FLOWER PICKS UP FIFTH SHUTOUT WIN VERSUS RIVAL DEVILS
Game Review
December 2, 2014
It was not a pretty game but it was not an ugly contest, well, maybe slightly ugly. Marc-Andre Fleury continued his strong season, picking up his personal best fifth shutout of the season. Evgeni Malkin looked dominant, as usual this season, scoring the lone goal of the contest. Robert Bortuzzo was a man possessed on the ice, even playing sick. Although the hit on Jaromir Jagr was punishable by suspension (2 games), at the time it looked clean and was deemed clean due to the no penalty call on the ice. In hindsight, it was an unnecessary hit.
A bittersweet night for rookie Scott Wilson who made his NHL debut, playing only 4:21. He was hurt in the second period and did not return, however, he stood out when he was on the ice.
Positives:
Negatives:
It was not a pretty game but it was not an ugly contest, well, maybe slightly ugly. Marc-Andre Fleury continued his strong season, picking up his personal best fifth shutout of the season. Evgeni Malkin looked dominant, as usual this season, scoring the lone goal of the contest. Robert Bortuzzo was a man possessed on the ice, even playing sick. Although the hit on Jaromir Jagr was punishable by suspension (2 games), at the time it looked clean and was deemed clean due to the no penalty call on the ice. In hindsight, it was an unnecessary hit.
A bittersweet night for rookie Scott Wilson who made his NHL debut, playing only 4:21. He was hurt in the second period and did not return, however, he stood out when he was on the ice.
Positives:
- Marc-Andre Fleury. What more can he do to prove that he is an elite goaltender? He has stood on his head all season and aside from one horrible game against the New York Islanders, Fleury has been the most constant player in the line-up. Fantastic start to his season.
- Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is in beast mode right now. He's flying on his skates, he's shooting, he's passing well, and he's physical. Plus, his chain was ripped off in a scrum late in the game. That is not good news for anyone down the road.
- Defense. Even with Kris Letang on IR for the time being and a sick Bortuzzo, the six men patrolling the blue line have been exceptional all season. Christian Ehrhoff and Paul Martin made several goal-saving plays down the stretch and with Simon Despres and Bortuzzo's physical play, it was tough for the Devils to get great scoring chances all night.
- Penalty Kill. The duos of Brandon Sutter and Craig Adams and surprise tandem of Zach Sill and Andrew Ebbett were on fire during the contest and proved why they could play more than the six-to-eight minutes they had been regularly playing, aside from Sutter. Plus, Despres looked at home on the PK and deserves some more time on that unit in the future.
Negatives:
- Shots. The Penguins were outshot despite the win, 29-23. Not a criticism on the team per say; the Devils did play fantastic defense and were caught off-guard for just one moment. Still, if head coach Mike Johnston wants "shot volume" as a vital strategy towards success, 23 shots will not get the job done.
- Tempers Flaring. It was evident throughout the contest that there was some heat, pardon the pun, with the Devils. Whether it was the ongoing on-ice rivalry of Bortuzzo and Jagr, Sill's always physical shifts, or the chirping instigated at the end of every whistle, the Penguins need to settle down on the ice and avoid potential penalties.