Pittsburgh Penguins: Mike Johnston Watch Begins
After falling to the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night 3-2, and to an 0-3 overall record, the Mike Johnston watch has begun. Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, Johnston, easily occupies the hottest seat in the NHL. Every team in the NHL will lose three straight. And every team will have a few games, which make the coach’s hair fall out. However, after trolling the locker room and Johnston’s post game press conference, it is clear the winless, disorganized start is magnified compared to a January walkabout.
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Even Johnston acknowledged an 0-3 start stings.
What you may not have seen on TV, for his post game chat, Johnston was slightly disheveled. His hair was mussed. His face was flushed. His first few answers were unsteady. He stumbled over his words. The unease was palpable. He did not have the look of a confident coach excited for things to come. He instead looked like a coach who understood another loss or two could result in the end of his head coaching tenure.
Some observations from the press box:
–Johnston failed to separate the Crosby line from the Montreal Canadiens top defensive pairing of Andre Markov-P.K. Subban. The Canadiens top pairing is one of the best in the NHL and effectively cancelled numerous offensive pressures from the Penguins top unit. With the home ice advantage, Johnston’s inability or refusal to help his top line is, at best, inexplicable.
–Tied 1-1 in the second period, with momentum and the Consol crowd finally awake, the Penguins took a bench penalty for too many men on the ice. The Canadiens promptly converted the man advantage into a 2-1 lead. The Penguins played catch up for the remainder of the evening. Bench penalties generally reflect upon the coaches.
–The Penguins shot high over Canadiens goalie, Carey Price‘s glove five times in the first period, but finished with only four shots on goal in the period.
—Beau Bennett is off to a good start in his quest to establish himself as an NHL player, finally. Not only has Bennett looked increasingly dynamic with newly acquired center Nick Bonino, Bennett created his first goal of the season with a defensively responsible effort in the second period. Bennett faked glove side on Price (see above), before a flick of the wrists sent the puck low blocker side. It was a goal scorer’s goal.
–The Penguins are not pressuring the scoring zone or gaining net screens. Too often the Pens are playing along the wall, looking for connecting passes or pretty plays instead of overwhelming the dirty areas in front of the net. Crosby has been especially guilty, he has stayed along the wall while top line LW Chris Kunitz has failed to provide a net screen. Johnston cited the lack of net screens in his post game chat.
–The Penguins seem intent on convincing Daniel Sprong that he is not ready for the NHL. The fourth line has been chaotic and Sprong has made mistakes in his own zone, including a lazy backcheck which allowed his man to score the game winning goal in Phoenix. His compete level on the puck leaves much to be desired, but he has also created offense with the likes of Matt Cullen and Kevin Porter. After getting benched late in the second period, Sprong was tentative and unsteady when he returned to the ice five minutes into the third period. For the first time since his arrival in Pittsburgh, Sprong looked unsure of himself. Further, Johnston put Sprong on the left-wing, his off-wing, while Porter was moved to the right-wing. Sprong struggled to accept a couple passes on his backhand. The Pens can ill-afford to stunt the development of another young, gifted player.
–I have seen Kris Letang at his best. I have seen Letang struggling. Last night, I saw Letang coast. He stood flat-footed in his own zone. He was slow to get back on a couple of occasions, each of which allowed the Canadiens an extra shot or puck possession.
—Brian Dumoulin has strong offensive instincts or puck luck. He put himself in prime position for several scoring chances and showed patience with the puck. He may have some technical deficiencies, but he appears to have more to offer than skating beside Rob Scuderi.
–The Pittsburgh Penguins patchwork defensive pairings are not the best of both worlds, but instead the worst. The team should reunite the top pairing of Olli Maatta and Kris Letang. Dumoulin could slide to the second pairing with Lovejoy, or Cole could become the dominant D on the pair. Adam Clendening and Ian Cole could make for a very interesting third pairing. Much more so than Rob Scuderi and Dumoulin.
–The team’s reliance on defensemen to provide offensive pressure at the top of the zone is creating odd-man rushes for the opposing team. The above changes would help, but a shift in philosophy would help more.
–The Penguins did not announce a sellout. For a home opener, a failure to sell out is a huge story. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in desperate need of restoring fan confidence in the team. Under ordinary circumstances, Mike Johnson would be safer. However, declining fan support while Wall Street bankers solicit offers for the team is not ideal.
–The Canadiens canned Jacques Demers four games into 1995. The Penguins fired Ivan Hlinka four games into 2001 season. The Flyers fired Peter Laviolette three games into 2013. After a 1-3 start, the Blackhawks fired Chicago icon Denis Savard four games into 2008. The Hawks then hired some guy named Joel Quenneville. It is early in the season. It also happens. Consider the Johnston watch officially underway.
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