The Pittsburgh Penguins are playing their best hockey at the best time of the year to do so.
In the absence of Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins obtained seven of eight points on their four-game road trip. During the month of March, the Pens have gone 9-2-3, despite having a variety of AHL caliber players in the NHL lineup due to injuries.
Pittsburgh has generated the majority of the even-strength shot attempts and scoring chances in 10 of their 14 games this month. The team’s process is better, as they are controlling territory on a pretty consistent basis of late. And the results back it up. Let’s talk about some of the driving forces behind the team’s recent surge.
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Goaltender Matt Murray continues to play at an elite level. He has kept the team in low-scoring games of late. Since Murray returned from injury on December 15, 2018, 25 goaltenders have played a minimum of 2,000 minutes. Per Natural Stat Trick, here is where Murray ranks:
- 3rd in Even Strength Save Percentage (.929)
- 4th in High Danger Even Strength Save Percentage (.844)
- 7th in All Situations Save Percentage (.919)
- 9th in Goals Saved Above Average (13.18)
As you can see, the eye test matches the results with Murray. The occasional blunder has been overblown and nitpicked by local media and some fans. After a frustrating start to the season, he has rebounded in a big way. If you just care about results, the Penguins are 23-7-4 since Murray’s return.
The trio of Dominik Simon, Nick Bjugstad, and Patric Hornqvist has continued to dominate the opposition. They are living in the offensive zone and consistently generating quality offensive chances.
On this road trip, they were the Penguins best line against an elite Nashville defense core last week. In the following game, they were above average against the Dallas Stars high-flying first-line.
Following Monday night’s win in New York, this trio has generated 58% of the even-strength shot share, and 60% of the scoring chances. The puck may not be going in the net as frequently as you would like for these three right now, but if this level of play continues, it will.
When Pittsburgh won their most recent championships, being able to call up young and productive talent from Wilkes-Barre was vitally important to their success. Teddy Blueger appears to be the real deal.
Blueger has filled in for Malkin quite nicely. With him and Phil Kessel on the ice together, Pittsburgh is controlling 52% of the shot attempts and 54% of the scoring chances. As we saw on this road trip, Blueger is also a threat to produce offense while on the penalty kill. When the Penguins forwards get healthy, he needs to remain in the lineup.
Head coach Mike Sullivan prefers to dress more than 4 centers on a nightly basis. If Blueger were to remain in the lineup, the Penguins coaching staff would have six capable skaters to use down the middle of the ice.
Depth scoring is back. Sidney Crosby has produced just two points over the last four games and Pittsburgh won three of those four contests. Production from the bottom six will be a necessity for a deep playoff run. The Penguins lacked that element last spring.
Zach Aston-Reese was productive prior to his hip injury. Nick Bjugstad has out-produced former Penguin Riley Sheahan while playing in 14 fewer games. 22-year-old Jared McCann has thrived here, and his skillset is showing us why he was a first-round draft pick. I’ve been critical of Jim Rutherford of late, but the Penguins flat-out robbed the Florida Panthers in that trade.
The fact that the Penguins are playing well, and getting the results without two of their star players in the lineup is impressive. The best case scenario for the Penguins as the season winds down, would to finish second or third in the division and face the New York Islanders in round one.
The Penguins are off until they host Nashville this upcoming Friday night. The three-day stretch will allow for Malkin, Kris Letang, Olli Maatta, and Zach Aston-Reese to get healthy, and perhaps return prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Thanks for reading!
Data from Quant Hockey and Hockey Reference were also used in this article.