Pens 3 - Islanders 0: Analysis

If you just looked at the final score, you'd assume the Penguins handed the Islanders a sound defeat. You wouldn't have to look much further to realize that was far from the case. In truth, the Islanders were never really out of this contest until Jordan Staal put one into the vacated 4x6 from long range. Marc-Andre Fleury earned his 20th career shutout, but he truly had to work to earn the shutout (and the First Star award).

The Islanders came out with more energy than the Pens and were able to establish an uptempo game from the start. The Penguins, on the other hand, came out sluggish and looked sloppy. Fleury was called upon early and often, as the Islanders continued to get chances on net. The Islanders offense provided plenty of spark, but they simply lacked enough to get a fire going. The Islanders never really established a presence in front of Fleury, so the few rebound opportunities that the Pens goaltender gave up really weren't heavily contested. The Islanders did manage to drive to the outside and utilize the weak side wing on occasion, but couldn't make the most of the opportunities these tactics generated. The Pens defense did a reasonable job without Milan Michalek (broken finger) out of the lineup, managing to keep the Islanders mostly to the outside of the high-percentage slot areas and limiting second-chance opportunities. On a team with limited offensive weapons like the Islanders, the Pens defense should have been able to do a much more convincing job at shutting them down.

High-pressure defense by the Pens at the blueline forced a turnover and a good outlet pass by Orpik to a streaking Dupuis gave Pascal a one-on-one with Nabakov. In the game of chicken, the Islanders goaltender flinched first and dropped to his pads giving Pascal an easy forehand for the goal. Dupuis had an exceptional evening offensively, showing great awareness in feeding a number of good offensive chances. This in addition to his typically solid defensive play. 

Evgeni Malkin made an immediate impact in the lineup, picking right where he left off with Sullivan and Neal. With Malkin leading the way, the trio were able to move the puck exceptionally well and generate some good opportunities off the rush. Malkin also provided some of what has become his trademark backchecking tenacity in stripping the puck from Islanders forwards and turning the rush the other way. The line also managed some good sustained zone time through good cycling and pressure on the Islanders  in-zone defense.

Richard Park had some memorable moments in the game, including in a good wrist shot that beat Nabakov low to the glove side. Arron Asham created the turnover with some great pressure on the forecheck as the Islanders tried to clear the zone. Park was able to recover the puck and patiently wait out his options in the LW slot before Nabokov, partially screened, dropped to his pads and provided an opening for Park's shot. The combination of Park and Asham hounded the Isles for much of the night.

The Pens Power Play didn't see much work in this one, and neither did the Pens PK. The PP had a double-minor to work with late in the game which could have easily sealed the Islanders fate, but failed to manage much more than passing around the perimeter. I am not a fan of the umbrella PP formation that the coaching staff is enamored with, mostly because it doesn't provide for much pressure down low. Instead, the Pens got plenty of time and space to pass between the high point and the two half-boards as the Islanders collapsed the box down low. The high shooting position and half-boards never really had much of a clear lane to shoot as a result and, with less pressure around the net, little chance to contend for any rebounds. The PK stayed spotless against an Isles PP that really couldn't get anything going. The high pressure the PK applied was too much and the Isles couldn't muster a shot.

Ultimately, though, the game came down to Fleury. The Pens got just enough out of their offense to put them ahead by two, but defensively the Pens gave the Islanders way too many chances. The Pens have yet to really dominate an opponent defensively, and the Islanders presented a perfect opportunity to do just that. Instead, the Pens again relied heavily on strong goaltending to keep the game just out of reach. 

Pens 3 - Habs 1: Final

Pens close this one out in the third, with the Habs never really threatening to contest the outcome. Pens continue to get scoring and chances from all over the lineup, with Arron Asham batting a rebound out of mid-air past Price for the third and final goal. The Pens let up a bit in the third, but still managed to remain in control. The Habs had a few good chances, including a few shorthanded, but the Habs offense really couldn't sustain much of an attack against the Pens. The Pens PK continued to do marvelous work, and the Pens continue to do very well in the faceoff circle. Fleury stood tall when asked, seeing the puck very well and controlling rebounds without any problems. The lone goal against was a broken play off the faceoff and a shot from the point through a screen that was redirected to the high blocker; Fleury didn't have much of a chance. Still, Fleury is playing as good as he ever has.

Dustin Jeffrey had a solid game for a last-minute entry into the lineup, putting some great shots and some solid chances on net. His play was clearly noticed by the coaching staff, who gave him time on the PP at the end of the game. With the Pens suffering quite a few injuries at forward and Letestu struggling, Jeffrey has a great opportunity to see more time in the lineup.

All in all, a good, if unspectacular, win for the Pens. The Habs came in struggling and never really took control of this one, but the Pens never gave it up either. Winnable game? For sure. But getting Vitale and Asham on the board, Engelland putting up his first multi-point game, and Neal continuing his tear is more than enough to come away from this one feeling great. Well deserved win.

