After a 2-1 win Saturday over the punchless Toronto Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a two game winning streak.
However, momentum, if any, feels faint. The team is still lost and finding its way. In some areas there was improvement. In others, notably the power play, they still stink. So, from the press box of an empty barn, here are Saturday’s grades:
Emotional Engagement: C-
It is a term I first heard Bob Gainey use when he fired Guy Carbonneau as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, despite a winning record, in 2012; emotional engagement. It is a succinct and nice way of saying a team is playing with heart and desire. During a death spiral, which nearly cost them a playoff berth last season, and to begin this season, the Penguins have shown talent, but their emotional engagement has not been sufficient. They did the right things, but it was not with the full force and power of the heart.
With their coach’s back against the wall, the Penguins showed sufficient emotional engagement Thursday, against Ottawa. They showed a similar engagement to begin the contest with the Maple Leafs, but failed to recapture it, until the late in the third period.
That collective heart, which quickens the pulse, which makes the energy impossible to contain and the desire for the puck palpable, is not on the level of the other Eastern Conference contenders. That was obvious in the loss to Montreal, last Tuesday.
There isn’t a single, magic formula for creating emotional engagement, but the Pens haven’t even found one. Their talent allows them to win games, but their heart is too often missing.
Evgeni Malkin: A.
“Geno” handed Patric Hornqvist a few grade A chances. It was Malkin, who scored the Penguins first goal on an unassisted end to end rush. It was Malkin, who checked Dion Phaneuf behind the Maple Leafs net, stole the puck, then nearly set up Daniel Sprong in front. If it was a Penguins offensive chance, it was Evgeni Malkin.
David Perron’s much improved play has also contributed mightily to the best line on the team. Perron’s new game, which included an increased amount of jam, gets an honorable mention.
Power Play: F.
It’s bad. If it were a horse, it would be shot. If it were a car, it would be abandoned on a West Virginia highway. If it were on a date, the date would excuse herself to go to the bathroom…and never come back. It’s not on par with Mexican water, but the results for Penguins fans may be the same.
When asked post game if they’ll be patient or make changes, Johnston answered quickly, “We’ll make changes”.
When asked about solutions for the powerplay, Malkin, who moments earlier was taking pride in helping his team win, just shook his head. At a loss for words, he muttered “I don’t know” at least three times, with an exasperated sigh peppering the exchange.
After two periods last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs had as many short-handed shots as the Penguins had power play shots; two. Over 5 games, counting the scoring opportunities with the man advantage would be easy. You wouldn’t need more than one hand.
Undetectable are set plays. Cohesive give and goes. Even simple player movement without the puck is largely non-existent.
The Penguins fail to set up the power play and control the puck, putting pressure on the penalty killers. They are failing to “push” the scoring zones, collapsing the opponents into a smaller box and peppering the net with shots and fighting for rebounds.
In short, they are failing.
Before the game, Johnston said when his top players get going, so will the power play. That is incorrect, and the post game comments indicate Johnston has lost patience with getting his stars in rhythm. A power play need not include star power. Many teams lack the Penguins glittering All-Stars, but ice power plays capable of creating chances, pressure and, yes, goals.
The architect of the power play is Rick Tocchet, and he must shoulder a heaping dose of the blame. If Crosby isn’t playing well along the left wall, move him. If he’s not working well down low, move him. If Letang isn’t getting pucks on net, move him. Since the power play explosion early last season, which ended in mid-November, the Penguins power play has been below league average.
That’s a long time to have a bad power play with such good players.
Top Line: C+
Phil Kessel is a treat to watch. And I mean a Christmas morning type treat (apologies to my Jewish friends for the early yuletide reference). The puck follows Kessel around the ice and it is easy to see how he became a perennial 30 goal scorer playing alongside much less talented players.
For the first time in his career, Sidney Crosby looks offensively lost. The great superstar is a step behind Kessel, literally and figuratively, so while the line may get scoring opportunities, those chances are coming from Kessel’s stick and work.
Chris Kunitz. His picture will soon appear on a milk carton. He is missing in action. If there is anyone who can find his game, the Penguins would surely like to hear from them. The former Olympian is currently akin to the invisible , line mates who have dotted most of Crosby’s career.
The line gets a C+ because of Crosby’s excellent two-way game and Kessel’s dynamic ability.
Pittsburgh Penguins Overall Grade: C.
Oct 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Daniel Sprong (41) reacts after being named the number one star of the game against the Ottawa Senators at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
While it may be counter-intuitive and against logic, it is not coincidence the Penguins played their best game of the season Thursday with Bobby Farnham, Adam Clendening and a larger role for Daniel Sprong.
If you are an astute hockey observer, you may have noticed a few of Clendening’s gaffes. Or Bobby Farnham’s inability to provide offensive creativity. You may have also noticed the sparks of energy. Those things will never show up on a stat sheet and are sometimes stealth to even those inside the locker room. But they exist.
Every team needs a heart and soul. Every team needs a couple of guys who bring intangibles. Right now, the Penguins are a team with every tangible, and few intangibles.
The Penguins now sit 2-3, however, few of the early season questions have been answered. They beat a Toronto team, which has little ability to score, yet had Marc Andre Fleury not been stellar in goal, the Leafs may have left town with two points. Despite a couple wins, the Penguins appear no closer to putting pieces of this puzzle together.
Sometimes even wrong answers given emphatically are better than no answers. Sometimes leadership can steer teams to answers.
Kris Letang played over 28 minutes, which for an October game is remarkably high. That speaks to the desperation the coaching staff feels to get wins, NOW. It’s only October 18, but it feels much later. It does to the Pittsburgh Penguins, too.
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