Kovacevic: On Kris, Phil, Sid and shootout symbiosis

Even after 35 minutes and 14 seconds, eight shots, an assist, a couple hits, a couple blocks and a slew of slackened jaws all around Consol Energy Center, Kris Letang still had enough left in Letank late Tuesday night to laugh at the question.

"Giving Phil advice on the shootout? Ha! No chance," he came back at me. "The last time I told him what to do, he missed the net. That was the end of that."

And this was the end of the Penguins' 5-4 victory over the Sabres, courtesy of Phil Kessel:



Simple stuff, right?



Well, yeah. It was classic Phil. Given the choice between a move or a shot, Kessel will take the shot 81 times out of 80.

And yet, man, it sure felt like there was something more to that finish given that it immediately followed Letang doing this to Buffalo's poor Chad Johnson:



This one went to a slightly different spot through Johnson, obviously, so the game plan couldn't have been identical. But it still seemed worth pursuing. One never knows what takes place on an NHL bench without asking.

Let's go back to Letang.

"When we do shootouts, Sid goes first. And I never watch Sid. I watch the goalie," he began. "I can't learn from what Sid does, but I can watch the goalie and how he moves, when he moves, all that."

So he watched Sidney Crosby go with old reliable, meaning skate up tight, mess around with the puck a bit and try to surprise with the release.

More often than not, the target is five-hole, but not this time:



Almost. Crosby showed five-hole with his blade, then tried to flick it over Johnson's blocker. And achieved that, actually.

"The guy got lucky," Letang said. "It hit the knob of his stick."

That wasn't what mattered, though. All that mattered was the scouting report.

"He doesn't move. He doesn't budge."

Generally, that's a compliment for a goaltender, as it means he'll patiently, smartly wait out the shooter. But in this instance, the Penguins collectively used it to their advantage.

Look back up at Crosby's shot, and you'll see that Johnson, indeed, barely budges. That, Letang said, convinced him to abandon his own old reliable -- that trademark backhander over the right leg pad -- and find the five-hole.

Kessel wasn't available for interviews after this game, so assessing what he was thinking would involve guesswork. But look back up at his shot, and it's easy to see that he, like Crosby, faked five-hole, and that he, like Letang, was confident Johnson wouldn't move.

"You don't see many low shots to that side," the Penguins' Matt Murray observed from the other end. "When the puck's along the ice, as a goaltender, you're always thinking five-hole. It's surprising anytime it doesn't go there."

Even when Murray stopped Buffalo wunderkind Jack Eichel on that OT breakaway by jutting out his left leg pad?

"I honestly think he was going five-hole," Murray said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Y1aZqQF3g

There's nothing too heavy to be had here. The Penguins are playing wonderful, entertaining hockey, having won 9 of 10 as they keep marching not just into superior playoff position but also into the makings of a very real contender in the East.

It's been a blast. And so was this, judging by the joyous reaction of those on hand in maybe the best atmosphere all season.

Enjoy the shootout while you can before everything turns mega-serious.

"Oh, yeah, this was fun," Letang said. "The shootouts are fun."

And more of a team thing than most might realize.