Pens 2 - Habs 0 After Two

Despite some awful officiating, the Pens manage to extend their lead over the Habs in the second. Joe "The Situation" Vitale got the party started early in the second with his first goal of the season on a deflection from Deryk Engelland's shot at the point. Joe's played some great, hard-working hockey to date and was clearly energized as a result of this goal. The Habs would get back-to-back PP opportunities shortly thereafter, but couldn't capitalize on either. The Pens PK is just playing tremendous hockey in pressuring the puck carriers, forcing the already anemic Habs to take unscreened shots from the point or difficult angle shots from the side of the net. Still, thanks to a number of questionable calls, the Habs had the chance to put a lot of rubber on Fleury. Fleury has continued to stand tall.

A couple of other notes:

- Brooks Orpik has adjusted back into the game very quickly. He's had a lot of short shifts with different linemates, but he's gained confidence noticeably each time he steps on the ice. The Pens quickly remember why he's such a stabling influence on the blueline.

- Jordan Staal is quietly having a great game. When he's not counted on to generate offense, he can play his game to great effect. He's been hounding the Habs forwards, generating turnovers, and making smart decisions with the puck.

- Chris Kunitz is really struggling without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. Kunitz developed some great chemistry with Geno: cycling the puck well, making some nifty passes, opening up the ice for each other, and generating some quality chances. Lining up with Jordan Staal clearly doesn't benefit Kunitz.

- Steve Sullivan still is scoreless. He had a great breakaway chance from Neal, but couldn't elevate the puck over Price's pads on the forehand.

Third period is next. Can the Pens keep the Habs offense off the board?

Pens 1 - Habs 0 After One

The Pens came out shooting early... and kept firing all through the first. The Pens had a number of quality chances that demanded some acrobatics from Habs goaltender Carey Price. The Pens were not without their chances against, however, with Montreal getting a few great chances that Fleury stole in his favor. James Neal continued his frenetic pace, and reaped the benefits again for his hard work. He didn't get a whole lot on the wrister that got by Price (and Price misplayed it by dropping way too early), but it managed to ring off the post and in for his league-leading seventh goal.

Other notables were Richard Park, Matt Cooke, and Dustin Jeffrey; all three had strong appearances in the first. Park continued his excellent work between Neal and Sullivan, showing tenacity on the forecheck and creating a number of chances. Matt Cooke had a great opportunity on Price, while setting up a fantastic chance for Jeffrey and Letestu in the slot.

Steve Sullivan had a great chance on an open 4x6 that Price somehow dove to keep out. Sullivan is still searching for his first as a Penguin. Keep putting them on net, Sully, that first will come soon. Just ask James Neal...

Tune in for the second!

Orpik in, Tyler Kennedy still out

As always with the Pens, we have to take the good with the bad when it comes to injuries. Brooks Orpik will make his first appearance of the season tonight against the Habs. While Deryk Engelland has done well in his absence, the Pens no doubt welcome Orpik's physical presence and defensive stability back to the lineup. Expect his minutes to be administered carefully by the Pens coaching staff as Brooks will no doubt have some rust to work off, especially against Montreal's quick forwards.

And, on the bad news, Tyler Kennedy remains out of the lineup with concussion symptoms. As Pens fans know all too well, concussions are notoriously difficult to predict in terms of recovery. All we can do is monitor reports and hope TK is able to return to action soon.

Live Tweeting Pens vs. Montreal!

After a few games absence, The Relentless Forecheck will return to live-tweet the Pens vs. Canadiens tonight at 7:00 pm. Follow The Relentless Forecheck on Twitter to get all the latest commentary, quips, and analysis as the game progresses!

Matt Cooke: Riding the Fire Truck. All around. Circle. All good things.

A standing ovation in front of a sellout crowd in the home opener... Moving.

Scoring his 3rd goal in four games to tie the league lead in goals scored... Impressive.

Getting to ride the fire truck... Priceless.

There's plenty of reasons for the rest of the league to hate him. I don't care who you are, you have to give the man credit. It's not easy to turn it around when there are so many people waiting for you to fail. I admit I was one of the skeptics. Slowly, Matt Cooke is making me a believer. If he can pull it off (scoring consistently and staying away from controversy), he's my vote for the Bill Masterton Award. It would take a monumental amount of perseverance and dedication to the sport to accomplish that kind of turn around.

Good luck, Cookie.

(Image thanks to Sabrina Sin Bin on Twitter)

Pens-Panthers Post-Game Reaction

Pens come away with a 4-2 win without Malkin, Crosby, and Orpik. Pens got some great contributions from their 3rd and 4th lines, with Dupuis, Cooke, Vitale, and Park all having exceptionally strong games. The PK again showed great tenacity and discipline, with Adams creating a great opportunity for Park to drill one home shorthanded. The Power Play was blanked again, again showing good pressure, puck movement, and zone time, but coming short on the finish. Niskanen continued his strong play on the PP providing a number of key shots and a knack for keeping the puck in play offensively.

