PENS CLOSE OUT ROAD TRIP WITH TOUGH FOUGHT WIN

Game Review

November 14, 2014

The Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up their five game road trip with a tough fought, tight checking battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs in a highly entertaining game.  Pascal Dupuis' two goals proved why he is the most diverse forward on the team; one on a redirect and one with an absolute bullet.  Both goals coming with two different units on the ice.

Toronto played a much better game than in their previous encounter and were a challenge all night.  They were physical on the body, good with the puck and had a couple of breaks gone their way, this is a completely different review.  James van Riemsdyk missed a wide open net as he flipped the puck over the crossbar and Phil Kessel was robbed with a fantastic stick save by Thomas Greiss in the dying moments of the game.

All in all, this was an absolutely impressive game by the Penguins as they proved they can play tough 5-on-5 and in a hard hitting contest.  They play the New York Rangers Saturday and look to bounce back from an embarrassing 5-0 loss last week.

Positives:

• Pascal Dupuis.  Read above statements.  Was also the only star in the Hall of Fame game, as this year's class of Hall of Famer's was honored in a pre-game ceremony.  Outstanding honor for Dupuis.
• Sidney Crosby.  He was outstanding all night.  His speed and vision was impeccable and his work in the corners was astonishing.  He was shrugging Maple Leafs off all night and his edgework...good lord was it impressive.  He was on another level.
• Evgeni Malkin.  Although he did not register a point, Malkin played well.  He was quick with the puck, worked down below the goal line well.  After Patric Hornqvist was absolutely rocked by Dion Phaneuf (clean hit by the way), Malkin immediately stepped in to defend his new linemate.  While I don't think it needs to be celebrated as much as it has been already, it was a good act to see and showed his leadership.
• The Penalty Kill.  Aside from the Derick Brassard goal in New York, the penalty kill has been absolutely amazing.  Went a perfect 6-for-6 against Toronto, even at times without the services of Brandon Sutter and Pascal Dupuis, two stalwarts on the units.  Exceptional job.
• Thomas Greiss.  Played a near perfect game.  Made big saves when he needed to and after a shaky few first shots, looked settled in net.  The stick save against Kessel was the true game changing moment.  That puck trickles by him, who knows what happens next.  Greiss played well and was truly the best penalty killer on the ice, stopping all 12 shots from the power play.
• Paul Martin.  Wow.  What a perfect game Paul Martin played.  Was aggressive, but with an intelligent angle.  He made several plays that, if the player had gotten by him, could have ended wrong for the Penguins.  Can't stress enough how much he's improved with the Penguins the last three seasons.

Negatives:

• Shots.  Although the Penguins put up 40 shots on Jonathan Bernier, there are too many passed up opportunities, especially from stars like Crosby and Malkin.  Both players have scored 50 goals in a season and have topped 30, even 40 several times.  While it is still early in the season, assists can only help so much before they need to start putting the puck in the net on a more frequent occasion.