Pre-game
The Penguins look for Cody Ceci and, for the first time, Pierre-Olivier Joseph to fill in the gaps. Tristan Jarry back on the net for the first time in three games.
First period
It’s not really a big time in terms of process, for Pens that start out pretty slow and flat.
However, for a team that is coming into play allowing a league top 10 goals in the first period, they do not give up a goal in the first period. Tristan Jarry manages to keep the record off the network, which is a fun start.
In addition, Cody Ceci did a good thing, returning to the blue line and sending an apparently innocent shot that Bryan Rust is able to masterfully redirect Rangers goalkeeper Ilya Shesterkin. 1-0 Pens.
Shortly after the goal, Pittsburgh has no momentum when Kris Letang scores a penalty, but the Pens kill him. Otherwise, a very tedious period. Overall, the shots are 14-8 NYR. The 5v5 Corsi% was a division of 62.5-37.5% for the Rangers.
Second period
Despite the above with a little smoke and mirrors, the Pens broke up at the beginning of the second. Jake Guentzel suffered an unlucky penalty for running the disc over the glass just 32 seconds later. New York didn’t score, but the tone was set early. Shortly after the penalty expired, it seems that Brian Dumoulin just smells as he moves the puck up on the ice, he is checked by Phil Di Giuseppe and Chad Ruhwedel comes to help, but increases the likelihood of falling for some unknown reason. With the two Pens defenders in the corner, it is easy for Filip Chytil to have all day to dodge, eventually overcoming Jarry with a backhand stroke after a long time to prepare him.
A few minutes later, Sidney Crosby is whistled by a small, weak cut in the hands of an opponent. NYR makes money from the game of strength, Adam Fox throws a low, strong kick from afar, there is some traffic up front, but there was a lot of that side of the net open too. 2-1 Rangers.
24 seconds later, the bottom falls completely. New York scores points in the race when Jarry kicks the opening shot directly at Kaapo Kakko. 3-1
After giving up three goals at 3:01, Pittsburgh gives himself time to regroup and stop the bleeding. It seems to work to calm them down and break the momentum.
The Pens finally find a balance, a big change from Jason Zucker – Evgeni Malkin – Bryan Rust leads to several chances of goal and time within the zone. Malkin is disarmed so that the Pens have a power game. The second group starts and they finish it too. Jared McCann centers the disc to try to create chaos, and chaos is created when Ryan Lindgren apparently panics and, on all fours, throws the disc into his own net in a moment of desperation. 3-2 Rangers lead.
The second shots are 10-7 pens. They did well to play better in the second half of the period, but the first five minutes were very difficult.
Third period
The Pens connect a little, getting back within reach. Zucker, unfortunately, takes a penalty, but Pittsburgh kills him.
And then … 11:23 in the period, they attack with the equalizer. Good job from Kapanen at the entrance to the zone and to sort things out and go back to Joseph. Joseph kicks away, but Teddy Blueger makes a dy-no-mite move to quickly grab the puck while he kicks it off the end plate and quickly hits it on the net. 3-3 game.
Malkin turns the record right in front of his net and straight to Artemi Panarin, who has LONG been a thorn in the Pens side. But a sprawled Malkin also kicks his leg to block the shot and at least save his mistake.
The shots are 11-9 NYR in the third and 31-26 NYR overall in the game. But it’s tied up, so again we have ..
OT
Good action end to end, as always in 3v3, both sides have some chances. Both teams also hit a post. But the record is left out, which means …
Shooting
Round 1: Jake Guentzel goes to the backhand and raises …. Zibanejad is stopped by Jarry.
Round 2: Crosby goes and loses the net … Panarin slows down and shoots low and in the net.
Round 3: Letang’s classic move to simulate the shot, hit the backhand and lift it under the bar … Jarry stoned Tony DeAngelo and the Pens took the win.
Some thoughts
- Great game by Rust, 11 shots on goal and 12 attempts to shoot … Leaving the night he only had 7 SOG in 4 games, tonight was a big difference. After falling to the third row a few times in the last game, Rust was playing like a guy who wanted to be with Malkin today.