Honestly, the Pens probably played a little bit to the level of their opponents tonight. Florida stretched the Pens defense a few times with speed to the outside and managed to get the puck in deep, but couldn't really do too much with it once they got there. Most of Florida's chances were fairly benign, with the most trouble coming from the traffic the Panthers put on Fleury. The Panthers tried to come back in the third, but the Pens were able to counter and put the game out of reach when they needed to. The nail in the coffin was Jordan Staal taking a good feed on an aggressive forecheck from Kunitz, defending the puck well and driving on a power-move to the net to put a weak backhand on Theodore that eluded the goaltender. James Neal, streaking in at-speed off the bench, punched in the loose puck for the 4-2 lead.

Fleury again stood tall when called upon, continuing the great vision, discipline, and positioning he's showed in every game thus far. Fleury is really seeing the puck well right now, even through tons of traffic in front.

The big test will come Thursday night when the Washington Capitals come into town. With any luck, Evgeni Malkin will be able to go for that contest, as the Pens top scoring lines could certainly use the boost.

Pens-Panthers: Pre-game Injury Update

A couple of injury updates of note. First, the news on Sidney Crosby is that there is... no news. Despite reports, Crosby did not meet with his doctor to get cleared for contact. Crosby plans to meet with his doctor this week, but insists it's a routine visit and nothing more. Sid indicates he's still feeling great and closer to returning, but wouldn't speculate when that return would be.


Relentless Analysis: Reports are even his return to contact will be tiered in multiple levels. Sid must be symptom free at each level before progressing. Even once he is cleared for contact, it's going to still take a bit of time before he dresses for a game. Sit tight, folks. Sid's close, but Sid's not that close.

In other news, Evgeni Malkin is not going to play tonight according to Dan Bylsma. Bylsma reported that Geno is still encountering "soreness" that has plagued him since partway through Saturday's contest in Calgary. Malkin apparently did skate this morning, but did not participate fully. Bylsma identified Malkin as "day-to-day."


Relentless Analysis: While it is still early in the season and it is against a significantly weaker opponent, you can't help but agree with at least one local reporter that Malkin desperately wanted to be on the ice for the home opener. Having already sat out in Edmonton on Sunday evening, sitting out another game two nights later makes it a good three nights since Geno's "soreness" prevented him from playing. If there was a single incident you could point to as the culprit it would be easier to interpret what exactly happened, but no event stands out. Last we saw Geno on the ice he was favoring his leg/knee/ankle, but Bylsma insists that this has nothing to do with his season-ending surgery last year. 


Whatever the case, I can't remember the last time I heard of a hockey player missing two games for "soreness"...

Pens - Oilers: The Hangover

After sleeping (somewhat) on it, the two things that stuck out in my mind after last night's game are:

1. The Penguins still lack a legitimate scoring threat outside of Malkin and Crosby
2. The Penguins defense is exposed by teams that can carry speed across the blueline

First, the scoring. The chances were there offensively for the Penguins. Even on the PP, the Pens generated a number of good opportunities. When the Pens establish their aggressive forecheck, they have forwards who can cycle the puck very well and they show good creativity on both top two scoring lines. Players like Kunitz and Sullivan have shown good playmaking ability and have been great set-up men through three games, but the problem is there is no one who can really finish. What that has come down to in the first three games is James Neal and Tyler Kennedy. 

Neal and Kennedy both have a goal and an assist so far, but each has had issues in burying chances. James Neal has been exceptional in every other aspect of his game, showing great physical presence, tremendous speed, and excellent awareness on the ice. He's even shown tenacity on the back-check. Through his play he has created a lot of room for himself on the ice and he goes to the right areas to score, but his shooting just doesn't do him justice. His shots are either high and wide right or a foot off the ice and right down the center. He appears to lack the command of his shots to pick the corners effectively or to elevate the puck without missing the net entirely. This has to change. Whether he changes his shot selection (he's often using a slap shot), adjusts the blade loft, or just practices through it, he needs to be able to put his shots consistently on the open part of the net. If he can do that, James Neal is an absolute lock for 30 goals per season.

Tyler Kennedy needs a bit more work. Kennedy doesn't have the size that James Neal has to generate space for himself physically. What Kennedy does have is decent speed, which he could use more effectively to back defenders off by carrying that speed across the blueline. Kennedy is an effective forechecker and good cycler, but he's pretty one-dimensional when the puck is on his stick: he's going to shoot. That's not such a bad thing as he has a deceptive release and better command of his shot than Neal, but he's often in a position where he doesn't have enough time and space to take advantage of this when he shoots. If Kennedy would work on his passing and setting up plays (give-and-go with Kunitz) he'd open up a bit more ice for himself to get a better shot on net. Having just signed a new contract and trying to legitimize his role as a top-six forward, Kennedy is going to have to work harder than ever to elevate his game to the next tier. Kennedy appears motivated and perfectly able to do so. If he could make the adjustments offensively and work harder on the back-check, Kennedy can really solidify his place in Bylsma's Penguins.

