Pens vs. Hurricanes Recap: A Game That Reminds Us Exactly Who The Pens Are

The Pens' first 6 games are an on-the-nose reminder of where they stand.

The Pens dropped a 4-1 Friday night tilt with the Carolina Hurricanes, getting outshot 39-26 and falling to an even 3-3-0 on the year. Some thoughts:

1. The Pens’ wins & losses have broken down perfectly between good & bad teams

The Pens have played three games against playoff teams from last year and three against non-playoff teams from last year. They’ve lost all three of the former, and won all three of the latter.

Their results so far have broken down so predictably, it’s almost surprising in itself. But even six games in, the Pens feel like exactly the team we thought they’d be: nowhere near the echelon of true contenders in the East, but capable of scoring enough against bad defensive teams to keep them in the middle of the pack.

2. Are ANY of the “up and coming” East teams going to make the playoffs, though?

I still think the Pens’ plan all along this season has been to sell at the deadline and chalk this up as a write-off season in an attempt to accelerate an on-the-fly rebuild. I assumed (and still assume) that when March rolled around, it’d be very clear to everyone that they’re not contenders, and that pulling the trigger on selling would be a no-brainer decision that even the most ardent Pens’ believer wouldn’t have a problem with.

The one possible issue, though, is that even 4-6 games into this season, already, none of the East teams that missed the playoffs last year look like they’re ready to step up and claim a playoff spot (besides the Devils, whose dropoff last year was an obvious aberration.) It’s still very early, obviously, plus the Pens missed the playoffs last year without any of those teams from the Buffalo / Detroit / Ottawa ‘up and coming’ zone claiming a spot, so even if none of them do this year, Pittsburgh still might end up on the outside.

But if things continue anything like they have so far in the early going, it’s definitely possible the Pens find themselves in a really similar position to last year heading into March: on the playoff bubble, very much mathematically alive, but still being sellers.

3. Carolina can play defense. The Pens? Ehhh not so much

Carolina plays a relentless (and often very boring) style of hockey where all their lines are more than capable of backchecking super-tightly and snuffing out plays in the neutral zone before anything develops. The Pens had almost no offense off the rush and no extended offensive zone time. Conversely, the Pens seem capable of turning normal defensive situations into immediate scoring chances against.

Their first goal against occured when Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson both got stuck in the corner to the right of Blomqvist, leaving two Canes forwards uncovered in front and Noel Acciari (the right winger but acting as the center) to defend both of them. Here’s what it looked like via NHL.com’s new goal visualization tracker:

Natural Stat Trick had the even strength high-danger chances at 18-7 for Carolina, which made me wonder…did the Pens even have 7 scoring chances? Their lone goal came on a midrange wrist shot. They easily could’ve been shut out.

Even through six games, the difference in “ability to play team defense” bewteen the Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes on one side, and the Penguins, Red Wings, Canadiens, and Sabres on the other side, is just so stark. It’s the kind of thing that, over 82 games, overcomes any shooting percentage / save percentage / lucky bounce weirdness and ensures the actual best teams rise to the top.

4. Crosby’s line is not on its game

Crosby clearly hasn’t had his best game so far this season. Sure, Anthony Beauvillier is no Jake Guentzel (SCORCHING take), but it’s not like Crosby and Rust have dominated and Beauvillier keeps messing up the cycle or failing to finish quality scoring chances. At even strength, Crosby was on the ice for 26 shot attempts against vs. just 6 attempts for in the Carolina game. His line had nothing going. He has 0 goals and 3 assists at even strength so far this year.

I assumed Sullivan was gonna swap O’Connor back in for Beauvillier, but it appears they’re keeping the top line the same, moving O’Connor with Malkin (where he finished the Carolina game), scratching Bunting, and giving Puustinen his first start at third line left wing.

One thing Beauvillier and O’Connor have in common? They’re both unrestricted free agents after this year. Gee, wonder what the Pens will do at the trade deadline if both guys just so happen to have nice cushy inflated numbers playing next to their top two centers…

5. I forgot Kris Letang was in Scream

After the Pens game, I went to flip on a Halloween movie and did a double take:

Some mad scientist combined Letang + Karlsson DNA to create the most frustrating defenseman of all time. Panic ensues when Pens fans start dropping dead with every shorthanded goal against.