|
High end Sharks looking to prey on Penguins |
|
|
|
|
|
Pittsburgh will have its hands full tonight as they welcome one of the best teams in the NHL to PPG Paints Arena this evening. The San Jose Sharks are the #1 team in score-adjusted Corsi in the NHL at 55.84%. They have two of the best puck movers in the NHL helping out their forwards in Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns. Their Achilles heel is goaltending so they can be had.
The Sharks have the worst 5v5 save percentage in the NHL at .897 They are the only team in the eighties. For as up and down as the Penguins goaltending has felt at times they are 7th overall in the league at .923%. Goaltending is down around the league this year. The league average as of today is .918. In year’s past we’ve seen that number around .921-.923.
The Sharks are aware of this and are looking to shore up the issue
Miller may be 38 years old, but he has a .946 5v5 save percentage and a .855 high danger save percentage at 5v5. The cost to acquire shouldn’t be astronomical and the Sharks are too good to head into the playoffs with the worst goaltending in the league.
As for the Penguins this is what they will likely go with tonight
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
ZAR-Malkin-Kessel
McCann-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Pearson-Cullen-Simon
Teddy Blueger will continue to watch from above. At least he’s being paid a good buck to do so. Blueger deserves that fourth line center spot. In his nine games with the Penguins this year he has a 3.11 5v5 points per 60. The more he plays the lower that is going to go. The point is that he’s made the most of his ice time he’s been given. When you call up players you hope they do what Blueger has done to this point. There should be playing time for his quality of play.
Dominik Simon will stay in the lineup. He should. His 1.85 points per 60 should not be taken out of the lineup. Tanner Pearson has earned the demotion way more than Simon.
Might as well ride the ZAR train for the time being. He’s been hard on the puck and if you can find a depth player to play up in the lineup you have more to work with in other areas.
There’s a decent enough chance the Penguins will face Carl Hagelin in the playoffs. He was traded to Washington today for a third round pick and a conditional sixth. His speed can still cause havoc on the forecheck even if his offense is on a long term vacation.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»