Penguins One-Timers: Unheralded Factors Which Make Pens Much Better
MONTREAL — When a team starts to win games in bunches without giving back the gains with stacks of losses in the aftermath, it can be said a team is improving, turning the corner, or at least evolving. And so, with the recent body of evidence, the Pittsburgh Penguins are turning the corner.
The common themes in their wins are as distinct as the commonalities in the Penguins’ ugly losses.
The team’s mental game has played arguably the greatest role in the team’s success and failure this season; when they’re engaged, they’re a pretty good team. However, when they are not, they’re not just bad, but epically bad.
Even epically bad seems to be a kind descriptor of the staggeringly bad hockey. It smells like months-old expired milk. It looks like a garbage dump after a tornado. But I digress.
When the Penguins appear to be their best selves, as they were in the final 30 minutes against Montreal Thursday, a few unheralded factors make all the difference.
Penguins Difference Makers
1. Erik Karlsson
Karlsson was good on Thursday, but he wasn’t a leading driver of the offense. In fact, he was one of just six skaters who didn’t record a point among the nine goals scored.
But he was really good in the defensive zone. From nullifying a couple of plays that were about to become high-danger opportunities to moving the puck with precision to the correct team, Karlsson was the backbone of the defense Thursday.
Read More: Penguins Grades: Inside the Big Surge, Rust & Rakell Go Off
For the most part, he’s been very good for a few weeks after an abysmal start that was delayed by injury. It’s not a coincidence that when he plays well, the team does well. When Karlsson is off or disengaged, all hell breaks loose.
On Thursday, he led all players with seven shot attempts, and four were on the net, but at no point did he didn’t sacrifice his position for the offense to make something more happen. It’s taken a long time, but Karlsson is an integral part of the team’s success … or failure.
2. Tristan Jarry
Give up bad goals, Penguins lose. Make big stops, Penguins win.
Duh, Kingerski, that’s true for every goalie. However, it’s especially true for the Penguins and Jarry, as the defense is collectively subpar, and Jarry’s inconsistencies have sometimes combined to create a mushroom cloud of bad hockey.
“I thought he played extremely well. I thought, especially in the first half of the second period, we got outplayed. We took a bunch of penalties. Our line changes were sloppy, and we ended up chasing the game a bit,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We gave up a goal on one (line change), we had a penalty on another, and it kind of gave them momentum. So I thought Jarry was there to make some timely saves, especially in that first half of the second period. And it gave our guys an opportunity to grab hold of it.”
Tuesday, Sullivan’s comments weren’t complimentary, and his body language when discussing Jarry was obviously dour. However, Sullivan rolled with Jarry for a third straight start–a clear sign the team is letting him claim the No. 1 job.
When I asked Sullivan on Monday morning if he felt Jarry was taking steps toward that goal, Sullivan answered in the affirmative.
“I think he is. I think he’s played extremely well. He’s getting better with every game he plays,” said the coach. “I give him a lot of credit. He’s worked hard to get back to where he’s at and he’s making timely saves for us. We feel like we have two quality guys when they’re at their best–and for a lot of last year, they were very good tandem for us. And I think (Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic)are approaching their best versions of themselves which, which gives us a real solid tandem.”
3. Newbies
The Penguins are 9-4-2 when Blake Lizotte is in the lineup.
Lizotte is also a big impact. His recent four-game scoring streak was nice, and it propelled the Penguins, but his larger contributions are energy and doing the dirty work. Sullivan probably hit on his best possible fourth line Thursday with Matt Nieto-Lizotte-Noel Acciari.
Moving Acciari to the wing is a huge boost to the player and the team. The Penguins possessing an effective shutdown line with energy and sandpaper is not a common sight.
Cody Glass also makes a noticeable difference sometimes. Sullivan has shuffled Glass around the lineup, from top-six winger to bottom-line center and everywhere in between. Yet when Glass has a chance to make an impact, he clearly elevates the players around him.
Glass has three points (1-2-3) in his last four games, while the Penguins have split them 2-2-0. The Penguins don’t yet know what to do with Glass, hence the shuffling, but when in the right situation, he’s a nice complementary player when the Penguins need a few more.
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“Moving Acciari to the wing is a huge boost to the player and the team” Now you’ve done it. (facepalm)
And I’m not convinced they’ve “turned a corner”. Here’s hoping.
Hahaha, definitely need a larger sample size before we say the team has turned the corner. Also, some more standings climbing needs to happen. They are trending better at least 👍🏻
Good job Pens!
Sid looked like Sid again last night. Kicked it up a notch, showing that he is (still) a truly special talent, not just another very good player. Not sure how long he’ll be able to do that, but it was wonderful to see. And his line, and his PP unit, were absolutely juiced by it. He was on ice and involved in producing 6 of 9 goals. Hopefully he can keep something close to that level rolling fairly consistently… Also, Pickering was outstanding last night, keeping things steady when Montreal was getting chippy and taking runs at guys. He didn’t… Read more »
They’re not “newbies” but the whole darn “oldies” top line was fantastic obviously. Big night for those guys.
First time Sid was engaged like that in awhile…if he gets going, a huge boost to this team…Tomasino doesn’t look like a 2nd liner…gets pushed around too easy and his defense is suspect…Lizotte and Glass are important pieces, and as soon as HCMS can figure out where to use them, the better…I would imagine all this juggling doesn’t help a player and his game…Montreal stinks, let’s keep that in mind…next 5-6 games are a huge stretch for the Pens, let’s hope we keep it going
It was Montreal, probably the worst team in the league. I’m not jumping on this train yet. Wait until they play the big teams, that 4th line will get wrecked.
Give Jarry nine goals to work with, and the guy is absolute money, I tell ya.