Now, about that defense. The Penguins defense under Bylsma remains very active in the offense. It's clear that everyone from Kris Letang to Deryk Engelland has the green light to join the rush, and they're actively encouraged to do so. The problem with being so aggressive offensively is it leaves the Penguins exposed on the counter-attack. This plagued the Penguins early last season, as the defensive zone coverage suffered mightily as the defensemen were too quick to push play the other way. It's improved a good bit since then, but the Penguins are still exposed by quick forwards and good passing. The Penguins defense likes to defend at the blueline. This high-pressure tactic is designed to generate quick counter-attacks, but it leaves the Penguins defenders susceptible should the forwards carry speed into the offensive zone. The Penguins haven't employed a trap to try and eliminate any speed through the neutral zone, so opposing forwards have been able to find success breaking outside with speed. While the Penguins defenders, for the most part, are good skaters (Deryk Engelland the noted exception), playing that aggressive at the blueline does force them to cut-and-chase too often. When the defense turns towards their goal to chase, they are immediately blind to the play opening up behind them. As the Pens forwards are usually skating back to chase as well, the offense has been able to find an open man skating in late or to the opposite wing with alarming regularity. If the puck carrier is able to successfully gain the goal line, in the time it takes for the Penguins defense and back-checking forwards to turn back up ice and pick up the play the chance has either already developed or the Penguins struggle to play catch-up. 

The solution here may be two-fold. First, back off a bit from the blueline. By playing more of a contain strategy to keep the play in front of them, the defense can still be aggressive when there is necessary support but this gives the defense a bit more time and space to play the angles and ensure they don't get beat by speed to the outside or an effective dump-in. The second piece of this puzzle would be to discipline the defense jumping in offensively. Kris Letang is an exceptional case here as he has proven he can truly join the rush without exposing himself much defensively, but others are not that adept. Reign in the green light into a yellow light and make sure that the defense is able to meet the countering offense head-on and not as they're sprinting back. Again, it's all about keeping the play in front of them. 

This two-fold solution will surely limit the Penguins offensive contributions from their defensemen, but it will surely save the Penguins goaltenders from exhaustion. Through three games, the Pens have averaged over 30 shots against. Granted, there have been two overtime frames, but in each contest the Pens goalies have had to weather too many high quality chances. In each contest, the Pens goaltenders have had to be their best player. It's just not fair, not to mention practical, to ask your goaltender to carry you each and every night. Especially when the Pens have a defensive core with that much talent...

Pens 1 - Oilers 2 in Shootout

The Pens played a strong third period without the hangover that plagued the final frame in each of their previous two contests, but still couldn't prevent the Oilers from getting the equalizer. The Oilers speed and skill, especially from the Hall-RNH-Hemsky line, finally found a way to solve Brent Johnson in the third. Despite a 5 minute major penalty to Ryan Smyth for his vicious defense of a Chris Kunitz check, the Pens PP couldn't find a way past Dubnyk for the go-ahead goal. The OT frame had action at both ends of the ice, but the teams needed a shootout to decide this one. The shootout, heavily favoring the young talent Edmonton has amassed, went in the Oilers favor as Jordan Eberle and Ales Hemsky both waited for Johnson to drop down before shooting high glove. Neal countered with a 5-hole shot that stayed on the ice past Dubnyk, but Sullivan couldn't sneak one through the pads to keep the Pens alive.

The Pens had their chances offensively, but clearly lacked finishing touch. Too many missed nets and shots off their mark left the Pens wondering what could have been. James Neal had one of his best games as a Pen, showing great physical presence, awareness, and speed, but still lacks the command of his shots to place them effectively on net (if on net at all). Kris Letang was an absolute monster at both ends of the ice, nullifying a number of good scoring chances (including a brilliant diving poke-check to save a 2-on-1 shorthanded) while carrying the puck through the neutral zone with authority and generating a number of good shots and scoring chances.

All in all, 5 points out of 6 for a tough road swing is not a bad way to start the season. The Pens have a few bumps and bruises to mend, and will surely be anxious to return home for Tuesday night's opener against the Florida Panthers. The Pens have done their job playing the opening act for three straight home openers, it's time they headlined their own.

Still Pens 1 - Oilers 0 After Two

Pens a bit more disciplined on the penalties this period, but still getting victimized by the Oilers speed and passing. Oilers have been using a cross-ice pass from the half-boards to a forward in deep to great affect, generating a number of open shots using the same set play. Brent Johnson again standing tall to keep the Oilers scoreless.

Pens had a number of good chances offensively, but can't seem to find a way to finish some good plays. Neal had his opportunities but his shots haven't been where they needed to be. Sullivan and Kunitz both with some great setups, but again the resulting shots haven't found their way past Dubnyk. Mark Letestu had perhaps the best chance with the man advantage, receiving a pass skating to the slot. Dubnyk goes down but Letestu waits too long and can't finish this one.

The Pens are certainly a different team without both Malkin and Crosby, their offense certainly lacks an exclamation point. After two periods, Letestu has been stable albeit unimpressive at first-line pivot. It wouldn't be a bad time to see if Joe Vitale can spark some magic with the top unit.

Hold on tight, this one's close. Third period up next.

Pens 1 - Oilers 0 After One...

