Sidney Crosby, Boko Imama lead Penguins to another win: Yohe's 10 observations

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PITTSBURGH — For better or worse, there is no quit in these Penguins.

The third-period collapse the Penguins sustained earlier in the week against the Islanders figured to take what wind was left out of their sails. It did not.

With contributions from big and surprising names, the Penguins’ offense erupted in a 6-3 win against the Blue Jackets on Friday at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins have won five of six games, largely because of their offensive work, which has produced 20 goals in its past four games.

Sidney Crosby was the game’s dominant paper, scoring his 25th goal of the season and adding an assist, bringing him within four points of registering a 20th straight season of a point per game or better hockey, which would top Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.

Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust added goals, which has been the norm this season.

Evgeni Malkin started the scoring in the first period. Again, not a shock.

On the flip side, the Penguins received a goal from Boko Imama, the second of his NHL career.

Imama also dropped the gloves with Mathieu Olivier in the first period and was named the game’s No. 1 star.

“He brings so much positive energy to the rink every day,” Mike Sullivan said. “It’s hard not to smile when you’re around him. He’s just an enthusiastic person. He loves hockey, he loves being at the rink, he loves being part of a team, he loves being a Penguin.”

Imama clearly enjoyed the evening.

“It was great,” he said. “Even after the fight, I felt the crowd getting into it. Obviously, following up with a goal is just the cherry on top. So, It was nice.”

Alex Nedeljkovic, playing for the first time in two weeks, enjoyed one of his stronger outings of the season, withstanding a Blue Jackets outburst by stopping 44 of 47 shots.

“It was great,” Nedeljkovic said. “They were just kind of throwing pucks from everywhere, so it was nice to feel it, especially at the start.”

Ten postgame observations

• The Blue Jackets are suddenly 1-7-1 in their past nine games so, on the surface, one might suggest that this result wasn’t a complete shock.

But I’d disagree, and I’ll tell you why. The Penguins’ season felt completely dead after their horrific third period against the Islanders on Tuesday. That’s a season-killer. A gut-punch loss. Whatever you want to call it. Entering that game, the Penguins had won four games in a row and suddenly were on the verge of at least making a pitch for a playoff berth at least mildly conceivable.

Then, the Islanders lit them up with four goals in the third period and I assure you the locker room after that game suggested that the Penguins were dead buried. Nothing suggested they were going to bounce back with a victory.

The odds of the Penguins making the playoffs are about the equivalent of winning the power ball, so that’s really not worth discussing barring a few more wins in a row. But I have to say, this team plays so hard almost every night. Many teams located where the Penguins are in the standings don’t play that hard.

• I assure you that Crosby appreciates how hard his team plays.

While chatting with him after practice earlier this week, he commented that some of the great Penguins teams he’s played for in the past have endured more no-shows than this team has.

And you know what? He’s right. Even though this isn’t a good Penguins team, how many times have they simply not shown for a game? The opener against the Rangers, sure. In Philadelphia last month, yes. The third period in Vegas, OK. They had a couple of other terrible losses against Utah and Carolina. But the point is, every team has a few terrible losses in the course of a season.

The story of these Penguins will be that of a team that lost out on a playoff spot because it was too often betrayed by bad goaltending and comical defensive meltdowns.

• Imama is an extremely popular man in the Penguins’ locker room. If you don’t believe me, watch this.

No, he’s not a tremendously gifted hockey player. But he’s earned his place in the lineup and he shouldn’t be removed for the remainder of the season. He brings energy. He brings excitement to the building (you may not be a fan of fighting in hockey, but fans in the building love it anytime there’s a fight). And he’s not a “goon.” He can play a little. Enough, anyway.

Imama brings a physical edge and I assure you that many in the Penguins organization were absolutely thrilled when he scored against the Blue Jackets. This is a widely popular teammate.

Tough guys like Imama are always the nicest people in the world. I don’t know why this is, but it’s just a hockey thing. Just a warm, likable guy. One must feel good for him.

• Crosby is playing at a strikingly elite level right now.

What I noticed tonight, more than anything, was his skating. It’s almost been the most underrated facet of his game. Crosby was flying against the Blue Jackets and just outworking younger players all over the ice. That’s 12 straight games with a point at home for Crosby, who is four points from making history.

He’s something to see right now.

• On the surface, one could look at Malkin’s goal in the first period and simply attest it to poor defensive work by Zach Werenski. This is, in fact, the correct conclusion. Werenski is a great, great defenseman, but even the best of the best are guilty of blunders.

I would point out something about that goal, though. Malkin, as we know, doesn’t move like he once did, and he doesn’t possess that wicked shot that can beat goaltenders clean from 40 feet the way he did in his younger days.

However, Malkin is still a powerful man. Did you see the way he barged to the post on that play? We’ve seen Sidney Crosby score goals from that precise spot literally hundreds of times. There’s no reason Malkin can’t augment his goal total next season by playing more of an inside game and going to the net, precisely the way he did on that goal. He’s so strong and remains quite a handful for defensemen to contain when he plays regularly down low.

Just something to keep in mind moving forward.

• Nedeljkovic needed that one. He’s struggled mightily since the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Really nice performance from him.

• Connor Dewar is growing on me quite a bit.

Watch him play. He’s always on the right side of the puck, which is an obnoxious coach’s term, but it’s valid in his case.

He doesn’t blow you away with skill but he’s a smart, tough player. I like his game.

One of the best things Kyle Dubas did at the deadline was picking up Dewar and Conor Timmins from the Maple Leafs. These both look like outstanding fits.

• Blake Lizotte made a great play on Noel Acciari’s goal, driving to the net and setting up the tally.

Lizotte was so good in the first half of the season but his production has fallen off. I’d suggest this is because of a lack of qualified linemates more than anything.

All of which makes me wonder how effective he could be in the future with better surroundings. He’s undersized but a very solid player.

• Here’s hoping the Blue Jackets find their way.

There’s been no better story in hockey all season. What the Blue Jackets have been through during the past few months is something that can’t truly be understood by anyone who is an outsider.

And yet, here they are, largely a no-name team that has scored goals in bunches for much of the season, spiking up the conference standings steadily. It’s been a remarkable story even if the Blue Jackets fall spot of a playoff spot. If they make it? Well, it doesn’t get much better. Good for them. And like I always say, Columbus is a great hockey market just waiting to happen.

But this is quite the rough stretch the Blue Jackets are enduring.

• Speaking of rough stretches, up next for the Penguins is quite a test. Florida in March is generally nice, but not when you have to play the Panthers and Lightning. For my money, the Panthers and Lightning are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, and the challenge for the Penguins in those two buildings will be utterly immense.

The Penguins start the trip on Sunday at 6 p.m. in Sunrise against the champs.

(Photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)





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About The Author

Avatar of Christi Melton
Christi Melton is a writer from The Newspring. She writes about lifestyle, books, sports, education and technology. Her hobbies include reading and playing tennis.

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