Pittsburgh Penguins: Preseason Ebbs and Flows Continue
By Mike Necciai
As the Pittsburgh Penguins make their way through training camp and preseason, the ebbs and flows of these players are coming to light in a big way. We’re watching as newcomers and prospects improve right in front of us, while others with high expectations falter.
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Despite the score of yesterday’s contest and a Pittsburgh loss, the game was extremely entertaining to watch. It had a great pace for most of the tilt and we saw a lot of skill on display. It’s obvious that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets will be a future rivalry that should prove very exciting for spectators.
Pittsburgh stifled their own chance at a victory with the unnecessary major that Tom Sestito took. It led to three minutes of shorthanded play that resulted in two goals, both following a Columbus goal that came during 4v4 play while Brandon Dubinsky served his minor from the same altercation. The call was questionable, as Dubinsky probably deserved a major as well. But, either way, it was a useless antic that would have resulted in a forfeited two points if this was the regular season.
Meet Your Top Line for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Is there really any question at this point that Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel belong on the ice together? I understand that this is preseason and the competition isn’t exactly what they’ll face once October arrives but the three of them seem to complement each other perfectly.
My biggest takeaway with Kessel and Crosby working together is their zone entry. The speed of which they attack the neutral zone and how effective they put defenders on their heels is a very underrated part of how well they work together.
Also, another underrated piece of this trio is Kessel’s playmaking ability. Many overlook his hockey IQ and general awareness, as well as his passing ability due to viewing him as a pure sniper. But, this play behind the net which led to a cross-crease setup for Crosby shows exactly what I’m talking about.
Kunitz works really well on this line as well and despite his fall off last year, I fully expect a bounce back season from him. We’ve all discussed that his underlying numbers didn’t match his production and the surprising downward spiral he experienced. This season, with Sid and Kessel, I’d expect a fairly productive year from the 36-year old.
Sergei Plotnikov Adapting Nicely to North American Ice
Plotnikov is a guy that we’re seeing a lot of in the preseason and for good reason. The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t quite sure what they have with the large Russian winger and need to assess where he fits in this lineup.
Prior to last night he looked as if he’d start the year on the fourth line while he adapts to the smaller ice and less time and space. He seemed shocked by the speed of which players were in his face but since then, he has made nice strides in his transition.
During yesterday’s tilt against Columbus, he made multiple plays that led to scoring chances, most of which came from his physical play and bulldog approach to the dirty work in the corners and around the net. You’ll notice from the highlight video below that number 61 is quite prevalent throughout the bright spots for Pittsburgh.
Clendening Impressive While Battling for a Roster Spot
Adam Clendening, acquired in the trade that sent Brandon Sutter to the Vancouver Canucks, has been a pleasant surprise so far through two weeks of training camp.
The 22-year old was a surprise ‘throw-in’ in the deal, which also included a draft pick upgrade for Pittsburgh. He’s viewed as an offensive-minded defenseman but we’re quickly learning that he’s also very responsible in his own end. At this point in camp, I’d venture to say that he has placed himself above Derrick Pouliot on the depth chart. The coaches may not see it the same way, as Pouliot has been assumed to be in Pittsburgh’s top-four this season but there’s definitely a case to be made here.
With Mike Johnston planning to carry eight defensemen at the start of the season, it’s likely Clendening will find a spot on the roster.
A Few Penguins Battling ‘Low Tide’
The aforementioned Pouliot is a player that has disappointed so far in camp. He’s a player that I expect to stand out and as of right now, he hasn’t. When he has been a standout, it hasn’t been for positive reasons. Dating back to prospect camp in Pittsburgh, Pouliot has looked lethargic and somewhat lost on the type of game he’s aiming for.
The goaltenders, outside of Marc-Andre Fleury, have also been less-than-stellar so far. Matt Murray made a few solid saves but has yet to turn in an overly impressive performance. Jeff Zatkoff, the presumed backup for the Pittsburgh Penguins, was lit up during shorthanded play yesterday in Columbus. It’s hard to fault a goaltender in that situation but it’s worrisome that no one is stepping up to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Sergei Gonchar and Rob Scuderi have been exactly what many expected and that isn’t a good thing. Both have shown their age and inability to compete with the younger, faster NHL. All indications point to both being on the roster for different reasons and if that means losing someone like Clendening to waivers, it’s something the Pens will regret tremendously.
Thanks for reading. Give me a follow on Twitter at @Michael29Angelo and keep here at PensLabyrinth.Com for all the latest.
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