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Penguins can trick you when it comes to certain things.
They can trick you into the structure. They can deceive you as to the goal. Evgeni Malkin is deceiving you in production. The cataclysmic wounded defense corps is being tricked by luck.
But penguins are not deceiving you when it comes to effort.
You see this on Twitter, with each team, when that team is losing, and the Penguins are no exception: “These guys need to try harder!”
But penguins couldn’t do more.
The Penguins are losing in the third period of their last three wins.
They were tied after two periods in their other two wins.
They are 4-1 when the game goes beyond the regular 60 minutes.
Penguins fight to the end. They are heroic in the most awkward of fashions. They dig holes, but keep going up. They create their own problems, then (mostly) solve them.
This is the most slippery of the slopes. But for now, it will have to do.
The Penguins found a useful formula at the end of Saturday’s 5-4 victory over host New York Rangers: after Jake Guentzel scored the remaining 10:42 in the third period, they played disciplined and intelligent systematic hockey for the rest of the regulation. They were not conservative to the point of cowardice, nor adventurous to the point of stupidity.
They made sure to get a point, so Sidney Crosby won the game in overtime.
Perhaps they were shocked to play like this because Kris Letang left the game injured, further damaging his broken defense. Maybe they finally realized that they are not as fast as they used to be and think they still are. It may have been a coincidence or an accident.
But this is how Penguins need to play all the time.
If the Penguins play buttoned up and close to the vest, their individual talent will shine just enough to win many games. Like Saturday: Enter Crosby.
But if they try to show their superiority by playing the open style that won the championships in 2016 and 17, well … the Penguins are not so superior now. They are 0-3-1 against Boston and Philadelphia, the Eastern division class.
The Penguins provided some points of discussion:
• Newcomer PO Joseph moved from the taxi squad to the top pair in a week. Much of this was dictated by injury, but he more than deserved his support. He has over-4 with four assists in five games. His style has skill, speed and elegance. He can hit an elongated pass.
If Joseph continues to play like this, he will have to stay in line when all the defenders are healthy. Unless he doesn’t. A site would have to be opened. Marcus Pettersson would be easier to trade and bring more returns than Mike Matheson. The problem is, you need a GM to do business.
• The Penguins have the worst goalkeeper in the NHL. The numbers don’t lie and they mean disaster for you at Sacrifice. Part of this can be attributed to poor structure and defensive injuries. More can be blamed for not stopping the disc.
Tristan Jarry’s relaxed attitude is often cited as positive. Or maybe Jarry is not intense enough to be the number one goalkeeper. You never know until a goalkeeper is in that position.
Two of Matt Murray’s main flaws were playing too deep in the net and working with the ineffective stick. Now we see the same in Jarry. He still handles the disc well, but failing to check when the disc is close to the blue paint costs him. When the same weaknesses prevail in a team’s goalkeepers, it is fair to question the work of goalkeeper coach Mike Buckley.
• The Penguins championship window is closed. But the organization does not believe that. This means that an experienced and ready GM will likely be hired to replace Jim Rutherford. Think of Rutherford in 2014, not Ray Shero in 2006. Think of Ron Hextall or Dale Tallon, not of assistant GM Chris McFarland of Colorado or any of the interested assistant GMs.
The best choice (if the Penguins want to wait) is GM Tom Fitzgerald of New Jersey, a former GM assistant in Pittsburgh under Rutherford. Your contract expires in June, but the Demons can renew it. Waiting to see it would mean a long “tentative” period for Patrik Allvin.
Fitzgerald, GM Bill Guerin of Minnesota, and assistant GM of Seattle, Jason Botterill, were already in line at the Penguins’ office, waiting to succeed Rutherford. No more.
• A lot of swashbuckling Canadian media pointed out that Crosby could leave the Penguins in the off-season and play for a Canadian team, something that idiots have tried to wish to happen since 2005. Twitter made this speculation a possibility, which was the idea together : To unleash a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It is impossible to say 100% that it will not happen, but Crosby never made the slightest noise to leave.
Also, if Crosby does, penguins shouldn’t be listening. The most affordable years of his 12-year contract are coming: Crosby will earn just $ 3 million a year from 2022-25. Penguins may not fight, but they still need to sell tickets.
Athletes are employees. It’s about what the team needs, not what the player wants. A contract is a contract.
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Mark Madden Columns | Penguins / NHL | sports