Train Keeps Rolling: Penguins Analysis & Report Card vs. Ottawa

It was the Pittsburgh Penguins third straight win, Evgeni Malkin’s second consecutive game with three points, and the 12th time in 16 starts Tristan Jarry allowed two goals or less. The Penguins took the puck in the first and third periods, looked past the non-calls, and ignored the Ottawa Senators agitation to thoroughly beat Ottawa 5-2 at PPG Paints Arena on Monday night.

Penguins winger suffered a scary injury in the middle of the third period. Read more about it here. 

It could have been “Mike Sullivan slogan” night. The Penguins had to “just play” as Ottawa chipped, hacked, and whacked the Penguins but it was Ottawa that had the only two power plays.

Joseph Blandisi appeared to draw a pair of penalties in the first period, including when Cody Goloubef high-sticked Blandisi in the face which drew blood, but no call was made.

The Penguins’ “resilience” and “sticktoitiveness” were highlighted by their rapid response to both Ottawa goals. In the second period, Ottawa cut the Penguins lead to 2-1, but the Penguins scored just over 90 seconds later. Ottawa also closed the gap to 3-2, but again the Penguins scored one minute later.

Evgeni Malkin said the Penguins “played the right way,” in all three zones.

Indeed, the Penguins were flawless for large swaths of the game. Ottawa is also a quick, pesky team but they were no match for the Penguins, except for trying the Penguins patience with some first-class agitating.

The Penguins hit their marks as they executed in several phases of the game and were able to defend Ottawa’s risky gambit.