PENS’ HOTSHOT GUENTZEL COMES OUT OF NOWHERE
Playoff scoring sensation started season in the minors, now he’s Crosby’s left-hand man
We’re certainly thrilled he’s playing as well as he’s playing. And our expectation at this point is that he’ll continue.
Jake Who?
That question has surely been asked by people who tune out the regular season and only start really paying attention to the NHL in the playoffs. They are noticing that this spring, the Penguins’ most lethal weapon has not been a Crosby or a Malkin or a Kessel, but a Guentzel. A Jake Guentzel. Pittsburgh’s third-round pick in 2013, Guentzel is a 22-year old from Omaha, Neb., who could easily pass for a teenager. He also leads all playoffs performers with nine goals, and among his five assists was the setup for the winner in the Penguins Game 7 win over Washington this week.
Not bad for a guy who was in the minors until the second half of the season.
“It’s been a crazy year,” Guentzel, a 5-foot-11, 180-pounder, said Friday at the Penguins practice rink. “But you’re just trying to make the most of it every day.”
Helping Guentzel make the most of his opportunity is captain Sidney Crosby, whom he sits to his left in the Penguins dressing room and skates to his left on the team’s top line.
“I’m fortunate to play with him,” said Guentzel. “He’s such a good communicator. The things he does, I’m in awe of him.”
But Guentzel did earn his way to that position. First by scoring 21 goals and 21 assists in 33 games for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, then by proving he could put produce at the next level with 16 goals and 17 assists in 40 games for Pittsburgh.
“I’m not sure what the expectations were,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said in response to the question from an out-oftowner. “We knew he’s a very good player, but anytime when a young player first comes into the league, it’s not easy to establish expectations. I think Jake has played remarkably well for us, from Day 1. I don’t think the stage is too big for him. I think when the stakes are high, he plays better. He has certainly shown that in the time he’s been here. I believe he’s got a quiet confidence about him that allows him to do that.
“I don’t know that we had any sort of expectations. We’re certainly thrilled he’s playing as well as he’s playing. And our expectation at this point is that he’ll continue.”
Guentzel isn’t just riding the coattails of the Penguins’ top star, Sullivan pointed out.
“He’s a very good hockey player,” the coach reiterated. “We could play him on a number of different lines, and different situations (with) his body of work with us at this point. He has certainly got better with each game he’s played. That’s how our coaching staff feels. So now he’s established an expectation through his performance, and we don’t expect it to change.”
Guentzel has noticed a big change with the way the game is played in the NHL playoffs.
“Yeah, there’s so much more tension,” he said. “The crowd plays a big part in it. It’s different.”
Yet he continues to produce like he did in the minors.
Halfway through the playoff season, Guentzel already has
three more goals than Crosby scored last spring when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Evgeni Malkin scored 14 when he won the playoff MVP award in 2009. It’s unlikely Guentzel will get consideration for that piece of hardware, but at the rate he’s going, who knows?
NOTES AND QUOTES: Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist has watched Erik Karlsson for years, and he sees nothing different about his former Swedish national teammate. “He gets that little extra time on TV (now), but he’s been the same player for the last five years,” said Hornqvist. “Nothing has changed on him. He probably plays a little better when the stage gets higher, like all the good players. Other than that, I haven’t seen anything different.” Hornqvist says a Winger’s approach has to change when it comes to defending the Senators star, however. “For sure, you have to make sure you don’t go too hard at him because if you’re running out at him, and he has time and space, he is going to move it and go by you,” he said. “You have to under a little more control against those really skilled players.” ... If you’re wondering why Hornqvist has a shiner and cut near his left eye, it’s a souvenir of Game 6 against the Caps. “I
tried to get a one-timer in front of the net,” he said. “Fell down, and a skate hit me up here. So I got lucky.” ... Overheard a Pittsburgh reporter call Hornqvist by his nickname: Horny. It just didn’t sound right.
OVER THE BOARDS: The Penguins had a full scrimmage on Friday, with a “scout team” employing the Senators 1-3-1 system. “We wanted to give our players an opportunity to see it, practice it,’’ said Sullivan. “We have some strategies that we like to utilize to try and have success and establish the type of game we want to play. I think that’s an aspect of Ottawa’s game where they’re very solid. We’re going to have to make sure we make good decisions and we manage the puck appropriately between the blue lines.” ... Good point out by Pittsburgh PostGazette Hall of Fame hockey writer Dave Molinari, regarding Sullivan: “He’s coached six playoff series here and has only won a half dozen of them.” ... Another quip from a respected hockey writer in Pittsburgh, who says while trying to make plans for next week he’s finding hotel rooms in Ottawa are being jacked up to $500 a night because of tulips. “Oh yeah, the Tulip Festival,” I said. “Don’t act like that’s normal,” he replied.