What About the Other 3 Penguins Lines? Looking at Lineup Sustainability
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s decision to put his best three players on one line was a calculated gamble. Still, the results of putting Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell on the wings beside Sidney Crosby have paid off immediately.
Three straight games of two goals by the line. Rakell scored two goals, and then Crosby scored a pair in two straight games. The Penguins have won two in a row, and the line has put up ridiculously imbalanced numbers in the Penguins’ favor.
The focus has rightly shifted to the top line, defensive responsibility, and goaltending.’
But what about the other three lines? With the talent concentrated on one line, which has scored six of the seven Penguins goals over the last three games, is the lineup sustainable?
“I think they’ve been they’ve been pretty good, for the most part. Lars Eller’s line has been a really valuable line for us. I think they’ve had some strong games,” Sullivan said. “I think Cody Glass, his line has had some shifts where they’ve established offensive zone time. I feel like (Michael Bunting) is ready to score. He’s had a number of pretty good looks. The puck hasn’t gone in the net for them, but I feel like he’s ready to score.”
Yes, there have been scoring chances, but the answer isn’t yet a clear yes or no.
The Penguins’ top line has shoved the puck into the offensive zone and mostly kept it there. The titled ice has created opportunities for the Penguins’ lineup and instilled some confidence in the lineup. The improved offensive attack has gone together well with the significantly renewed defensive coverage.
“We’re certainly defending a lot better where, you know, our decisions that we’re making with the puck and the critical areas of the rink, more specifically, the zone entries on the offensive zone,” Sullivan said. “I think we’ve been more responsible in not making high-risk lateral plays on the entry that feeds our opponent’s transition game. More specifically, on the zone entries in the offensive zone, I think we’ve been more responsible in not making high-risk lateral plays on the entry that feeds our opponent’s transition game and odd-man rushes.”
The Penguins are actually sorting out well as they return to the defensive zone, holding their spots and playing tighter gaps. The defensive awareness in the last two games bore little resemblance to the chaos of the first 10 games.
“It’s just going over the fundamentals, the same things we went over for a while here, but just reinforcing them and really breaking it down into the small things,” Crosby said. “So, all those little details add up to winning hockey, and it’s nice to get rewarded for it. I think that the more we do it and we get rewarded, that’s good for us just to see that and feel that.”
But one scoring line and improved defensive commitment won’t be enough for lasting success, especially against better teams that have the defensive ability to slow the Crosby line or keep pace with them.
The next three games could swing the Penguins’ season in a good or very bad direction. Three Metro Division opponents on the road await, including the jelling Washington Capitals, who are atop the division with an 8-2-0 record.
The other lines will need to contribute. Whether or not they can or will is to be determined. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, there are positive indicators.
Also, when Bryan Rust returns to the lineup, that figures to help the new “bottom 9.”
Second Line, Drew O’Connor-Lars Eller-Noel Acciari
The line has zero goals, and their shot attempts are dead even 18-18 against opponents, but they’ve not allowed a goal, and their scoring chances are well into the black, 11-4.
The line has five high-danger chances, allowing just two.
Read More:Â Malkin-Crosby Brilliance Puts Dubas on the Spot; Will He Respond This Time?
The line has been good, but Eller has never registered 40 points in a season. Acciari has just one 20-goal season and has never had 30 points. O’Connor had a breakout last season but still notched only 33 points with 16 goals.
Potential, limited ceiling.
Third Line, Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Valtteri Puustinen/Acciari
The line has allowed one goal (Anaheim) with Acciari, but Sullivan is still looking for the final version of the line. Saturday, he moved Acciari up to the second line and put Puustinen on the right wing. However, that line was on the ice for Montreal’s goal. In just over five minutes of ice time with Puustinen, the shots were even 5-5, the scoring chances were in the line’s favor 4-2, but the high-danger chances were underwater 1-2.
Work in progress.
Fourth Line, Kevin Hayes-Blake Lizotte-Anthony Beauvillier
The fourth line has remarkably started more shifts with a faceoff in the offensive zone than the defensive zone (5-3). However, they’ve allowed more shot attempts (8-10). They have been outshot (2-6) but are slightly ahead on scoring chances (6-5). The trio has not been on the ice for a goal for either team.
In fairness, the last two games have been Lizotte’s first of the season.
