share many similarities with their hallowed predecessors from the early 90s. The Penguins’ season hangs in the balance. The Penguins are chasing another repeat championship. It needs to seize momentum when it doesn’t score. The Penguins downed the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 on Sunday night to clinch their fourth Cup in franchise history, and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. No matter who lines up where, the power play must produce consistently. It was 1 for 22 in the six preseason games prior. The PP got two goals in Friday’s exhibition win at Buffalo. That’s what makes the Penguins’ power play so easy to write about: There’s so much they should try but won’t. But Guentzel isn’t what’s needed.īut Carter won’t play on the top power play. He’s got good touch and is solid at puck retrieval. He’s slighter than his listed size of 5-11, 180 pounds and gets beat to death. Game 7 stop of an Alex Ovechkin one-timer to another. Thats 11 more third-period goals than any other Stanley Cup participant this. The Penguins' Run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. When Jake Guentzel is healthy, he’s often in front of the net. The Sharks have outscored their opponents in the final 20 minutesnot including overtime gamesby a 29-14 margin. The Penguins’ current PP is too easy to bully outside, to force to the perimeter. It forced the opposition penalty-kill to pay attention, to battle Hornqvist for territory, to tighten their unit. When the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and ’17, Patric Hornqvist’s sturdy net-front presence on the power play contributed as much as the accompanying star power. Carter will play a bottom-six spot at even strength, but a man-advantage role would keep him invested.Īs previously mentioned in this space, the power play is about the best fit, not making sure the five biggest names are happy. Pittsburgh will play San Jose in Stanley Cup Final, spoils return of Tampa Bay captain. His legs are shot, but you don’t need speed that close to the blue paint.Ĭarter has been on the power play for the vast majority of his professional tenure. Penguins defeat Lightning, Stamkos in Game 7. ![]() Here’s a Plan B for the power play that the Penguins should consider: park Jeff Carter’s big backside in front of the net.Ĭarter is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. The Penguins haven’t even played a regular-season game yet, and this is my third column on the power play. If it doesn’t finish top five in the NHL, the Penguins might not make the playoffs. Recalibrated with the addition of man-advantage maestro Erik Karlsson, the power play will make or break the season. One thing constantly will be discussed: the power play. The Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres, 7-4, on Friday in their final preseason contest. The Pittsburgh Penguins appear to be ready for the season.Īt 36, Sidney Crosby has become the crazy old man who fights in an exhibition game.
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