The home team again came out strong against the Pens, and again the Pens took a few shifts to settle in. The Pens did manage an early PP, which produced the only goal in this one. Pens moved the puck exceptionally well with the man advantage and scored on a great one-timer from Letang (his first goal of the season) from the left point.

The Oilers speed up front and their active defense has caused problems for the Pens in the first. Like the Vancouver Canucks, the Oilers move the puck very well offensively and were making quick, crisp passes  and using their speed to get the puck in behind the Pens defense. The Pens would do well to adjust and take away the Oilers speed advantage through the neutral zone.

The Pens committed a number of undisciplined penalties in the first, including going down two men for a short period. The Oilers again moved the puck well and kept the Pens PK chasing, especially below the goal line. If it were not for Brent Johnson's brilliant goaltending, the Pens perfect PK record would easily have at least one blemish.

For the second, the Pens need to keep their discipline and avoid giving the Oilers any more man advantages. Standing the Oilers forwards up at the blueline is proving risky, as the Oilers have been able to get in behind the Pens defense and produce some chances. It may be worth having one defender back off deep just a bit as a precaution. The Pens have been playing aggressive defense but this has been opening up opportunities for good passing, especially cross-ice. The Pens need to be extra careful not to over-pursue the puck carrier and get pulled out of position. It's been a nail-biter through one so far...

Cory Sarich on Matt Cooke... On Further Review

I've looked at the video (Sarich's hit on Cooke) quite a bit now and I've had a chance to digest. I still think the hit was delivered with intent to injure and with clear intent to make contact with the head. In my book, it's worthy of a disciplinary action. Whether Sarich was lining up a Girl Scout or Matt Cooke is irrelevant: the hit was dirty.

There's something else I picked up on after watching the video a few times: Matt Cooke saw the hit coming. He didn't have time to make travel arrangements, but he had enough time to raise his left arm and turn away from the hit just before impact. These may have been subconscious reactions, but he at least saw Sarich closing out of the corner of his eye; Matt Cooke wasn't blindsided by the hit. That fact alone was enough to minimize the outcome of the hit (Cooke was never unconscious. He got up within moments and charged down Sarich), but it may also minimize the reprimand Sarich will face from the league.

In summary, Sarich's hit was dirty and worth of disciplinary action by the league. Is it suspension-worthy? Perhaps a one- or two-game suspension just because he didn't take care to avoid contact with the head. Did Matt Cooke see the hit coming and embellish? I think that's clear.

Sunday Morning Thoughts: Matt Niskanen

Rough on arrival...

Matt came to the Pens last season from the Dallas Stars along with James Neal for Alex Goligoski. Niskanen, a first-round draft pick, was on the outs in Dallas after putting up some very respectable numbers in his rookie and sophomore seasons. To most observers, Niskanen was just a sweetener in the deal; the real prize was scoring winger James Neal. GM Ray Shero knew better...

Matt struggled mightily upon arrival. Recent reports point out that Matt was in a state of shock from the trade, the first of his NHL career. I am sure there is a lot of truth to that and, of course, learning a new system is always a challenge for a young defender. Niskanen looked lost. Defensively, his zone coverage was abysmal as he tried to grasp the core of the Pens approach. It stands to reason that if your that uncomfortable in your own end, your probably not going to venture too far from it. True to form, his offensive output was meager at best. Ice time is all about confidence as a defenseman, and neither Niskanen nor Bylsma had developed much confidence in the short time before the playoffs. As a result, Niskanen didn't see much action in the post-season. 

The sleeper has awaken...

The Penguins had depth for days coming into this year's camp with all of last year's players returning, a number of prospects looking for an outside shot to make the team, and the Pens first-round draft pick Joe Morrow looking to impress. The recipe was there for Niskanen to fade into the background. 

It's funny what a difference an offseason makes. Matt Niskanen came into camp with renewed focus and was determined to make an impact. The preseason brought a number of surprises, and one of those was the confidence and composure from Matt Niskanen. The change was nothing short of shocking. With all the promising young defensemen in the Pens system, I expected Niskanen to get passed by like a marker in a downhill ski race. Instead, Niskanen emerged with strong defensive play, a physical edge, and a renewed spark offensively. Niskanen now flaunted a hard, low, and accurate slapshot that he was able to release from the point on command... and on short notice. For a Pens team looking for answers on the PP, Matt Niskanen made a compelling answer. Had it not been for the play of recently drafted Joe Morrow, Niskanen would surely have received more press in the preseason. However, Matt Niskanen was surely happy with the result all the same: he had made the opening night lineup with authority.

Carryover...

The Penguins have only two games in the books (both wins!), but Matt Niskanen already has two points. He trails Kris Letang in points scored by one, but Matt's great PP goal last night in Calgary proved just how far the defenseman has come. Jordan Staal broke in the Calgary zone on the right wing and held up along the half-boards, allowing two other Pens to drive to the net. Staal found a late trailing Niskanen for the cross-ice feed. Niskanen skated in and put a shot on net, which Kiprusoff stacked the pads and kept out. But the Flames goalie left a juicy rebound in the slot and Niskanen, following up his shot, collected and put by the helpless netminder. That marked the first goal by a Pens defender this season, power play or otherwise. Not too shabby for a guy supposed to be buried on the depth chart...

