Tanev’s aggressive style catches on
Coach apparently wants him on one of top two lines
Brandon Tanev, the Penguins’ only significant free-agent addition this offseason, impressed his new coach, Mike Sullivan, in his unofficial Pittsburgh debut.
He did not record a point in the 4-1 win Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena, but the former Winnipeg Jets forward, had a team-high five hits, blocked a shot and was credited with one takeaway.
“He’s a speed guy. He plays a real good north-south game,” Sullivan said. “He’s got a physical edge to him. He can disrupt breakouts. He can force turnovers.”
Tanev showed all that in the second period, when he charged behind the Columbus net, whacked the puck off the stick of the goalie then, with the net empty, sent a centering pass that skipped over Alex Galchenyuk’s stick.
After the game, Sullivan said he liked what he saw from that new-look second line, with Evgeni Malkin between those two newcomers. He also suggested he wanted to get a look at different line combinations. A day later, he did.
Friday, Tanev played with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel on the top line. Bryan Rust was bumped up to skate with Malkin and Galchenyuk. Dominik Kahun, who had been with Crosby and Guentzel, practiced on the fourth line.
The Penguins figure to tinker more before the Oct. 3 season opener. But Sullivan definitely seems intrigued by the idea of Tanev with Crosby or Malkin.
“When they have speed on their lines and have guys that can help them create turnovers, those guys do a terrific job of making plays off of that,” he
Hornqvist havoc is back
For the the third time this week, the Penguins spent a large portion of practice working on the power play. They used four different personnel groupings. Crosby and Malkin were the constants. Guentzel, Kris Letang and Justin Schultz were in three of the groupings. Galchenyuk and Patric Hornqvist also mixed in.
Galchenyuk scored a powerplay goal with a blast from the left circle Thursday. But that long-range shot likely wouldn’t have gotten through had Hornqvist not buzzed in front of Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins while it was in midair.
“You know he’s always going to be at the net front, creating a screen, and he’s always going to battle for loose pucks,” Schultz said. “You need a guy like that on the power play that’s going to get pucks back and go to the dirty areas. So many of the goals are scored because of him, even if he doesn’t touch it.”
Friday morning in Cranberry, Hornqvist resumed his harassment of any and all masked men, whacking home a rebound Casey DeSmith dropped near the paint and later scoring against Matt Murray on a spinning shot from the slot. It was just one preseason game and a practice, but it gave hope that the menacing Hornqvist of years past is back after a quiet second half in 201819.
Jarry ignoring noise
Tristan Jarry’s future with the Penguins organization remains in flux. The goalie is battling DeSmith for the No. 2 gig and would have to clear waivers to be sent down to the minor leagues.
Furthermore, the team also welcomed trade offers this summer.
“My mindset’s been the same every year. It’s to make the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Jarry said.
“That’s been my goal from Day 1. … To keep improving and to keep pushing myself to make sure I’m a full-time NHL goalie one day.”
He stopped 19 of 22 shots in a 5-4 loss Monday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Jarry, who was in net for the second half of that game, played better than his .864 save percentage indicated. He stopped a breakaway shortly after taking over for DeSmith and a 2-on-1 rush after that. He made a few other difficult saves.
“There were a lot of chances, a lot of Grade A’s,” the 24-year-old said.
“It’s fun to play in those games. Obviously, not during the regular season, but in exhibition, it’s fun to get shots and it’s fun to get right into the game like that.”
Penguins trim roster
The Penguins made their initial round of roster cuts Friday.
Assigned to Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton of the American Hockey League were forwards Chase Berger, Jordy Bellerive, Jan Drozg and Ben Sexton; defensemen Matt Abt, Michael Kim and Jon Lizotte; and goalies Alex D’Orio and Dustin Tokarski.
Top blue-line prospect Calen Addison also has been returned to his junior team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League.