Natural born killers when short-handed ☕ taken in Newark, N.J. (Penguins)

Teddy Blueger is one of the Penguins' top penalty-killing forwards. -- MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

NEWARK, N.J. -- It is the Penguins' other special-teams unit.

The one that didn't have a run of 28 consecutive failures until Tuesday night.

That hasn't inspired fans and coaches alike to search for explanations to a slump that, well, defied explanation.

That hasn't cost the Penguins points that could prove to be precious when the standings stratify as the regular season winds down.

No, their penalty-killers haven't attracted nearly as much attention as their power play has during the past month or so. Too bad, really, because it has been the most consistently efficient aspect of their game for much of the 2019-20 season. That includes snuffing out two Rangers power plays during the third period of what became a 3-2 overtime loss at Madison Square Garden Tuesday. Both came during the third period, when the game was tied, 2-2, so a goal-against then could have led directly to a defeat in regulation.

There wasn't much chance of that happening, though, since New York managed a total of one shot on goal during those two opportunities with the extra man. That from a power play that entered the game on a 6-for-13 roll and was ranked sixth in the NHL, with a conversion rate of 24.1 percent.

Those are some pretty impressive numbers, but nothing like the ones the Penguins' penalty-killers have put up lately. They have not been scored on in the past seven games, have killed 16 consecutive penalties and have yielded just one goal in the past 23 short-handed situations.

That run has hoisted them into second place in the NHL rankings, with a kill rate of 88.1 percent. Such success assures there will be lots of credit to go around and to hear the players and coaches tell it, there are more than a few deserving recipients.

Jared McCann, one of many forwards to receive ice time when the Penguins are down a man, was quick to point to the contributions of the coaching staff -- "I feel like our coaches have done a great job of preparing us, showing us the team's tendencies on video and stuff like that," he said -- while assistant coach Jacques Martin, who oversees the penalty-kill, cited the depth of the short-handed unit and the commitment of the guys who are part of it.

"I think our personnel has a lot to do with it," Martin said. "It reminds me a little bit of when we had Carl Hagelin and (Nick) Bonino. When you look at (Teddy) Blueger and (Brandon) Tanev, it's a similar pair. You're looking at lots of speed with Tanev, and Blueger's more cerebral, reads the play. He's good on faceoffs.

"I think we've had more people killing this year than last year. Now that we've developed some experience. (Bryan Rust) is an experienced guy. Zach Aston-Reese. We've had Dom Simon kill, we've had (Sam) Lafferty, when he's been up. McCann. We've worked with (Nick) Bjugstad. We've got more people who seem to have the skills and the ability to help in those situations.

"You have to be able to read the play, anticipate. That really helps. As well, blocking shots. Zach Aston-Reese and Bryan Rust, they're great at blocking shots. That's another tool, another component of their game that helps them to be effective on the penalty-kill. Quickness, speed, having a good stick."

The Penguins play a high-pressure style when short-handed, with the intent of forcing members of the opponent's power play to make quick decisions. And, ideally, mistakes.

"We're the type of team that likes to put pressure on the power play, and I feel like it's been working for us," McCann said. "Sometimes, you have to pressure, because they have guys who are so skilled, like (the Rangers' Artemi) Panarin. You can't give them time and space to make plays, or they're going to make you look bad."

Such an approach obviously can be effective, but it's also physically draining, which is why having three reliable sets of penalty-killing forwards -- and a few spares, just in case -- is critical for the Penguins.

"Being fresh has been a big factor," Martin said. "The fact we have more than four (penalty-killing forwards) helps, because they get a better rest. Maybe they go out for 30 seconds and then we get another unit and then another unit, and then (the first one) goes back out."

Oh, and there's one other factor whose importance can't be overstated when discussing the Penguins' penalty-killers: How infrequently they've been called upon.

The Penguins have been short-handed just 42 times, fewer than any team except Winnipeg (40).

"That helps," Martin said. "I give a lot of credit to our players this year. We've shown more discipline. I think we've moved our feet more. We've checked with our legs, versus our sticks."

The Penguins can't hope to sustain their penalty-killing success rate of recent weeks indefinitely, of course. But it doesn't seem unreasonable to believe that they could hold onto a spot among the top five in the league.

"I don't know where we fit in, but I think it's encouraging from the standpoint that we have more players," Martin said. "We have better players in that penalty-killing mold."

And infinitely better results than that other special-teams unit.

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