Niskanen's play has carried over from his strong preseason. He's playing well defensively, taking the body, reading the plays well, and jumping in and contributing timely offense. In the game against the Flames, his confidence was soaring and his ice time increased with it. He played a terrific game, garnering the attention of many dismayed Pens fans at his omission from the Three Stars awarding for the evening. It's going to be a tough road for Matt if he wants to progress up the Pens depth chart defensively, but he's clearly on a mission to do just that. Tonight's game in Edmonton should offer Niskanen more opportunities to impress. He may have already moved up to the number 5 spot, but let's hope that's just the beginning. 

Keep up the great work, Matt. 

Skate hard,

Relentless Forecheck

Malkin Taking a Rest?

According to Dan Bylsma, Evgeni Malkin was simply being rested in the third period against Calgary. 

Relentless Analysis: Ah, hockey injuries. More a case of Jordan Staal's "dehydration", I am sure. I don't buy Bylsma's explanation, as Geno was on camera skating tentatively on a stoppage favoring his leg before returning to the bench. Malkin is clearly nursing an injury. How bad we'll just have to see. With such a grueling schedule in store for the Pens, limiting his ice time (or sitting him) against Edmonton tomorrow night might be a wise move. It's a long season...

Pens 5 - Flames 3 ... Pens Still Undefeated... just

The Pens started out well enough in the third, but eased up just enough to let the Flames back into this one. The Flames came out strong and kept the pressure on, taking advantage of a Pens bench that was shortened a bit with Evgeni Malkin spending the majority of the period off the ice. The Flames unrelenting will slowly chipped away at the Pens defense, taking advantage of miscues by the Pens to put two in the back of the net.

The first of the two comes on a fluky goal when Tanguay fires a Hail Mary slap-pass towards Bourque driving to the net and Bourque manages to redirect past Fleury. The second comes from a misplay of the puck behind the net by Fleury on a dump and the Flames quickly capitalize with Jokinen firing a one-timer off a good feed. The Flames pull Kiprusoff late to try and get the equalizer, but the Pens manage to hold off the Flames in the last minute. The last shift showed great pressure and patience by Staal and co. to eliminate any play in the offensive zone by the Flames, ultimately leading to the EN goal by Jordan Staal to seal it.

Tentative first, brilliant second, slow third. The Pens let up in the third for the second game in a row and, for the second time, the Pens almost give it away. I'll have to give a bit of latitude since it is a tough West Coast swing, but the Pens need to keep the pressure on for a full 60 minutes of hockey. So far, they've only averaged about 2 periods of good hockey per game. Some good positives to take from this one, as scoring was exceptionally balanced with great goals by Kennedy and Niskanen, and some good offensive playmaking by Chris Kunitz. Cooke-Vitale-Dupuis showcased itself this evening as the third line, producing some great pressure and a number of quality chances. Malkin's lack of presence on the ice in the 3rd was certainly troubling, with Geno clearly favoring his leg/knee. We'll see what the report is in the morning.

Edmonton up next for the Pens. Good chance we'll see Brent Johnson in net and probably a few other changes in the lineup as well. If Malkin is not 100%, this is one he could afford to sit to rest up. Richard Park has been on the sidelines on this trip; this would be a good game to get him some action.

Skate hard and thanks for tuning in,
Relentless Forecheck

New line, new nickname: Cooke-Vitale-Dupuis

Ok, this line has had some good chemistry and some good jump tonight. It just might be the Pens new third line. So, it needs a nickname. Suggestions?

I've got Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Matt Cooke is clearly the front man...

Matt Cooke Update

Matt Cooke is on the bench to start the 3rd period after taking a hit to the chin by Corey Sarich. Good sign.

Pens 4 - Flames 1 After Two...

What a difference a period makes! Pens come out a completely different team in the second, attacking the puck with authority and establishing a strong forecheck. The Pens simply overwhelm the Calgary defense and Kiprusoff is all over the place trying to keep the firing squad at bay. Pens get plenty of net front presence and pound the Flames for 4 goals. Pens drove hard to the net with the center drive, while the puck carrier showed great patience in finding the defender high. Absolutely great period of offensive bravado from the Pens, overshadowed only by...

The Flames total loss of composure. Calgary, frustrated in the second by the ability to get anything going, resorted to cheap shots and dirty play. Alex Tanguay blatantly runs Marc Andre Fleury and gets called for 2. Curtis Glencross takes one too many liberties with Evgeni Malkin and Geno responds by dropping the gloves. Thankfully for the Pens, the officials quickly jump in between the two. Geno clearly had reason to go after Glencross, but the game was so far beyond the Flames at that point it wasn't really worth the effort. Hopefully, Geno was able to release some of the frustration that's clearly been mounting since the season started for him.

