Penguins News And Notes: Toronto Edition
Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins
Sep 22, 11:27 PM | Hype this story!
The Penguins failed to protect a 2-0 lead tonight as they fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in a shootout, but there were several bright spots in the young Penguins lineup tonight.
Leading the Penguins in terms of defensive play was Alex Goligoski, who logged 30:15 in ice time, notched 1 assist, and was a +2. Goligoski seemed much more comfortable with the physical aspect of the game tonight and appeared calm under all circumstances.
Someone sent me a message tonight describing Jay McKee as an “oaf”. I can’t necessarily disagree with that sentiment, but McKee certainly doesn’t shy away from the physical contact and is sound positionally. After last week’s preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was asked by Tim Benz of the X morning show what he thought of McKee. Fleury’s response? “He seems to spend a lot of time around the front of the net. I think I am going to like him.”
Chris Conner may be one of the fastest individual’s on skates that I’ve ever seen. His breakaway goal was a thing of beauty. He was able to sneak behind the defense, corral an outletted puck, and streak down the center of the ice without having anyone come close to catching him. His backhand/forehand move on Toskala fooled him easily as Conner was coming with intense speed. Conner tried to fool Toskala with that same speed in the shootout, but was unable to sneak the blocker side shot past the goaltender. Conner is just another in a long line of players that will keep Wilkes-Barre Scranton at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Mike Rupp was a presence on the ice tonight not only in the boards, but in front of the goal. Rupp went to the front of the net and created havoc in the crease all night. With Ryan Bayda scoring a goal tonight, who will make up the Penguins fourth line come opening night? There is currently a healthy competition going on to make this squad, and that is never a bad thing. A case can be made in any direction.
Nick Johnson continues to make a statement to management that he isn’t strictly speed and finesse. His consistent defensive zone play tonight proves that Johnson has what it takes to play consistently at both ends of the ice. His continued development is something this website has urged fans to keep an eye on, he may get called up for a cup of tea before you know it.
Every pre-season game I watch has one thing in common, the announcers can’t help but talk about the Philadelphia Flyers. The talk of the town is that they’re going to manhandle their way around the ice this season and no team in the East can match their toughness.
How do we define toughness?
Tonight Jay Rosehill took a liberty by blasting Matt Cooke and a vulnerable Jordan Staal in the same shift. That development sent Matt Cooke on a rampage, hitting everything he could get within five feet of.
Later in that sequence, Paul Bissonnette got his hands on Rosehill and proceeded to clean his clock. Rosehill did slightly hold his own, but he was in a rather precarious position throughout the fight and took several solid shots from Biz Nasty during the exchange. Ironically enough, that was pretty much the last we heard of Rosehill for the night.
Later in the game, Jordan Staal took exception to a Mike Komisarek hit on Matt Cooke, and was eager to drop the gloves. Jordan took a few shots, but was able to use his brute strength to wrestle Komisarek to the ground.
Make no mistake about it, this Penguins team has it’s fair share of toughness.
Comments
DaBich
Sep 23, 06:43 AM
I’m not overly concerned about Philly’s toughness. It’s a good thing to drop the gloves when you need to, but I think the key will be letting them put themselves in the box. Let them beat themselves.
Pens1967
Sep 23, 07:43 AM
Komisarek was cowardly throwing his gloves off and punching Staal from behind before Staal was able to return the favor.
I thought Nate Guenin played well, too. I think he has earned the 7th d-man spot.
Jon
Sep 23, 10:37 AM
Komisarek is consistently a coward. This off-season I read a lot of things from “experts” saying how great he was and how tough he was… but he almost always attacks from behind and takes cheap shots. Glad he’s still in the Northeast because it will be fun to watch Lucic continue to pummel this idiot.
SprJudd
Sep 23, 10:39 AM
The difference between the toughness on the Pens and the “toughness” on the Flyers is that the Pens are far less likely to receive many “toughness” inspired suspensions. The Pens – and many other NHL teams – have toughness. The Flyers just have a lot of stupidity and thuggery.
Getting rid of Daniel Carcillo is one of the greatest things Ray Shero has ever done in his tenure as GM.
Brad
Sep 23, 10:53 AM
I hope Jay McKees’s decision making with the puck improves.
Nate
Sep 23, 11:05 AM
@SPRJUDD,
I couldn’t agree more. A team can be tough without stooping to the levels of “goonery” that the Flyers bring to the ice every year. It hasn’t work in what, 34 years now? What makes them think that brand of hockey will win now?
bag o' pucks
Sep 23, 11:16 AM
I agree that Guenin has earned the 7D, so far, at least. Any word on Lovejoy’s shoulder, anyone?
Regarding the Flyers, I think they were just flabbergasted that the Pens were more physical than them in the playoffs last year so, knowing that Cote (and Godard) are not post-season lineup players, what they’ve done is try to acquire rough and tumble players that will be on their playoff roster. Guys like Laperierre and, of course, Pronger. Maybe Carcillo sits in the post-season.
If you’ve got guys who take someone to the box with them, that’s fine. More often than not, guys like Godard and Biss will do that. But the Flyers haven’t shown that discipline. If the Flyers PK sucks, they’ll be easy pickings, again.
FDeuce
Sep 23, 12:49 PM
lol, i live in philly and all i hear from the natives is how pronger is going to smear crosby all over the glass and take him out for the season. is that all these jokes care about? I just can’t wait to see the stunned/hushed wachovia center on oct 8th.
Nate
Sep 24, 10:38 AM
@FDEUCE,
And the fans in Philly wonder why they haven’t won in decades. They still have the “Slapshot” mentality. Play games where you’re on the PK for 15+ minutes like they were much of last season, is no way to try to win in the “new” NHL. And I really don’t think that Crosby has any fear of Pronger. I’m sure Disco will have a pretty tough forth line available when we roll into the City of Manly Love.
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