Penguins Grades: ‘I Had Fun,’ Big Performances & Bad Marks

If Friday was indeed a signal of how the Pittsburgh Penguins intend to finish the 2024-25 season, it could be a fun ride to the end.

The Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets played some 1980s-style hockey, up and down the ice, without much tight defense, to the delight of a crowd that was pretty close to a sell-out. There were plenty of goals, mostly by the Penguins, and plenty of happy patrons.

After an old-fashioned fight at center ice between tough guys Boko Imama and Columbus’s Mathieu Olivier in the first period, Imama later scored a goal en route to a 6-3 Penguins win at PPG Paints Arena.

Read More: Goodbye, Columbus: Penguins, Nedeljkovic Extend Jackets’ Slump

Side note: The Pittsburgh crowd is quickly becoming a raucous, enjoyable bunch again. Fans applauded after good saves and roared after big saves. And the place went bonkers when Imama and Olivier threw down. I will tell you now and until the game is done with me—engaged fans create a better atmosphere, which helps the team on the ice, attracts casual fans, and sends ripples through the business side, too.

The “dinner and a show” crowd that bails at 9:30, winning or losing, won’t be missed.

“I definitely asked (to fight). Obviously, I want to let my teammates know, and everybody know, that’s what I’m here to do–play that physical game,” Imama said. “And I’m just willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

To the hockey…

The game was not short on entertainment, though the coaches in charge of each club’s blue line might prefer a firing squad over watching the tape in the morning.

The Penguins allowed 47 shots and fired a healthy 34, though they allowed 19 shots in the third period.

“Obviously, when you score as many goals as we did, you’re also getting some pretty good looks,” said coach Mike Sullivan.

Alex Nedeljkovic saw 30 shots through the first two periods. The Penguins poked five past Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins in 24 shots through 40 minutes.

Nedeljkovic was all over the crease in the final 20, and Columbus scored just once–enough to keep it interesting but not enough to make it close.

However, it would seem most of Sullivan’s lineup juggling had a significantly positive effect.

The Penguins’ attack was clicking. The top line scored a pair of goals and had a combined 10 shots. Yes, they enjoyed their evening.

“I thought it was a fun game,” Rakell said with an emerging smile. “It’s always fun when we win. So, yeah. I had a lot of fun.”

Penguins Xs and Os

The first period was a throwback, not to the Penguins’ most recent Stanley Cup championships of 2016 and ’17, but to the wide-open halcyon days of the 1980s. The teams combined for 25 shots (13-12, Columbus) in the first period, and they were just getting warmed up.

Not even the grind lines played tight defense.

Instead, the Penguins’ third line created a goal, using speed and net-front presence, while Evgeni Malkin’s line did the same.

Good Call: Sullivan’s decision to elevate Connor Dewar to the Malkin line paid immediate dividends. The line looked markedly different from the disconnected play of the last few games when Danton Heinen occupied the left flank. Dewar’s puck pressure in the offensive zone disrupted Columbus’s breakouts and possession a few times in the first 20 minutes.

A trio of the Penguins’ lines were quite aggressive in not letting Columbus possess the puck easily. Defensemen leading the play is Columbus’s strength, and the Penguins were able to disrupt that rhythm and flow in the first 20.

What the Penguins Did Well: Puck pressure, creating turnovers, and preventing Columbus from racing past them (mostly). It wasn’t quite a backcheck because the Penguins got onto Columbus before they were able to turn forward, and it wasn’t quite a forecheck, either. It was just dogged puck pressure.

The Penguins’ puck support was very good until the third period. The tight support allowed them to quickly escape their own zone with short passes, creating speed and pressure in the offensive zone.

What the Penguins Did Not Do Well: Umm, defend. The Penguins got back to the defensive zone. They didn’t give up too many odd-man rushes (a couple or few three-on-twos), but they surely weren’t tight in the defensive zone.

“There were stretches of the game where we controlled the game. I thought we had moments when we were good. I still think there’s areas to grow,” Sullivan said. “We’ve got to defend better as a group of five in all three zones. Our line changes, in the second period in particular, were loose–we gave up a few odd-man rushes … there are areas, in particular, on the defensive side of the puck (we need to improve), and I think that boils down to details of the game.

“(Shot totals) are indicative of where the game is being played. We spent more time in our end than we needed to. If we were able to get the puck stops down low in the corners–we talk a lot about the puck in the battle areas, down low, I didn’t think we did as good of a job as we’re capable of getting the puck stopped.”

They were, in fact, quite loose and soft. They set that tone early in the game when Kirill Marchenko breezed through Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust ahead of the blue line, only to find defenseman Matt Grzelcyk still another 10-15 feet back. Marchenko not only got one of the many good shots on Nedeljkovic but was also treated to a rebound attempt.

It should remain a sore point for the team until general manager Kyle Dubas addresses the blue line with a couple of defensemen.

Penguins Grades

Team: B-

They finished their chances. They played exceptionally well on the fun side of the red line and incredibly loose on the tough side.

Their breakouts were the difference. So, too, was the goalie.

Alex Nedeljkovic: A+

Give that man a cigar or a Myles Garret jersey. He made sprawling saves, good kick saves, and even a nifty windmill save.

Rakell-Crosby-Rust: Happy, Happy

It may or may not prove to be the best decision for the long-term health of the franchise to hang onto Rakell, but while you ponder that, enjoy the magic of the top line.

Each had a goal and an assist.

 Conor Dewar-Evgeni Malkin-Philip Tomasino: A

This line might have been the Penguins’ best, especially in the first 30 minutes. We’ll do a longer story on it on Saturday, but there’s a real chance the light-scoring Dewar is the tonic (or at least the best tonic available) for Malkin and Tomasino. Dewar’s hustle and speed created loose pucks and opportunities.

Tomasino wasn’t shy on the forecheck, either. The trio scored the first goal of the game and nearly scored a few more with gritty offensive zone pressure. Straight ahead. No frills to get there, and then some Malkin magic.

Malkin was feeling so good that he carried Jack Johnson around the net for a wrap-around attempt. That was fun to watch. Yes, that Jack Johnson.

Kris Letang: B+

It might seem a little off to give a D-man an A for a game in which we’ve shredded the blue line’s performance, but Letang was quite good. Perhaps away from the TV cameras, Letang was doing battle in front of his own net. He played a hard game and helped hold the fort.

For the rest of the defensemen, you may be able to figure out where I would grade them. From Conor Timmins’s own goal to Erik Karlsson making a couple of (almost) costly turnovers and pinches, to Ryan Graves inexplicably pinching with a multi-goal lead, giving up a three-on-two.

Boko Mania: A+

You just love to see it. A journeyman is getting his chance. Boko Imama is under no pretense that he’ll have a job next season, and he’s very much using the last dozen games as an audition.

Read More: WATCH: Boko Fights and Boko Scores

The big man with big fists had a big smile after the game after a fight and a goal. He was the No. 1 star, and even the assembled media had to smile.