Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
A different vibe, an entirely different style of game, but the result was the same, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of clinching their first playoff spot since 2022. Sunday, they beat the Florida Panthers for the second consecutive day, and this time the Penguins pulled away for a 5-2 win at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins reduced their magic number to two. One win. If they beat the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, they are in. No questions asked.
“Yeah, to be honest, I don’t think there’s been that much conversation about it in here, though. I think everybody’s just kind of focused on the next day, and I think that’s been a really good mindset for us, especially since the schedule has been insane,” said Rust. “It will be nice to have a few days here to kind of recharge a little bit physically, but also mentally … I think we’ve put ourselves in a really good spot, and we’re looking forward to these last what is it? Five games and then heading to the ones after that.”
Actually, it’s four games. And “the ones after that” are indeed those Stanley Cup Playoff games. Notice there was no “if” in that statement.
Unlike the Penguins failed playoff run in the 2022-23 season that ended with them limping to the end, losing to the worst teams in the league and missing the postseason, this time, they are galloping toward the finish line, winning four of their last five games.
Adding more fuel to the high-scoring Penguins’ fire, Sidney Crosby appears to be getting healthier. His skating and timing are improving with each game. He had a goal and two assists Sunday.
Evgeni Malkin is feeling good. He had a pair of assists to complement Rickard Rakell’s two goals.
Despite a sleepy Sunday afternoon game in which fans were doing the wave in the second period (Hey, whatever keeps you here and in the game, have fun), there is another feeling that has engulfed the Penguins.
There is an air of inevitability.
This, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, home games with the season hanging in the balance and the sun shining outside will happen. You can feel it in the room. You can hear it when you talk to players and they don’t qualify the possibility with “if,” and they smile when thinking about their chance to fight for 34.5 pounds of silver.
With all the pressure on their shoulders following a few losses to top teams and their most ardent pursuers stacking wins, it has been the Penguins who have responded like quality teams should–with wins. And they are the second highest scoring team in the NHL.
“I don’t think it’s been one specific thing. I think it’s been different things (leading to our goals). You know, there’s been nights where we’ve had to score ugly ones. Our power play has been good. We’ve gotten shorthanded goals at different times,” Sidney Crosby said. “Definitely getting the lead goes a long way to that, as far as just teams having to open up and having to press and then (us) being able to capitalize when that happens … but the bottom line is, it’s hard to score, and you have to be willing to go to the net, regardless of who you’re playing and what time of year it is. That’s something that doesn’t get old. And we’ve done that consistently.”
The Penguins remained patient Sunday when Florida clamped down and tightened up their defensive posture. Despite gobs of criticism for a soft goal Saturday, Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs overcame another awkward goal in the first period Sunday and delivered a stellar performance.
Silovs’s second period saves preserved a tenuous lead before the Penguins pulled away with Rickard Rakell’s late second period goal and Bryan Rust’s early third period tally for a 5-1 lead.
One more win.
The momentum for a playoff berth has become an unstoppable progression toward a goal that was thought impossible at the start of the season. Now, it is inevitable, Mr. Anderson.
Penguins Analysis
Tactically, Florida planned to keep the game much closer than Saturday’s 9-4 drubbing, in which the Penguins rolled through center ice at full speed like a runway toward the net.
Sunday, the game was tighter from the start, and Florida understood their first task was to take away the middle of the ice. Which they did by bringing their F3 over the top of the forecheck to cut off the Penguins’ middle-up pass.
The Penguins hate that, but they should get used to a healthy dose of it in the playoffs. In fact, coach Dan Muse seemed a little down on the team’s clean-up operations from Saturday to Sunday.
“We got two points. I mean, there were some things that I think we can clean up for sure. I thought we got away from some things, actually, that worked (Saturday), especially in the first two periods,” said Muse. “At the same time, you look at where we’re at, this time of year, two points are so important, and to get that done on a back to back. It’s hard against the same opponent. They’re going to come in angry.”
