It’s a lot better to be a Pittsburgh Penguin these days than it is a Toronto Maple Leaf. The Penguins with no expectations have taken a point in every single game this season while the team with high expectations are meandering their way through the early stage of the season going 2-3-1.

The Maple Leafs had no excuses heading into this game. The Penguins are completely ravaged by injury yet it was Pittsburgh who was on the right end of a 7-1 blowout. Pittsburgh is off to what should be considered a best-case scenario as far as how their available players are performing.

1️⃣4️⃣different @penguins players have found the back of the net so far in 2021-22. Only two teams in NHL history have had more unique goal scorers through their first five games of a season: North Stars (16 in 1983-84) & Flames (15 in 1985-86).#NHLStats: https://t.co/u5gNifBrVw pic.twitter.com/Rfz7DXLELe

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 24, 2021

THINGS ARE GREAT OVER HERE...and how are you?

Pettersson 1G-3A
O'Connor 2G
Matheson 1G-1A
Heinen 2A
Kapanen 2A
Zucker 1G
Boyle 1G
Rodrigues 1G
Friedman 1A
Rodrigues 1A
Guentzel 1A
Simon 1A

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 24, 2021

Here are all the highlights from the game







Drew O’Connor continues to make the best of his opportunity by scoring another two goals. He now has five points in four games which leads all rookies. The raw points can sometimes prop up perception, but O’Connor is backing those up with a forward best 78.79 xGF% These aren’t empty calories. Somebody is likely going to lose their spot to O’Connor when the Penguins eventually return the bulk of the injured players. O’Connor has earned it.

John Marino may have gotten the promotion to play with Brian Dumoulin but it was Marcus Pettersson doing his best Kris Letang impression by scoring a goal and having four(!) points. I thought Pettersson would have been a cap casualty stemming from the Matheson contract, but he’s still here and he’s playing good hockey.

Another player stepping up is Evan Rodrigues who took over the first line center duties last night. He leads all Penguins in CF% this season at 62.63 and his xGF% is 69.68.

The Penguins don’t have a game until Tuesday. They are in a great spot in the standings. Life is good. Enjoy your Sunday, at least you aren’t a member of the Maple Leafs.

Thanks for reading!

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