Penguins Report Card: Strong Rebound, Building Blocks in Place

The Pittsburgh Penguins were not happy with themselves Saturday after losing to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Defenseman Erik Karlsson said the team wasn’t emotionally or physically engaged. Coach Mike Sullivan said the team talked about playing a simple game, but they weren’t good enough.

For most of the game, the Penguins were obviously the better team. A good goal and a fluky bounce put New York within striking distance, but a diving clear by Cody Glass ended any threats in the final seconds as the Penguins beat New York 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena.

Sunday was the reverse of Saturday. The Penguins showed some backbone and executed so many of the things they didn’t less than 24 hours earlier. They got back to the better hockey they were playing before the holiday break and are now 10-4-1 in their last 15. There was plenty to build on. Again.

Play simply? Check.

Play straight ahead and get to the net? Yep.

Defend their own net? You betcha.

“We just knew it had to be a good bounce-back game. It was a quick turnaround, and you can have all the excuses in the world that you’re tired and whatnot, but we didn’t do that,” Michael Bunting said. “I think we played a complete game. You know, they got (a) six-on-five goal, but I thought we defended hard and showed (well) tonight.”

The Penguins lost all of those battles Saturday, especially around their own net. However, with a makeshift blue line on Sunday due to Kris Letang’s injury and the insertion of 26-year-old Nate Clurman making his NHL debut, there weren’t many frills to the Penguins game. And that helped.

Tight defense. Net-front scoring, including a power play goal. Good goaltending.

It’s a simple formula but difficult to execute. Yet the Penguins did so for their 10th win in 15 games, and get this–at the conclusion of the game, the Penguins vaulted into a playoff spot. No joke.

“I mean, it’s important. Just the way we’ve played over the last month or so, I think we’ve given ourselves an opportunity to be back in the mix. We’re competing with a lot of teams, and we know we’ve got our work cut out for us,” Crosby said. “This is hopefully a position that we’re in for the rest of the year–competing, and that’s what it’s all about. So to be back in that spot compared to where we were a month ago, I think it’s important.”

Oh, by the way, Crosby broke Mario Lemieux’s franchise record for most assists (again) in the second period when he set up Michael Bunting’s goal.

For the most part, the Penguins maintained a better attitude with the lead than the score may have indicated. With a 1-0 lead in the second period, the Penguins ripped 20 shots at New York goalie Magnus Hogberg, who was making his first start since 2021.

The team sagged late in the period, giving up a spate of shots on a power play and the subsequent even-strength time. Fortunately for the Penguins, Alex Nedeljkovic held his ground with a couple of sparklers, including a windmill glove save on Anthony Duclair later in the second period.

The Penguins didn’t defend their lead in the third. They attacked again. In the first 12:59 of the third period, the Penguins outshot New York 11-3 until Anders Lee broke the shutout.

And then Anders Lee scored when an errant shot hit him and caromed into the net at 16:10, but the Penguins clamped down.

Penguins Xs and Os

The Penguins didn’t cautiously establish neutral zone traffic in the first period; they set the tone with an aggressive forecheck attack. With multiple forecheckers in the zone, the Penguins struggled to generate dangerous puck possession while the New Yorkers buzzed around the net.

The shots were 6-6 after 20 minutes, but the Penguins pressure buckled New York in the second period. The Penguins had a commanding 12-7 scoring chance advantage, which would have been much greater if not for New York’s late period flourish.

The Penguins also held a 10-5 scoring chance advantage in the third period. Lest anyone thinks the Penguins tried to sit on the lead, that was not the case.

In addition to the hard forecheck, the Penguins were not shy at the net. Michael Bunting and Evgeni Malkin were around the net for much of the game.

The Penguins also defended well. As a double “Get This:” Erik Karlsson killed penalties and blocked shots. With 26-year-old Nate Clurman making his NHL debut, the Penguins made a conscious effort to keep the defending simple, too. Those ghastly sort-out problems of Saturday vanished.

Penguins Grades

Team: B+

It wasn’t their high-energy A game, but it was a hard-nosed, workman-like game. Of course, playing two games 22 hours apart took something out of both teams, but the Penguins were the better team.

Alex Nedeljkovic: A

The Penguins goalie cleaned up a couple of high-danger opportunities. The contest may have gone differently if Nedeljkovic hadn’t made a few key saves on the Islanders’ power plays–they had a few, and they pressed. His final tally was 28 saves on 30 shots, but New York’s second goal wasn’t really a shot as much as a perfect bounce.

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin: A

Bunting was the best Penguins forward on Sunday. He was ever present and noticeable, a constant threat to score and a thorn in the Islanders’ defense.

Malkin is flying. He was the second-best Penguins forward Saturday.

Malkin isn’t trying anything fancy but instead playing the simplest game he’s ever played. He had a couple of steals by defending the Islanders’ breakouts, and he stayed between the dots.

It’s different than vintage Malkin, but it’s a pretty good version.

Erik Karlsson: A

In a tough situation, he dug in and defended hard.