With Florida cutting off the highway, figuratively forcing the Penguins to take the scenic route up the ice. The Penguins had controlled zone entries, primarily along the wings, but also plenty of turnovers as they forced the puck into the middle.
Eventually, the Penguins broke Florida’s structure. As Crosby duly noted in the larger context, as the Penguins’ lead grew, Florida could not play conservative. Later in the second period and especially in the third, the wheels of the Penguins’ rush game began turning as Florida opened up.
Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust scored goals off the rush in which they were alone near the net. The Penguins’ finish is a strong suit—when teams allow them speed and opportunity; the Penguins have been finishing with great efficacy.
Penguins Report Card
Team: B+
Florida would not make a weekend sweep easy, but the Penguins’ depth was a significant factor. The second period was a three-coffee affair with an energy drink chaser. At any point, the game could have gone south as the Penguins took bad penalties and lacked their connectivity. Goalie Arturs Silovs held the line in the second period and the start of the third.
Muse summed up well the Penguins’ best quality Sunday.
“Probably the thing that I liked the most from tonight, I thought we responded at the right times. When things weren’t going well, like the first goal, I didn’t like where we were at,” Muse said. “And then we had a response to that. You know, Elmer (Soderblom) goes out, his line goes out, and he scores a goal, picks up the puck, and now momentum is on our side. (Rakell’s) goal at the end of the second, that was a big goal for us to have that then. So I thought we were good in those moments that ended up carrying a lot of weight.”
Arturs Silovs: A-
Florida’s first goal was a wrist shot that hit his mask, then surprisingly caromed down through his five-hole across the line. Soft goal. Weird goal. Otherwise, Silovs was a difference maker. If he had allowed any of Florida’s high-quality power play chances or open looks in the third past, it would have been a different game. He earned his praise Sunday. He also enjoyed playing back-to-back games.
“Actually, I felt much better in the second game than in the first,” Silovs said.
Silovs is a starter type goalie. Some goalies need a lot of games, and not every netminder can be a 1A or backup. The Penguins may need to factor that into future decision making.
“Oh, yeah, for sure. I would like to play more. And, yeah, I think when you play more, you get used to it and you find the rhythm better,” Silovs said. “And I think it’s like the rhythm you need to practice less and concentrate more on the games.”
Rickard Rakell: A
“He’s a machine right now,” said Bryan Rust.
Yeah, that about sums it up. Rakell had a pair of goals, but the line was ever present in the offensive zone and dangerous. He’s very much adapting to center and his game is blossoming at both ends. Now, if assistant coach Nick Bonino could just help him improve on the dot (0-for-3), he would be a true No. 2 center.
Parker Wotherspoon: A
The Penguins’ quiet first-pair defenseman gets high marks not just for taking care of his own zone, but for sticking up for teammate Connor Dewar after Matthew Tkachuk cross-checked him from behind. Wotherspoon didn’t wait to throw hands. If Wotherspoon didn’t respond, Florida is the type of team that will keep going until you do. Or they have intimidated you.
Mix and Match
–The fourth line was not as good Sunday as they were Saturday, but the hockey gods still put a goal on Elmer Soderblom’s stick when Tarasov’s clearing attempt went right to him. They didn’t dominate the low zone, but there was still plenty to like.
–Ben Kindel does the little things well, but the line with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau was out of sorts. In fact, Muse apologized to Brazeau for giving him only seven shifts. Still, Kindel was forcing the play to the middle and had a few turnovers in doing so.
–Tommy Novak. He was present and noticeable, but he did little with his high-danger scoring chances, putting suboptimal shots on goal in a couple of them.
–Sam Girard has settled. He’s now playing his game with some consistency; it’s not a good game or a spike. He’s playing well; he’s stepping forward into the offensive zone and moving the puck out of the defensive zone, and around the offensive zone crisply.
Tags: Penguins Analysis Penguins game
Categorized:Penguins Analysis