Penguins need help besides top line
Louis Domingue. If that were the quarterback matchup or the pitching matchup, you could not possibly feel optimistic.
Domingue was fine, by the way. Four of the Rangers’ five goals bounced off something, mostly Mike Matheson.
Real good: Sidney Crosby is Sidney Crosby.
The Rangers, lacking a legitimate checking line, have no answer for the Penguins’ captain and his linemates. Crosby is playing some of the finest hockey of his career. Just a joy to watch.
In fact, the Penguins have exerted their will for huge chunks of the series. Mike Sullivan’s high-pressure system has the Rangers spitting up pucks left and right. They were credited with 75 giveaways in Game 1 alone. Panarin keeps making incredible passes for both teams.
Any notion that the Rangers would carry over their regular season defensive success against the Penguins — suppressing shot totals and frustrating their best players — has been shattered.
If not for Shesterkin, the Penguins would have won Game 1 by something like 7-3 and easily could have won Game 2. Shesterkin better keep playing historically great because the Penguins don’t figure to slow down — and maybe some of those posts and crossbars turn into goals.
Real bad: What about the other guys?
The Penguins desperately need more offense outside of their first line, although Malkin won Game 1, he got Shesterkined on what appeared to be the equalizer in Game 2, and would have a couple more assists if somebody around him could finish.
Brock McGinn was great in Game 1, invisible in Game 2. Carter and Teddy Blueger are missing in action. Evan Rodrigues has four goals in his past 51 games. Brian Boyle probably should sit if Jason Zucker or Rickard Rakell returns. And man, could the Penguins use both of those guys.
Meanwhile, the Brian Dumoulin injury ricochets through the defense core, forcing a Matheson-Kris Letang combo that is way too boom-or-bust. Even if he’s not at the top of his game, Dumoulin is a critical player.
Real bad: The Rangers also are winning the special teams battle, although Crosby and Danton Heinen both had golden opportunities on the Penguins’ second power play in Game 2.
If the Rangers continue to deliver borderline hits and retaliate to every slight, perceived or real, the Penguins must make them pay.
Meantime, the Penguins’ once-dominant penalty kill is a shell of itself. Am I crazy for thinking they miss Zach Aston-Reese?
Real good: The Penguins, via their dramatic Game 1 victory, have stoked a fan base that should be fully engaged for Game 3.
It seemed like the bigger story going into the playoffs, thanks to the team’s sagging performance down the stretch and its recent postseason failures, was what would happen afterward? Would the Big Three be broken up? Who else might leave?
Now, it’s all about the moment. The stars are healthy. The series is winnable. The battle is on.
It’s all good (and bad).