penguins’ wish list. However, when such a player was available on waivers, they passed.

Thursday: This one generated a lot of thoughts and feedback, not surprisingly. PHN looked at the waning attendance, at fan discontent and wondered whether the faithful are growing tired of the core.

In a game that was close into the third period, the Penguins stomped on the gas pedal. They got goals and points from all over — particularly the top line, with Bryan Rust collecting a hat trick — in Montreal and blew out the Canadiens.

They are Sidney Crosby’s wingers on the Penguins’ top line. Rust and Rickard Rakell had themselves a night. They helped lead some strong results in the Penguins grades.

Friday: The Penguins are turning the corner. Why? There are some obvious answers, but PHN took a look at some unheralded factors — think newcomers, among other things — in this version of Penguins one-timers.