Nothing could've been more predictable than the Penguins being beaten down by the NHL-best Jets, 4-1, Friday night at PPG Paints Arena, given the trajectories of both franchises.
But the Sidney Crosby/Kyle Connor fight, plus other physical fare to follow in that third period, highlighted by Rickard Rakell flattening Neal Pionk and a three-hit shift for Michael Bunting?
JEANINE LEECH / GETTY
The Jets' Kyle Connor and Sidney Crosby fight in the third period.
What a wow factor that was. Picked the bench up. Picked the whole crowd of 15,232 up, too. And, to be honest, it had me wondering why this occasionally comatose operation doesn't apply this approach more often than, oh, once every couple months.
The Jets seemed taken aback, too, Connor saying, "They definitely came out a lot harder in the third. Whether that was a message the coach sent between periods, or their leadership group, they obviously came out and were physical. Give 'em credit. They played hard there in the third."
I asked Mike Sullivan, whose definition of physicality tends to focus more on puck possession than 1974-style bodychecks, if there shouldn't be more of this:
"Yeah, I thought we got some juice after Sid's battle, and then we scored and got some more juice," he'd say of Bunting's goal. "But we have to manufacture that more consistently if we're going to be harder to play against. Physicality is a fundamental element of hockey, and we've got to engage more consistently in all three zones."
That wasn't a yes.
I asked Marcus Pettersson the same question: "Yeah, we have to be that. More physical with the puck, as well. Like when we break out that we can get a guy on our back and take a hit. That’s physicality, too. We can and we have to.”
I mean, this is seven losses in nine games now. Seems like all options should be on the table, particularly when the play out as prominently as this just did.
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THE ASYLUM
Dejan Kovacevic
5:29 am - 11.23.2024PPG Paints ArenaDK: Hit somebody? Sure, if it works!
Nothing could've been more predictable than the Penguins being beaten down by the NHL-best Jets, 4-1, Friday night at PPG Paints Arena, given the trajectories of both franchises.
But the Sidney Crosby/Kyle Connor fight, plus other physical fare to follow in that third period, highlighted by Rickard Rakell flattening Neal Pionk and a three-hit shift for Michael Bunting?
JEANINE LEECH / GETTY
The Jets' Kyle Connor and Sidney Crosby fight in the third period.
What a wow factor that was. Picked the bench up. Picked the whole crowd of 15,232 up, too. And, to be honest, it had me wondering why this occasionally comatose operation doesn't apply this approach more often than, oh, once every couple months.
The Jets seemed taken aback, too, Connor saying, "They definitely came out a lot harder in the third. Whether that was a message the coach sent between periods, or their leadership group, they obviously came out and were physical. Give 'em credit. They played hard there in the third."
I asked Mike Sullivan, whose definition of physicality tends to focus more on puck possession than 1974-style bodychecks, if there shouldn't be more of this:
"Yeah, I thought we got some juice after Sid's battle, and then we scored and got some more juice," he'd say of Bunting's goal. "But we have to manufacture that more consistently if we're going to be harder to play against. Physicality is a fundamental element of hockey, and we've got to engage more consistently in all three zones."
That wasn't a yes.
I asked Marcus Pettersson the same question: "Yeah, we have to be that. More physical with the puck, as well. Like when we break out that we can get a guy on our back and take a hit. That’s physicality, too. We can and we have to.”
I mean, this is seven losses in nine games now. Seems like all options should be on the table, particularly when the play out as prominently as this just did.
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Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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