Guentzel finds scoring touch again during February surge
BOSTON — A new month brought out the old Jake Guentzel.
After producing two goals and no assists in 12 January games, Guentzel got back to his goal-scoring, point-producing form in February, with totals of five goals and 13 points in 12 games.
“I just think it’s confidence,” Guentzel said before the Thursday morning skate at TD Garden. “When you get that confidence, the puck is on your stick a little more, and you start to make more plays. I definitely feel pretty good aboutmy game right now.”
That wasn’t always the case.
After a Feb. 8 practice, Guentzel was highly critical of his play.
“Idon’t think I’ve been very good,” Guentzel said back then. “I have to be better.”
Give Guentzel credit: He has been a 23-year-old man of his word.
Although he didn’t produce the next two games, Guentzel scored twice against Ottawa Feb. 13 to get the ball rolling. He later had goals in back-to-back games Feb. 18 at Columbus and Feb. 23 at Carolina.
“I think it’s getting a bounce here or there,” Guentzel said. “Whenever you see one go in the net, I think it gives you a little more confidence. If you build on that, you keep getting more. Obviously, just hope it stays.”
So does Sidney Crosby, presumably.
Much of Guentzel’s February production came on the third line, with Riley Sheahan or Derick Brassard at center and Phil Kessel on the right wing.
The ultimate goal — and the way the Penguins are probably best-constructed — is to have Guentzel on Crosby’s left wing, with Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary or Patric Hornqvist rounding out the line.
That’s the way the Penguins went Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils and the way they started the game Thursday night against the Boston Bruins, with Rust on the right.
“Whenever you get a chance to play with him, it’s exciting,” Guentzel said of Crosby. “You know what kind of player he is. It definitely feels good to be back with him.”
Another thing about Guentzel’s month-to-month splits: It hasn’t simply been about scoring goals.
Guentzel’s plus/minus — hardly a perfect stat — went from minus-2 to plus-4, while a few of the deeper numbers such as shot rate (49.8 percent to 51.4 five-on-five) and scoring-chance percentage (46.8 to 52.7) have trended upward as well.
Coach Mike Sullivan attributed much of that to Guentzel’s work down low, a strength of his game, even though he also has plenty of flash.
“I think Jake’s been a lot stiffer on the puck, in the puck battles down low underneath the hash marks,” Sullivan said. “He’s doing a better job hanging on to pucks. We’ve always believed in Jake’s playmaking ability and his offensive instincts. I just think he’s playing a more committed game.
“What jumps out at me is just his willingness and commitment to hang on to pucks. He’s stiffer in those battle areas.”
The last thing that happened is something you should always be mindful of when it comes to Guentzel. He’s better when he’s shooting and has an aggressive mindset.
Figure that in 12 January games, Guentzel put 19 shots on goal. That number jumped to 27 over the same number of gamesin February.
DeSmith gets start
Casey DeSmith started in goal for the second game in a row. DeSmith was solid Tuesday against the Devils, stopping 35 of 38 shots; he hardly was the reason the Penguins lost.
It might’ve been reasonable for Sullivan to turn to Tristan Jarry and keep this rotation going, but Sullivan loves to say that he goes with the guy who gives the Penguins the best chance to win.
Well, Jarry was yanked in his last start against Boston, after giving up five goals on 19 shots Jan. 7.
“We’re not really trying to evaluate one against the other,” Sullivan said. “We know they’re both good goalies. We know they both give us a chance to win when they’re in the net. We’re just trying to help them continue to grow and develop. We’re going to make decision on a game-to-game basis on who’s going to play.”
Malkin honored
Evgeni Malkin was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Month for February after he racked up 10 goals and 21 points and was a plus-13 in 12 games. Malkin was the NHL’s First Star for January.
Congrats, DPH
Penguins head equipment manager Dana Heinze worked his 2,000th pro game in a career that started in 1988-89, in Johnstown.
Different look
The Bruins were without center Patrice Bergeron, the league’s best defensive forward and the Selke Trophy winner in three out of the past four years. Bergeron will miss at least two weeks because of a fractured right foot.
“He’s one of the better 200foot players in the game,” Sullivan said of Bergeron. “It’s hard to replace those types of guys.”