Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s decision to draft his top three players was a calculated gamble. Still, the results of placing Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell on the wings alongside Sidney Crosby have paid immediate dividends.
Three games in a row with two goals scored. Rakell scored two goals, then Crosby scored a pair in back-to-back games. The Penguins have won two in a row, and the line has produced ridiculously lopsided numbers in the Penguins’ favor.
The focus has rightly shifted to the top line, defensive responsibility and goaltending.”
But what about the other three rules? With the talent concentrated on one line, which has scored six of the seven Penguins goals in the last three games, is the lineup sustainable?
“I think for the most part they’ve been pretty good. The Lars Eller line has been a very valuable line for us. I think they played some strong games,” Sullivan said. “I think Cody Glass, his line, has had some shifts where they’ve instituted offensive zone time. I feel like (Michael Bunting) is ready to score. He’s had some great looks. The puck didn’t go in the net for them, but I feel like he’s ready to score.”
Yes, there have been opportunities, but the answer is not yet a clear yes or no.
The Top line of penguins has moved the puck into the attacking zone and largely kept it there. The titled ice has created opportunities for the Penguins lineup and instilled some confidence in the lineup. The improved offensive attack goes well with the significantly updated defensive coverage.
“We’re definitely playing a lot better defense where, you know, our decisions that we make with the puck and the critical areas of the rink, more specifically, the zone entries in the offensive zone,” Sullivan said. “I think we were more responsible by not making risky lateral plays on the entry that fueled our opponent’s transition play. More specifically, regarding the zone entries in the offensive zone, I think we have been more responsible in not making risky lateral plays on the entry that fuel our opponent’s transition play and odd-man rushes.
The Penguins actually do well when they return to the defensive zone, where they hold their spots and play smaller gaps. The defensive awareness of the last two games bore little resemblance to the chaos of the first ten games.
“It’s just about the basics, the same things we’ve been talking about here for a while, but just amplifying it and really breaking it down into little things,” Crosby said. “So all those little details make you win hockey, and it’s nice to be rewarded for that. I think the more we do it and we get rewarded, it’s good for us to see and feel that.”
But one scoring line and improved defensive effort won’t be enough for continued success, especially against better teams that have the defensive ability to slow or keep pace with the Crosby line.
The next three games could take the Penguins’ season in a good or very bad direction. Three Metro Division opponents await on the road, including the Jelling Washington Capitals, who sit atop the division with an 8-2-0 record.
The other lines will have to contribute. Whether they can or will do it remains to be determined. According to NaturalStatTrick.comthere are positive indicators.
And when Bryan Rust returns to the lineup, it will help the new “bottom 9.”
Second line, Drew O’Connor-Lars Eller-Noel Acciari
The line has zero goals and their shot attempts are even 18-18 dead against the opponents, but they have not allowed a goal, and their scoring chances are well in the black, 11-4.
The line has five risky chances, of which only two are possible.
Read more: Malkin-Crosby Brilliance puts Dubas on the spot; Will he respond this time?
The line was good, but Eller has never scored 40 points in a season. Acciari has just one 20-goal season and has never reached 30 points. O’Connor had a breakthrough last season, but still scored just 33 points on 16 goals.
Potential, limited ceiling.
Third line, Michael Bunting-Cody Glass-Valtteri Puustinen/Acciari
The line has allowed one goal (Anaheim) with Acciari, but Sullivan is still searching for the final version of the line. On Saturday he moved Acciari to the second line and put Puustinen on the right wing. However, that line was on the ice in front of Montreal’s goal. In just over five minutes of ice time with Puustinen, the shots were even 5-5, the scoring chances in favor of the line were 4-2, but the danger chances under water were 1-2.
Work in progress.
Fourth line, Kevin Hayes-Blake Lizotte-Anthony Beauvillier
The fourth line has started a faceoff in the offensive zone noticeably more often than in the defensive zone (5-3). However, they have allowed more shot attempts (8-10). They are outshot (2-6), but have a slight edge in scoring chances (6-5). The trio has not been on the ice for a goal for either team.
To be honest, the last two games were Lizotte’s first of the season.
It’s an average fourth line with some potential. Maybe when Rust returns, Acciari will drop to the fourth line and we’ll get the potentially buzzy Lizotte-Acciari combo.
“I’m moving Cookie (Acciari) around the lineup a little bit. I think he’s an animal,” Sullivan said. “The way he defends physically, his willingness to block shots, (and) he can take on confrontations. He is one of our best penalty killers. He is an invaluable player for us.”
The setup
Sullivan hasn’t tried to hide or disguise the fact that Malkin’s move created an unbalanced lineup. Rust will help, but there is a gap between production with Malkin as a second-line center and Eller. One is a points per game player and the other is a 35 point center.
Dubas needs to hit the trade market to figure out where he can add help. Sooner or later, Sullivan will likely resign himself to reality and trade Malkin for a lesser player like Beauvillier or a solid, if unspectacular, player like O’Connor.
Otherwise, the Penguins are asking too many players to play above their optimal roles. Of course, Malkin-Crosby-Rakell has been so good that it might be worth the consequences.