Penguins Remind What They Can Do, but They May Need to Alter Karlsson's Usage
Welcome to the THW Pittsburgh Penguins Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Penguins writers.
In today’s Substack, we take a look at the Penguins’ dominant performance against the Washington Capitals following their defeat at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks in the season opener, and then we look at how they might change the way they’re using Erik Karlsson to maximize his effectiveness.
It would also be fantastic if you’d share our Penguins Substack Newsletter with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy every day.
Now on to the good stuff …
Penguins Regroup, Respond & Remind What They Can Do
October 14, 2023 by George Majchrzak
Now that was more like it. After a lackluster opener when they blew a 2-1 lead after two periods to lose 4-2 against the Chicago Blackhawks on home ice, the Pittsburgh Penguins showed what they were capable of in the next game.
On a Friday the 13th in spooky season, the Penguins visited the Washington Capitals and beat their longtime rivals convincingly 4-0. Evgeni Malkin led the way with a goal and four points, captain Sidney Crosby picked up a pair of power-play goals, and Tristan Jarry earned the shutout.
Following the disappointing showing from their first game, the Penguins performance against the Capitals was important not only to prevent them from digging themselves into an early hole in the standings but also to show the league, and themselves, what kind of play they are capable of.
Penguins Need to Alter Erik Karlsson’s Usage to Win
October 13, 2023 by Mike Cranwell
“Well, that sure can’t happen again.”
While these aren’t the words that I would say to my team in the dressing room after an opening night loss that should have been a win, if I were Mike Sullivan, these are definitely the words and the message I’d be sending to my coaching staff this week.
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ head coach, who’s of the most games coached and won of any head coach in Penguins history, could not have been happy with his team’s opening night performance, especially the second half of the game. Having taken a 2-0 lead against what virtually the entire hockey world considers to be one of the worst few teams in the NHL this season, only to see it implode into a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, did not give anyone in the Steel City that warm and fuzzy feeling that this year would be better than the last.