Penguins Grades: Depth Lineup, Which Players Helped Their Case to Stay?

Using a lineup sans seven of their best players including Sidney Crosby, and relying heavily on eight players who are not regulars and will most likely not play in pending Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins showed grit and tenacity in the face of their lack of high-end talent. Ultimately, that lack of talent and cohesion denied the Penguins the fruits of their efforts.

They tried. They fought back. But they were never the better team, on paper or on the ice, as the Washington Capitals kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Penguins 6-3 at PPG Paints Arena.

Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and Parker Wotherspoon did not play.

The Penguins had chances, but only one of the forward lines was complete with three NHL regulars who have routinely played together: Anthony Mantha-Tommy Novak-Justin Brazeau.

“Yeah, I think we stayed in the game. I didn’t think we let it get away from us,” said Rickard Rakell. “We had a chance up until they scored the empty net goal. So yeah, we definitely grabbed some looks today. But yeah, we’ve got to play better.”

The other three lines and two of the three defense pairs made their short-term debuts. And aside from the next two games, will probably never line up side-by-side again.

From the Penguins’ perspective, the game mattered a lot less than the performances. In this situation, the game was more like a preseason game, but with the energy and importance regular season game.

Washington desperately needed the win to keep their slim playoff chances, and the Penguins could have played spoiler. Instead, coaches were left to analyze the performances of several prospects, such as Rutger McGroarty, who want to make an impression to be the next player in the lineup when needed. And it was important for depth players, like Jack St. Ivany, who want to return to the lineup. The coaches will get a good look at those players over the last few games

“I think there was an opportunity tonight for guys to raise their hand, yes. I think that’s the way I would look at it, to be able to say, whether it’s an opportunity right away, or whether it’s an opportunity if needed (in the playoffs), ‘I want to be the next man. I want to be the person to show you,’ or to be knocking on the door right now,” said coach Dan Muse. “I think anytime somebody’s been out of the lineup and goes into the lineup, that opportunity is now there to make some noise, to make decisions difficult.”

Penguins Analysis

Washington was able to play a patient game with the Penguins’ mishmash lineup, collapsing around the net to absorb shots, waiting for missed passes and mistakes rather than exposing the underbelly of their defense to the Penguins’ rush game.

In many ways, it was a classic Penguins-Capitals game. Alex Ovechkin was largely held in check until there was an empty net. The Penguins played with speed. And the game was decided in a few moments.

Yes, the Penguins could have done much more to simplify their game, possess the puck down low, and get behind Washington’s defense.

“I think we competed hard. (Several) guys stepped in after being out for a while, and I think everyone did a great job,” Ryan Shea said. “The compete was there. Execution was off, but that’s going to happen. And guys, I guess, (were) a little tight and stuff, but everything opened up. And I thought we fought pretty hard.”

But the team also deserves a hall pass after clinching second place on Thursday and icing a gaggle of players with no experience together.

The inexcusable moments were both of Ryan Leonard’s goals when the Penguins failed to cover him near the net. On his second goal, perhaps all five Penguins players whiffed on their defensive zone coverage (Rickard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov, Ville Koivunen, Ryan Graves, and Ilya Solovyov).

Those mistakes were the regrettable moments that sank a spunky effort.

Who Rose, Who Sunk?

The Penguins had eight irregulars in the lineup.

Ville Koivunen: F

Koivunen played his 38th NHL game this season, but had little success in any zone. On Leonard’s second goal, he was late on the forecheck then drifted back to the defensive zone. He was 50 feet behind the play and not scurrying back.

Koivunen remains far too timid in the NHL. Part of that is a mental construct because he is a gritty agitator in the AHL but brings none of that in the NHL. Part is strength. The team has him in the weight room often in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. And part is the combination of all of the above. This summer will be the 22-year-old’s make or break moment. He needs to return next season stronger, a touch faster, and with an aggressive mindset to complement his playmaking skills with enough strength and moxie to play between the dots.

Rutger McGoarty: C

McGroarty did the little things. He went hard on the forecheck and got his nose over pucks on the wall. But his game lacked the bigger things, such as puck possession and possession in the offensive zone with intent.

Kevin Hayes: C

The place erupted when Hayes scored a goal on a rush which began with his exit from the penalty box in the second period. The players in the press box were even happier than the fans.

Hayes centered McGroarty and Avery Hayes, but the line did not do much in the offensive zone. Hayes remains a loyal soldier, and it was a moment everyone relished because there may not be many more.

Avery Hayes: C

Since his electrifying debut in Buffalo on Feb. 5, Hayes has contributed little in the offensive zone. He would do well to get in the corners and grind the puck and take it to the net, playing a greasy game. Hayes had one of the Penguins’ 11 shots on goal (scorers revised the final tally down from 12).

Injuries during the playoffs could reinsert Hayes into the lineup, and he would do well to remember where his bread is buttered.

Jack St. Ivany: B?

It was a good showing with a couple of black marks for the Penguins 6-foot-4 defenseman. Until suffering his latest injury in earlier March, St. Ivany was on track to become the team’s third-pair defenseman.

“It’s definitely difficult. You can get up and down the ice and do skills work, or hop on a bike and do sprints, but there’s nothing like playing a game. But at the end of the day, someone in my position, this role, there’s no excuses,” St. Ivany said. “So no matter what, you’ve got to be ready to go.”

Saturday, he took some offensive zone space and showed a little bit of skill. He dished two hits, too. He looked very good. However, he was also one of the culprits on Washington’s first and third goals because his turnovers set the plays in motion.

Perhaps St. Ivany’s breakout options were not in the right position, as the Washington forecheck caught him with the puck on the third goal. He swallowed it instead of getting it to better ice.

With more ice time, he has shown an ability to play a clean, simple game with a hint of offensive production. Over the final two games, he could be the one who puts his hand up.

Ryan Graves-Ilya Solovyov: Rough

Graves was out of sorts and the pairing with Solovyov has inherent challenges, such as a lack of speed and puck movement.

Graves was troublesome.

Regulars to Note

Sam Girard: “Yeah, (Erik Karlsson) had better watch out,” joked St. Ivany. But the quip was not without merit, because Girard was quite good. He danced with the puck. He looked like a No. 1 defenseman. So good.

Arturs Silovs: Good saves, but too many juicy rebounds. He did not gain ground on an effort to be the starting goalie for Game 1.

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