Coming into Thursday night's game against the Penguins here at PPG Paints Arena, the Kings have scored 19 goals in five games, which is good for the second-most goals by any team in the league, trailing only the Bruins, who have scored 21 goals in four games.
Over recent seasons, the Penguins have morphed into one of the better defensive teams in the NHL, and so far that's holding up again this season. Something's gotta give when the puck drops at 7:08 p.m. tonight.
Following the Penguins' optional morning skate today, I asked Mike Sullivan if there's anything the Penguins need to adjust for regarding the Kings' ability to fill the net to start the season, or if it's just a matter of getting back to the performance the Penguins enjoyed in Games 1 & 2.
"When you look at the games that they’ve played to this point, they’ve all been pretty high-event games, they’ve been high-scoring games on both sides," Sullivan told me. "I just think at this time of year every team is going through a process as far as trying to get their players on the same page from a structure standpoint, and that takes time. I don’t know that you can read into any particular tendencies at this point because the season is so young."
He's right.
While the Kings have had no issue scoring goals, they've also given up a league-high 21 goals against, and have yet to finish a game without surrendering at least three goals. That said, Sullivan noted that the Kings are typically a strong defensive team that plays a systematically sound game.
"What I do know about the Kings is that they’re a team that historically plays with a lot of structure," he continued. "Last year, for example, they were one of the best teams in the league from an expected goals against standpoint. They defend hard, they defend with numbers, they’re hard in the neutral zone, in particular, with their 1-3-1 look that they’ve played there for a couple years, and they’re very good at it."
As for what the Penguins need to do tonight, it comes down to winning the battle in the neutral zone and being able to efficiently maneuver through the Kings' coverage while transitioning the puck up ice.
"I think what’s important from our standpoint is to really focus on our game, making good decisions with the puck through the neutral zone. We’re gonna have to do a good job getting through the neutral zone tonight," Sullivan concluded.
MORE FROM THE SKATE:
• As is the case for all morning skates at home, today's morning skate was optional. It was a pretty empty boat, too, as just seven skaters and a goalie hit the ice. Here are the Penguins who took the option to participate: Jeff Carter, Ryan Poehling, Teddy Blueger, Jeff Petry, Marcus Pettersson, P.O Joseph, Chad Ruhwedel, Casey DeSmith.
• Blueger was out there for the skate in a regular black jersey, but that's not an indication one way or the other regarding his status. He was in a regular jersey for each of the Penguins' two previous optional skates, but when they hit the ice for a full-team practice Wednesday, Blueger was back in a gray non-contact jersey.
After the skate Thursday morning, Sullivan said Blueger will not be available against the Kings. Blueger's status has not changed, and he remains day-to-day.
• Tristan Jarry will start in goal for the Penguins. He is 2-0-0 with a .938 save percentage, 2.01 goals against average, and has saved 0.77 goals above expected, per Evolving-Hockey.
• Cal Petersen was the first goalie off the ice during the Kings' morning skate, indicating that he will get the start in goal for Los Angeles. Petersen is 2-0-0 with an .866 save percentage, 4.32 goals against average, and has allowed 2.4 more goals than expected based on the quality of chances he has faced.
• Thursday morning the Penguins officially unveiled their Reverse Retro jersey for this season. The Robo-Penguin is officially back. Taylor Haase has more on that here.
• Dejan Kovacevic will join me for the game tonight. Taylor is catching a breather before she heads out west for the Penguins' road trip.
