DENVER — Special teams, as they usually do, have played a prominent role in the Penguins’ season, but not always for the right reasons.
As expected, a power play that employs an embarrassment of offensive riches in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang, ranks fourth-best in the NHL. Despite an 0-for-4 night in Saturday’s 4-2 win at Arizona, the Penguins are still converting at 24.8 percent with the man advantage.
The penalty kill, however, had been one of the biggest question marks heading into the season and, for the the first 25 games or so, the Penguins did little to dispel that concern. As recently as Nov. 22, the PK had been ranked 20th, sputtering around 79.2 percent. That Thanksgiving eve loss marked an end to a run which saw the Penguins allow two power play goals in five of six games.
Yet, even as the Penguins have gone 4-4 over the last eight games, falling out of a playoff position, the penalty kill has been consistently perfect. With two more kills Saturday in Arizona, the Penguins extended their streak of consecutive kills to 23 over a span of eight games. The Penguins, who did not practice Sunday, will look to extend that streak Monday night in Denver against the Avalanche.
The last power play goal the Penguins surrendered was this Nov. 27 goal by Philadelphia defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere ... and then only on a 5-on-3 Flyers advantage:
That was also the same game where Matt Murray suffered a lower body injury which sidelined him two weeks. Obviously, no one appreciates the PK more than the goalie.
“Just working hard, I think, playing fast, being on top of the puck all the time, not giving the opposing team's power play any time or space,” Murray said. “I don't remember a good scoring chance they had against the PK (Saturday).
“We did an unbelievable job. We have to stick with that. Special teams can be a huge deciding factor for us.”
The Penguins should hope so.
Perhaps nowhere was the loss of Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen, both prominent members of consecutive championship teams, felt more than on the PK.
Those defections led to increased roles for a player like Carter Rowney, who averaged just 1:03 in short-handed ice time last year but is now working 2:52. So great was the need that Jim Rutherford was compelled to swing a deal for Riley Sheahan, sending Scott Wilson and a third-round pick to Detroit on Oct. 21.
While still not great, despite their recent success, the Penguins PK is now 17th at 81.0 percent. But it is making strides as it gains continuity. Other than trying to be a little more aggressive earlier in penalty-killing shifts, the Penguins haven't changed anything schematically.
It's about working together as a group, according to Rowney
“I think we’re all just on one page,” said Rowney. “I think everyone’s buying into the system, and when everyone’s feeling it together, it's easier. There's no one straying away from that. Right now I think we just have some confidence out there.”
On Saturday, Rowney’s first-period goal (see below) was the Penguins’ fifth short-handed marker of the season, one off the league lead. The five shorties also matched the Penguins' season total from last season, and there are still 47 regular-season games to be played.
The team record for short-handed goals in a season is 21 set in 1988-89 (Mario Lemieux had 13 of them). So, no, that's not going to happen.
Any short-handed goal is a bonus, but as long as the Penguins can kill penalties like they have the last eight games, they'll gladly take it.