Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
LOS ANGELES — A couple of tweaks, an addition, and some help from social media. As the Pittsburgh Penguins room deals with the growing chatter of impending trades, or at least general manager Kyle Dubas’s desire for them, coach Dan Muse has kept toiling.
Saturday, Muse did something that his predecessor was loathe to do by uniting Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the same line, officially. Former coach Mike Sullivan would unite them from time to time late in periods or as a reset during games, but it has been quite a while since they were written onto the same line before the game.
Prior to Saturday’s win over the LA Kings, the Penguins had flat-out stunk. The coach turned to Crosby and Malkin for several reasons, and part of Muse’s reasoning was a mental refresher.
“It plays a role. I think we’re always looking at things. I mean, sometimes it’s you’re just trying to generate a little more. Sometimes, you’re trying to spread things out. Sometimes it’s just mixing it up a little bit to give it a little bit of a different feel,” said Muse. “So those things are always being looked at from game to game, so it was something we wanted to look at going into the day.”
Malkin had three assists. Crosby had two goals, though their overall 5v5 performance was only OK. It started slow and got better through the game, but the Penguins’ best line from the drop and throughout the game was the newly formed second line.
Tommy Novak submitted his best game of the season as part of the new second line with Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov. It doesn’t hurt the cause that Chinakhov seems to be breaking out of his early-season malaise, and the line was exceptional. At one point later in the second period, the line had more shot attempts and scoring chances than the other three lines combined.
Saturday morning, PHN talked with Novak about his role on the line and how he saw it unfolding.
“Yeah, we’re excited. Obviously, we’re looking for wins. We’re looking for things to change up,” Novak told PHN. “I’ve played with Chinakhov a lot. You know how he plays, and Ben and I play together a decent amount too. And yeah, I’m excited. Two great players, and Ben and I will both play a little bit of center, so it could be good that way.
“I don’t know (if I’ll be the playmaker). I think all three of us can make plays and finish too. So I think we’ll have to just work as a unit and support each other best we can.”
Novak finished a pair of rebounds at the net front Saturday.
Sergei Murashov
The Penguins goalie was recently the subject of quite a bit of fan angst. After all, Murashov does come with some hype but had only one win in his first 10 NHL starts. A few recent rough games that were in part his doing and in part spectacularly shoddy defending in front of him fed some fears that he wasn’t ready for the big show.
Murashov quieted his mind and quieted those fears with a stellar win Saturday in which he stopped 26 of 28 but did so with a quiet presence. He was not swimming in the crease or lunging. Murashov was square to pucks and held his technique, even as LA generally dominated the net-front battle.
However, after the game, Murashov veered off the topic of his performance to use the assembled media to send a message to a goalie he’s never met: Devin Cooley of the Calgary Flames.
Like Murashov, Cooley can veer off topic and deliver some intense and introspective insights. Recently, the Calgary goalie has discussed the mental challenges of being the one position that is individually responsible. Depression and anxiety can be unwanted companions behind the mask.
Murashov isn’t big on social media but wanted to use the assembled media to send a message to Cooley.
“But one thing, I want to pass a media message to Devin Cooley. I saw he was really popular recently, and like most of the goalies is going through something like he’s talking about, but not a lot actually speaks aloud,” Murashov said. “So, just thank you to him for what he’s saying, and it helps. It genuinely just helped me a little bit too. So, but again, (the win) is not the key to the universe. There is a lot of work ahead, and just keep going.”
Given both’s penchant for answers and discussions far deeper than their peers past and present, one could only imagine the conversation when they meet. It would not be for the superficial.
Evgeni Malkin
Malkin notched three assists Saturday and, in doing so, passed another Hockey Hall of Fame member on the all-time points list. Malkin passed Adam Oates for 20th all time (1421). Next on Malkin’s progression is a name familiar to Penguins fans: Bryan Trottier at 1925.
Malkin could pass the next two as well. Teemu Selanne at 1457 is 18th, and Stan Mikita is 17th with 1467 points.
The Penguins great would have to play beyond this season to get any higher on the all-time list, as he’s 110 points behind another member of the Penguins’ 1991 Stanley Cup team, Paul Coffey (1531), for 16th.
The only other active player in pursuit is Patrik Kane, who is 24th with 1409 points, and counting.
Dealing with Trade Talk
Players in the Penguins room are keenly aware that tenures may be coming to an end, but one aspect of the Penguins’ veteran room is that they’ve been there, done that, and know it will persist tomorrow.
Rickard Rakell repeated his answer that he’s been hearing his name in trade rumors for three years.
“They’re there when you’re playing good. They’re there when you’re playing bad,” said Rakell. “It’s when you’re in the middle (they disappear).”
Novak has also been through the process. His name popped in trade rumors for a year before former Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz included him in the trade to the Penguins for Michael Bunting.
This season, Novak is tied with Nick Robertson for the team lead with seven goals, and is tied with Evgeni Malkin for most points among the forwards (14).
While Novak has been casually mentioned in speculation, his three-year extension with a $4.65 million hit doesn’t begin until next season, and he’s unlikely to be on the block. The new contract was a show of good faith and belief by the Penguins management, who have been high on Novak.
“I mean, I try not to look too much, but yeah, it’s kind of just the nature of the sport. So, I mean, I try not (to look) too, too much. Just focus on what we can do to be better, and that’s about it,” Novak said.
“I think maybe a little bit (it gets easier having been through it before). Early in my career, it was harder to not look at everything and stuff. But now it’s … yeah, I think it’s gotten easier throughout (my career) and just being a little bit older and kind of understanding how it goes.”