Magic Number is 2 as Pens Beat Predators 5-2

The Penguins currently are playing hotter than a fox in a forest fire.  Last nights win against Nashville gave them their 10th win out of their last 11 games.  The Penguins aren't just winning, they are a team that now seems to register four or more goals on a regular basis, while destroying their competitors.  Some observations:

The Penguins were relentless in their puck pursuit in the offensive end.  If they weren't creating scoring chances, they were badgering the Predators all night trying to leave their defensive zone.  Furthermore, their power play seems to be coming back to life without the presence of Evgeni Malkin, as they went 2/4 with goals from Letang and Hornqvist.

Next, the play of Phil Kessel has seemed to silence the critics for now.  He has five goals and six assists equaling eleven points in his last ten games, while also getting great scoring chances.  Everyone was critical early on, and maybe justified, but I thought it was going to take time to get acclimated to Pittsburgh, and having to deal with two coaches your first year here is no picnic.  Mike Sullivan's style of play has definitely helped Kessel flourish.  We will need the same amount or maybe more production in the playoffs from him.

Last, it is no secret that the best team in the NHL currently resides in the steel city.  The expectations again going into the playoffs are very high, and who would of seen this coming after the way they stumbled out of the gates.  I won't definitively say they will win the Stanley Cup, but I expect a deep run, who knows maybe till the middle/late of June :) 

Source: Yahoo! Images

Pens Rally From Down 3-0 to Beat Sabres 5-4

Not all games are pretty, that's for sure, but the Penguins were able to win again as they scored four times in the second to win 5-4 in a shootout against the Buffalo Sabres.  Some observations:

The game overall was played very sloppy I felt by both teams.  The Sabres were playing on back to back nights, after playing in Detroit the night before.  However, Buffalo was able to score a power play goal, a short handed goal, and a four on four goal, all in the first period to take a 3-0 lead.  Matt Murray was not very sharp in the first period, but who could blame him when Marc-Andre Fleury gets the majority of the starts in the net.  

Then Buffalo returned the favor for the Penguins in the second period by letting four goals in.  The Penguins were able to capitalize by scoring TWO, yes two, short handed goals on the same penalty by Buffalo .  The second one was an atrocious blunder of playing the puck behind the net by goaltender Chad Johnson, in which led to Nick Bonino depositing the puck into a wide open net.  

Lastly, this was a game of special teams as you can tell.  Combined it equaled for three short handed goals, 2 power play goals, a four on four goal, and the game ended in a shootout.  Kris Letang would end up scoring by going five hole in the shootout, and Phil Kessel ripped it past Chad Johnson for the Penguins to come away with two points.

It may not have been pretty at times, but I guess a win, is a win, is a win.  The Penguins return back to action tomorrow night against the Nashville Predators at 7:00.

https://sports.yahoo.com/photos/penguins-rally-top-sabres-5-4-shootout-photo-021319038--nhl.html

Pens Demolish Red Wings 7-2

Watching the Penguins game yesterday made me feel like I was at an Oprah Show with her shouting, "You get a goal, and you get a goal, and you get a goal, EVERYBODY IS GETTING GOALS!"  The Pens put on a superb performance by smothering the Red Wings in all facets of the game as they won 7-2.  Some observations of the game:

I was pleased by the bounce back performance by Marc-Andre Fleury after Thursday's night disappointment against New Jersey.  The two goals he let up were not his fault.  One was due to a bad defensive change with the puck turned over in the neutral zone by the Pens, and Kris Letang was too late to get on the ice and allowed a breakaway score by Red Wings Anthanasiou.  Another goal was given up on the power play where the puck bounced three times before going behind Fleury.  All in all, he played a spectacular game and was not fighting off pucks to make saves like he was against New Jersey.

Another plus for the Penguins was the contribution of Phil Kessel.  Kessel notched 5 points in the game with one goal and four assists.  If Malkin is delayed in his return to the ice, Kessel needs to be one of the key playmakers for the Pens in the playoffs.  Furthermore, it was nice to get depth scoring by Nick Bonino who also had five points in the game.

Lastly, the acquisition of Carl Hagelin can't go unnoticed.  Since he has come to Pittsburgh from Anaheim, he has 7 goals, 13 assists, equaling 20 points in 29 games.  In Anaheim he had 4 goals, 8 assists, equaling 12 points IN 43 GAMES!  He has 80 shots on goal in Pittsburgh, compared to 82 in Anaheim.  This is all with 14 less games played in Pittsburgh.  Stats don't lie, and Hagelin's contributions have been through the roof!

The Pens look to continue on their winning ways as they battle the New York Rangers at 7:30 PM.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/penguins-score-4-2nd-period-7-2-win-205910578--nhl.html