- Of course, the flip side is that the other 17 skaters not named Rust had a total of 18 SOG. Not the best. Malkin and Crosby had only 2 attempts at shooting in the night, one piece.
- Unforgettable night for Joseph. Debut in the NHL, check. First NHL point, check. (Okay, so it came from missing the net in one shot, but they don’t ask how). The Pens didn’t ask for much of him with just 13: 2 played, all in 5v5, but he had 3 SOGs, 3 hits and was not on the ice for any goal against. Good debut.
- Second game and second point for Kasperi Kapanen with the Pens. They are still taking him slowly to help ensure he is not getting into trouble, but so far, so good for him too.
- The Penguins have played 5 games this season …. In four games, they have lost 2 goals during the season. It is remarkable that they are 3-2 now.
- Jared McCann’s last goal before today was more than a year ago, January 14, 2020. There was a pandemic in the middle, but it would be nice if he could get warm.
- Blueger started very well this year and has been doing well in the offensive zone.
- Given the nature of what it was like at the beginning of the second period, it didn’t seem like a stable game for Jarry. But he recovered from his terrible rebound in Kakko’s goal, closing the door for almost 40 minutes and won a penalty the rest of the way. And made 31 saves overnight, providing the Pens’ first goalkeeper performance this season which was over 0.900% (0.911%). Not a big leap forward, but a small enough step.
- Cody Ceci played 18:53 (4th most among Penguin defenders), had an assist, 1 takeaway, 1 block, 2 hits. I thought he had a good game. Being scratched by some is not easy for any player to trust, especially one known for having high and low performances. But was Ceci, dare I say, quite tough and consistent tonight? Let’s see how long it lasts ..
- The other defender that everyone was looking for in his great comeback played 14:35 and was on the ice for 0 Rangers goals for, 2 Penguins goals and was on the ice for more shots and chances than for, despite the fact that his team in general to have made more kicks and chances. Who could have guessed? Atta boy Jack!
Unlock game keys (from preview)
# 1: Which bad defense hurts the most? I think the Pens defense had a bad night. Dumoulin made a serious mistake for NYR’s first goal. He still didn’t look normal this year, which is worrying, since he hasn’t looked the same since he suffered an ankle injury last season. In addition, Chad Ruhwedel is now counting on all of Pittsburgh’s current defensive injuries as a key player. He played 11:02 ES, partly possibly due to his confusion on that first goal as well. Even Pierre-Olivier Joseph played more ES than in his first game. Dumoulin recovered to play 26 minutes, with just that problem, he stands out. Letang had some moments of ups and downs, but at the end of the day he played a 29:42 game, scored an assist and scored the game’s decisive goal.
# 2: Seeking a good start, at least once. Well, it was a good start for the Pens. They did not allow a goal in the first period for the first time in the entire season and scored the first goal of the game. A bad start to the second period almost sank them, however, everything is fine when it ends well. The process was not so good, and really the case could leave the Pens horrible for the first 25 minutes in general, and they were very good in the last 45+ penalties. But we will start by considering not allowing any goals in the first period as a secondary form of progress.
# 3: floodgates for Geno? The numbers say that Malkin was dominant. Its 67.7% Corsi% led the Pens. As well as your score chance of 72.2% and 71.4% chance of scoring high danger. Just like its 1.19 5v5 xGF. Malkin also drew a penalty. He wasn’t always good, there were some bad decisions here and there … But really, the Pens’ second row was very dominant in terms of ball possession in this game. They scored a goal, in a deviation from Rust, but are working hard and generating TONS of chances. This was not a “floodgate” situation where he was rewarded for all that work … But it really seems close at this point.
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Ignore the first 5 minutes of the second period and the Pens looked fantastic tonight. Unfortunately, those minutes counted. Pittsburgh may be lucky enough to win yet another victory, but they feel very close to getting in shape and finding a way to try their best and play to their real potential. They still have some very bad mistakes, but the signs are starting to add up. Jarry took a small step forward today. Rust took a big step forward. That means taking a win, which is always a good night.