The worst by far was Corey Sarich's blatant head-hunting on Matt Cooke. Sarich skated across the defensive end and came up high with the shoulder/elbow and made contact with Cooke's chin. Cooke was blind-sided by the hit and, although he didn't drop to the ice, Cooke was clearly dazed. Deryk Engelland immediately skated down and jumped Sarich, both players getting double minors as a result. Matt Cooke did not return to the ice in the period. It's not known the effects of the hit, but Cooke was concussed for certain. His return in this one appears unlikely, but the likelihood that Sarich will get some facetime with Brendan Shanahan is all but certain. Cooke has a troubled past, but was trying hard this season to put that behind him. It's clear the rest of the league isn't ready to forgive and forget: Cooke is still a target.

Notables:
Goals by Kennedy, Niskanen, Adams, Malkin. Total domination by the Pens.

Hopefully the Pens can put this one away with no further incidents.

Flames 1 - Penguins 0 After One... Thoughts

Calgary suffered none of the home opener sluggishness that plagued Vancouver, but the Flames didn't have nearly as much to celebrate last season. Still, the Flames came out skating hard and it was the Pens who were slow to adjust. Calgary got an early PP and Fleury stood tall on a couple of key saves to keep the Pens in this one early.

A second PP brought dividends for the Flames. Giordano got the puck at the point and patiently skated in past an over-committing Craig Adams. Curtis Glencross presses up against Niskanen at the crease before fading into the high-slot and receives the feed from Giordano to fire a beautiful one-timer to the top corner past Fleury. Fleury had no chance.

The Pens have been very sloppy through the neutral zone in this one and failed to take the necessary initiative on the forecheck. As a result, they've given Calgary too much latitude to establish the game in their favor. The shots have been there, but Calgary had the better opportunities.

The Pens need to simplify their game, ratchet up the pressure deep, and work for shorter passes through the neutral zone. The Pens are getting in trouble deep in their own end and relying too much on the stretch pass to beat Calgary, but Calgary is all over it. The Pens have the talent to overwhelm Calgary, but they're going to have to be disciplined in their approach to do it. Pens on the PK to open up the second.

Notable in the first:
- Engelland had a few solid plays defensively... and offensively.
- Malkin had a good sequence, but took an undisciplined penalty. He needs to settle down.
- Cooke-Vitale-Dupuis had the best sustained pressure on the forecheck. Good impromptu energy line that has all the makings of a great 3rd line.
- Tyler Kennedy had a couple of solid chances. I'd like to see him line up with Geno more.
- Sullivan needs to come off the point on the PP. Pens have enough weapons from the point and Sully is needed down low on the 2nd unit.

Let's Go Pens for frame 2!

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Jordan Staal Update

According to reports, Jordan Staal did not practice with the Penguins this evening and appeared to be favoring his foot/toe. Despite this, Dan Bylsma is adamant Staal is suffering from dehydration symptoms and will be in the lineup Saturday.

Relentless Analysis: Still a little suspect. Staal did leave the game and did appear to be favoring his foot. Hockey injuries are always reported in code, so it's hard to gauge this one completely. Reports were plenty of Pens players were reporting fatigue last night, but Staal was the only one who left the game. At this point, I'd be surprised if there's not more to this one. We'll see if Staal is in the lineup for Saturday.

Even if Staal does miss some time, the Pens have shown they can cope with the loss of two of their top three centres for an extended duration.

Game 1 Observations

The Vancouver Canucks were an interesting matchup for the Penguins to open up the season. Although the Penguins fell short in their efforts to represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals last season, a strong showing against a Canuck team that took Boston to seven games goes a long way to boost spirits. And the Penguins certainly took advantage of the opportunity...

Overall Grade: A-
Home openers are tough, especially when you're the Stanley Cup runner-up. Vancouver came out flat and Pittsburgh jumped on the forecheck early, drawing an early man advantage and capitalizing. The Pens didn't really relent until the third when Vancouver, anchored by the Sedins, showed why the are such a dangerous team off the rush. The first two periods belonged to Pittsburgh, the final frame to Vancouver, OT was a draw, and the Pens had the better of the shootout. Talent-wise, you would have to give an edge to the Canucks, but the Pens came out strong in and carried their first period lead to the shootout.

The Difference: Goaltending
Reggie Jackson's nickname is certainly safe: Roberto Luongo is no "Mr. October." James Neal's PP goal early in the first was a mental mistake by Luongo: Luongo failed to guard the short side post and tried to cheat against the pass. Neal's harmless cross-crease feed was directed into the net by Luongo as he flailed to regain position. The two goals by Matt Cooke were hardly Luongo's fault, but he gave up back-to-back goals to Letang and Malkin in the shootout that sealed his fate. Letang made a great move to the backhand to beat him, but Malkin simply waited out the over-aggressive Luongo as he lay prone on the ice, a victim of a missed poke-check.

On the other end of the ice, Marc Andre Fleury overcame a shaky start to put in a very strong outing. Fleury's mental mistake early left him out of position (eerily similar to the goal Luongo let to Neal), and almost ceded a second were it not for a dazzling display of leather (and, it had to be said, the inconclusive video review). The glove save seemed to re-focus Fleury, and he turned in a very sound performance for the remainder of the game. Fleury saw the puck well all night. He showed patience, good positioning, and great rebound control. And, in the third and OT, when the Pens were clearly fatigued, Fleury kept them in the game. In the shootout, a great glove save on Samuelson's backhand was all it took to secure the victory.

