Penguins Report Card vs. Canadiens: A Few Standouts, Sergei Murashov Brilliance
Sergei Murashov made a few extra-special saves late in the second period and throughout the third. Tristan Broz sniped a power-play goal in the first period and was stellar on the penalty kill. And defenseman Connor Clifton hit everything that moved, and maybe a few things that didn’t.
The Penguins lost 2-1 in the shootout to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, but the score mattered less than the price for a new corded phone, tube TV, or Nirvana CD–all things obsolete before most of the Penguins’ lineup was born.
Sorry if you feel old after that litany or technology more suited to the Flintstones. Oops, I did it again. And again.
For the first time in two decades, the Penguins iced a young team that was not an embarrassing mishmash of long-shot prospects and free-agent hopefuls getting schlacked by a stacked home team.
In the first preseason game for both teams, the scrappy Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, full of prospects and second-chance players, relatively dominated Montreal’s NHL-regular heavy lineup for a couple of periods and held on for the third.
Broz whipped a top corner shot from the right circle in the first period for the Penguins’ only goal, though they had plenty of chances.
After two periods, the Penguins’ lineup, which included only three guaranteed NHL regulars, outshot the Canadiens 26-13. Potential rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke led the team with five shots after 40 minutes. Former Canadiens winger Rafael Harvey-Pinard had three shots, but more importantly, had numerous disruptive forechecks that created possession and scoring chances.
Perhaps the scorekeepers were in preseason form as they awarded Clifton only three hits in the first 40 minutes, but he had two on one shift in the first period and several more following it.
The Penguins ‘ high-intensity training camp clearly carried over to the first preseason game, and they were able to outplay and outhustle the Canadiens.
After Joel Blomqvist stopped all 11 shots he faced, the Penguins switched goalies to Murashov, who did his best Vladimir Tretiak impression beginning later in the second period. He began the desperation saves with a sterling point-blank save, then scrambled to stop the rebound. In the final minutes of the second period, Murashov’s leg pad appeared out of nowhere to stop a power-play one-timer by electric rookie Ivan Demidov.
And, after dishing a hard hit, 2019 Penguins first-round pick Sam Poulin dropped the gloves for a 15-round fight with Jared Davidson. Poulin, who is sporting a new buzz cut in favor of his former blond mullet, took several right hands before rallying to connect with several as well.
In his four-year pro career, Poulin has just four fights, but two of those were last February. Fists are a different path to the show for Poulin, but one he didn’t shy away from.
However, the star-studded Canadiens flexed in the third period, and that 26-13 Penguins shot advantage was down to 30-26 nine minutes later, and Montreal tied the game 1-1 when Owen Beck scored on the third chance near the crease.
The Penguins’ defensive game broke down in the third, and Murashov was sprawling post to post. Most of the third period was about the Penguins hanging on and Montreal attacking.
Murashov stopped 17 of 18 to force extra time and two more in OT.
Oliver Kapanen scored on a sick sweeping forehand deke in the fifth round of the shootout for the winner.
Penguins Analysis
The Penguins were good from the drop. As Tommy Novak said Monday morning, the first preseason game is always sloppy, and players are just getting their legs. Most must fight through fatigue and heavy legs later in the game.
The talent disparity was not in the Penguins’ favor, but their work ethic swung the game for the first two periods.
There were plenty of performances to like. In fact, the young players attacked with vigor. It likely brought a smile to general manager Kyle Dubas’s face.
Penguins Report Card
Sergei Murashov: A
You got a good look at what comes next for the Penguins’ goaltending. Murashov was brilliant, but he was also a bit too scrambly. It really was like watching a green Marc-Andre Fleury. So much talent, but some refinement is needed.
“Not surprised at all (about his play). He’s such a stud, you know? I love him so much,” said Broz. “I wish we could have got that win for him. He deserved it, but he’s such a great player and such an inspiring person, so it was fun to see him do his thing out there. And you know I’m sure he’ll build and get better off of it.”
Tristan Broz: A
Fit this kid for an NHL sweater. A power play goal. Good penalty killing. He tapered as the game got longer, but that’s to be expected, especially for a young player still learning how to fight through the rigors of the highest level.
Broz showed his speed, vision, and complete game while playing with Anthony Mantha and Boko Imama. He was a good bet to make the team, but in Kevin Hayes’s injury absence, which will last into October, Broz’s NHL candidacy got a good boost.
Avery Hayes: C+
Hayes didn’t have the high points that others had. He had a couple of shots in 15 minutes. It was an OK performance, but if he hopes to make the NHL squad next month, he’ll need to be a bit better.
Harrison Brunicke: B
Brunicke showed he could face top-shelf NHL competition. Brunicke zipped around the ice in the first period, even getting a good scoring chance from 10 feet. However, Brunicke was also on the ice for the second-most scoring chances against.
Brunicke was paired with Owen Pickering.
“You saw some times there, they got moving a little bit in the offensive zone, and they were able to get some motion,” said Muse. “I thought the D corps as a whole, especially early on, the breakouts were good, and guys were working to support each other. And so I thought overall it was a solid night there for them.”
It’s tough to judge a defenseman when the other team dominates play, so we’ll give Brunicke the benefit of the doubt, but his exemplary first period receded.
Ryan Graves: F
Graves took a couple of bad minor penalties and was otherwise noticeable but not for the good.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard: A
The lack of a + is nitpicking. Harvey-Pinard was all over the ice. He was at the net, he was on the puck on the walls, and chasing down defensemen. It might be tempting for coach Dan Muse to imagine the havoc of a Harvey-Pinard and Blake Lizotte combination on the fourth line.
Ben Kindel: B
It’s a soft B for Kindel, who played well in the defensive zone and showed his hockey IQ with a couple of nice defensive plays. He had one shot on goal and wasn’t otherwise an impactful player in the offensive zone.
Penguins Lineup
12 – Robby Fabbri
14 – Boko Imama
15 – Joona Koppanen
18 – Tommy Novak
22 – Sam Poulin
26 – Tristan Broz
39 – Anthony Mantha
43 – Danton Heinen
48 – Valtteri Puustinen
49 – Rafael Harvey-Pinard
81 – Ben Kindel
84 – Atley Calvert
85 – Avery Hayes
Defense
5 – Ryan Shea
24 – Matt Dumba
27 – Ryan Graves
38 – Owen Pickering
45 – Harrison Brunicke
50 – Finn Harding
75 – Connor Clifton
GOALIES
1 – Sergei Murashov
30 – Joel Blomqvist
Categorized: Pittsburgh Penguins