It’s an average fourth line with some potential. Perhaps when Rust returns, Acciari will fall to the fourth line, and we’ll get the potentially fizzy Lizotte-Acciari combination.
“I move Cookie (Acciari) around the lineup a little bit. I think he’s a beast,” said Sullivan. “The way he defends physically, his willingness to block shots, (and) he can take faceoffs. He’s one of our top penalty killers. He’s an invaluable player for us.”
The Lineup
Sullivan has not attempted to hide or sugarcoat that moving Malkin created a lineup imbalance. Rust will help, but there’s a canyon between the production with Malkin as a second-line center and Eller. One is a point-per-game player, and the other is a 35-point center.
Dubas must step into the trade market to find out where he can add help. Sooner or later, Sullivan will probably acquiesce to reality and swap Malkin for a lesser player like Beauvillier or a solid, if unspectacular player like O’Connor.
Otherwise, the Penguins are asking too many players to play above their optimal role. Of course, Malkin-Crosby-Rakell has been so good that perhaps it’s worth the fallout.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Analysis
I would keep malkin with sid until teams show they can be stopped.
Overall they have yet to beat a good team. Until they do no one will take them seriously.
The real question: Who can Dubas target to add to the 2nd line? To state the obvious, he is going to have to send salary back and/or waive a player or two. The team(s) we trade with are also more than likely going to have to eat some salary. I want an early season, 3-team, blockbuster GMJR deal (one that is not reminiscent of the Brassard outcome). But again, who should POHO/GM KD be calling?
Last night I saw great improvement on passing, much better zone entry, and we started winning battles we had been losing. More optimism than earlier in the week.
This Penguins team is currently void of the necessary talent on their 2nd+ 3rd lines to compete in the Metro Division this season!
It never should have been this way and I hold Dumas responsible!
I am horribly disappointed!
They need a sustainable, long-term solution—not just a quick fix that only creates the appearance of progress. They need a significant, big-picture investment, as there’s been no reason to believe a short-term approach will be effective. It could cost them a top-four defenseman, but it’s something worth serious consideration.
Sold!! They can make it a buyers choice, any of the 4 can go. That’s obviously ridiculous but you get the message. Rid of anyone of those four for a 2nd line forward is a good deal.
I think Karlsson and Jarry should be traded, producing cap relief, and/or some picks or a player.
Even paying half their respective costs (a lot to move them!), will provide some space, and if Dubas is good, a usable player or two..
Offer EK and see if anyone takes the bait.
Whether anyone writing these articles or posting on these forums realizes it or not, this team has already started it’s rebuild.
Which is the only logical reason Sulli is still behind the bench.
While it’s not a complete teardown yet, they are definitely past the point of being able to add true impact players.
The cupboards are bare, and Dubas doesn’t have the capital to go get a player that’s going to make a difference.
The best we can hope for is to enjoy watching Sid and Malkin play together and climb the ranks of all time hockey greats.
Agree.
I dare say the perfection line?? And maybe not shuffle the other lines so much so maybe some chemistry might form….don’t forget about Rust.
The video earlier I feel Accari should of been part of the three….
If they keep the top line fine. Cookie should only be on the 4th line. He is not a scorer.
If he keeps changing lines how out this for the other 3 lines.
DOC-Eller-Puuts played great last year
Bunting-Hayes-Liz (Rust when returns) Wasn’t Hayes like a 2nd or 3rd Center in a previous life?
Beau (Liv when Rust returns)-Glass-Cookie Wreck havoc and hit people.
They barely beat a bad Montreal team and another (Ducks) who might make the playoffs. Not exactly the NHLs best or better teams.
Better teams will trap or simply worry about defending Sid’s line. The other lines will not have enough offense and we already know how bad the defense is.
Early in the year Eller, Connor, Jesse Puljujarvi, were by far and away the best line until Sullivan put Jesse in his doghouse. Putting that line back together at the very least would be a good start.
Well, as per my calculations, we’re 2 wingers short, or a 2nd line C and a winger if you keep Malkin uo. Do we have cap space? No. Do we have desirable players to swap for these top talents? No. Can Dubas do anything? No. He has done what he has done, so one line is all you get. We have over $20 million buried in useless players that nobody wants. Even a person deprived of all its senses would know that the problem is not the core or the coach. I mean, what more do you want from them?… Read more »