Offense: B
Sidney Crosby's absence gave Evgeni Malkin the full attention of Vancouver's top line, which did frustrate him at times. Geno tried often to dance through the Vancouver gauntlet using finesse, but Vancouver was too disciplined at taking the time and space from Malkin to allow fancy parlor tricks. It was only when Geno simplified his game and used his body that he started to get the better of the Canucks. Still, Malkin did manage to open the ice up for his linemates: Kunitz, Neal, and Sullivan all benefited.

Neal managed to double his point production as a Penguin while surely adding Roberto Luongo to his Christmas card list. Funny what a little confidence will do, as Neal played the rest of the game with a smile... and an aggressive edge. He did his best impersonation of a bulldozer while tearing through the Vancouver defensive. He didn't get very many scoring chances, but he did give Vancouver plenty of fits just trying to control him.

Tyler Kennedy, anxious to prove he is a legitimate top-six forward, also was a good offensive force. He had a number of good shots (one PP chance that blew by Luongo only to be saved by red steel) and forechecked effectively. Kennedy seems to work best with others who can cycle the puck down low and feed him in the slot: I'd really like to see if he and Crosby can generate some magic together once Sid returns. Jordan Staal, though he had a few good shots, is still programmed for defense first and is just not a good compliment to Kennedy at this stage.

Kunitz and Sullivan both had strong outings. Kunitz with some strong play on the puck and some solid passing sequences with Neal. While Sullivan proved he's still got great wheels and is a right handful when he's skating with the puck. His timing with his linemates is just a bit off, but he showed good creativity and plenty of reason to keep an eye on him going forward.

Defense: B-
This is perhaps a bit unfair. The M&M line of Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin played well enough and were effective in neutralizing Vancouver's threat through two frames; however, the second pairing needs some work. Kris Letang was positioned on his weak side off-wing, and was clearly still adjusting to the change. As such, I have to question the logic of pairing him with Deryk Engelland. Granted, in the absence of Brooks Orpik, Engelland is clearly the most physically punishing of the defenders remaining, but he is still not sound enough in his own end. Engelland doesn't have the skating ability to keep up with most off the rush and his positioning is still a work in progress. Letang didn't have exceptional chemistry with Engelland, so the pairing did little to exude much confidence. To his credit, Letang shouldered a lion's share of the defensive and offensive burden between the two and did quite well, but there were times when the tandem was simply exposed. I'd strongly suspect Ben Lovejoy would provide a much better compliment to Letang than Engelland.

The Hardware

Relentless Award: Matt Cooke
It's only one game, but you can't help but commend Cookie. Vancouver has some pretty good agitators and, for sure, some pretty good punks that tried to get under Cook's skin. For his part, Cook stayed above the noise and let his play speak volumes. And for one night, Matt Cooke looked like the third Sedin brother. His two goals were pure sniper. The first on a quick one-timer redirected to the top corner on Luongo on a behind-the-net feed from Pascal Dupuis showed tremendous hand-eye coordination. The second goal, short-handed, using the defender as a screen and finding the top corner again proved the first was no aberration. Cooke has a long road ahead of him and he's got a lot of people watching him very closely. It's not going to be easy for him to put the past behind him, but this is a great start.

Keep an eye on... Joe Vitale
Joe Vitale had an exceptionally strong outing. Despite limited ice time, he made quite an impression whenever he took a shift. He showed great composure and good vision, making good plays in the offensive zone and creating a few decent opportunities. He plays with the confidence of a seasoned veteran and, if he continues, he will surely see more shifts come his way.

Come on man, skate harder... Evgeni Malkin
This is why Vancouver went to the Finals, Geno. Even without Ryan Kesler, Vancouver can frustrate top-shelf talent. The pre-season is over so there's no more free shows, these games are for keeps. There were a couple of times when Geno was visibly frustrated to the point where he was about to commit a foolish penalty: that can't happen. The spotlight is on 71 right now which Malkin is supposedly relishing in the chance to prove he can carry the Penguins on his back. However, he's got to be smart about it. Make the adjustments, keep skating hard, and be patient; you can't force it, Geno.

Skate hard,
Relentless Forecheck

Sidney Crosby Watch

The 2011-2012 season opens with much optimism for the Penguins. For starters, Sidney Crosby has been scrimmaging with the team and has accompanied them on their West coast tour to open the season. Sid still has not been cleared for contact, but everyone close to Crosby is confident this will happen very soon. Sid has been able to ratchet up his workouts to full exertion without symptoms. Even more encouraging is Sid's demeanor. He's light, he's joking around, and he's clearly having fun despite still being sidelined. There is finally light at the end of the tunnel, and Crosby can see it clearly. For the Penguins and for the rest of the league, that is tremendous. 

Skate hard,

Relentless Forecheck