Penguins Room Reacts, ‘We’re Starting to Get (That Feeling)’

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won seven of their last ten games and have scored points in eight of those ten. They nearly woke up in a playoff spot but were happy enough with another building block win over the LA Kings Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins were patient and disciplined. Coach Mike Sullivan made a few changes throughout the game, and the big goals and big saves belonged to the Penguins in the 3-2 OT win.

Read More: Penguins Report Card: Changes & Structure, Here Come the Pens!

The players in the locker room fed off the sterling performance. It wasn’t perfect, but they matched the most disciplined team in the NHL stick for stick, body for body, and made life as difficult for LA as LA did for them.

Despite Sidney Crosby again not getting a goal (though he created several glorious chances and set up the game-tying goal with dominant play), the team found enough offense by playing defense.

After weeks, if not months, of floundering, things are coming together. Penguins winger Rickard Rakell had the money quote of the night:

“I think that makes us feel good about our whole team game and makes everyone feel more confident just to have that feeling that we can play with any team in this league, and no one is going to have an easy game against us,” said Rickard Rakell. “So, going back to last season where we were going on that hot stretch at the end of the season, I think it’s kind of the same feeling we had then–I think we’re starting to get it in this room right now.”

Alex Nedeljkovic

The Penguins goalie played his part in the Penguins’ win with several important saves, including stopping Vladislav Gavrikov’s breakaway in overtime. He stopped 29 of 31 shots and held the fort when needed.

If Rakell had the best quote to describe what’s happening with the Penguins, Nedeljkovic had the best turn of phrase.

“We were just making the play that was there, making simple play. And then, if we didn’t have anything, just living to fight another day and getting pucks deep, and they were doing the same thing,” said Nedeljkovic. “That’s the identity of that team. They play a very disciplined type of game … They prey on turnovers and try to out-discipline the other team. So I thought we did a great job of staying with it tonight and beating them at their own game, in a way.”

Mike Sullivan

There are nights when the scowl on coach Mike Sullivan’s face reaches maximum intensity, and the anger drips from every abbreviated word in very short answers.

And then there are nights like Tuesday when the coach couldn’t hide his pride in the type of game and level of buy-in.

Sullivan detailed what the team did right, including the greatly improved structure.