Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 6 matchups vs the Montreal Canadiens
With the excitement of Pittsburgh Penguins, playoff hockey comes the breakdown of the potential. Let’s look at how the top six fairs against the Canadiens.
On paper, the Pittsburgh Penguins are leaps and bounds ahead of the Montreal Canadiens. However, hockey (especially playoff hockey) can be a fickle beast, sometimes forcing us to dig deeper than just on paper thoughts. With the NHLPA getting the playoffs back on track, let’s start by looking at how the top six will fair in this matchup.
Starting from the outside and looking in, how do the wing players matchup? Really well actually, as this may be the biggest headline in a best of 5 playoff series. The Canadiens match up well with the Penguins wingers, and they have to stats to prove it.
Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan Drouin, and Tomas Tatar names to be feared let alone, legit top-six wingers for the Habs. Tatar leads the team in points and both Gallagher and Drouin rank in the top ten on the team. But on the other side of the face-off circle lie a few solid wingers for the Penguins as well.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 6 matchups vs the Montreal Canadiens
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Jason Zucker, Bryan Rust, and the recovering, rising star, Jake Guentzel perfectly rival what the Habs offer. You can read about our love for Guentzel and the future he can procure in Pittsburgh here, but what can Zucker and Rust offer in the playoffs?
That question is a bit unclear as neither of them have had a lot of success during the playoffs. After seeing how Rust did this season, however, leaves many hopeful for a deep playoff run with him continuing a hot hand.
Moving from the wings do to the center, and the theme of “on paper” continues. Although maybe this time, on paper and on ice thoughts run the same course. The Penguins middlemen of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin reign supreme over Max Domi and Philip Danault.
Nothing against the Canadiens, Canadian born centers who in their own right are really good. It’s just that very few matchup well with the bash brothers combo. Sid and Geno should continue there solid season’s with the help of there outstanding partnerships on the wings. Sid has Guentzel (or Zucker, injury depending) and Sheary and Geno has Rust to masterclass the Habs.
Next. Pittsburgh Penguins: They’re bringing hockey back, yeah. dark
Overall, I would give the Pens a heavy advantage against the Canadiens in a best of 5 playoff series when it comes to top six talent. There is more to the game of hockey and we will dig further into those aspects as the weeks progress towards Penguins hockey returning once more.