Balanced scoring has been pleasant early season surprise for Penguins
From Rickard Rakell to the third-and fourth-lines the Pittsburgh Penguins are getting some more balanced scoring so far this season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins had a lot of question marks heading into the 2024-25 season, and one of the biggest was whether or not they could get any offense from a line that is not centered by Sidney Crosby.
As turns out, that is where most of their offense is coming from this season.
It is probably one of the most encouraging signs from the first week of games. As bad as the season-opening game against the Rangers was, I do not really hate the way they have played in the three games that followed. They mostly took care of Detroit, I thought they hung in with Toronto and lost a puck-luck kind of game, and despite a lull in the middle of Monday’s game mostly controlled the game against Montreal.
But what I especially loved in those games was the way the second and third lines stepped up offensively.
Before the season began general manager Kyle Dubas said they needed to get by the idea of their bottom-six being all about defense and needing to provide more offense. While I might have some concerns over the way those groups have been assembled, I do like the mindset change and the realization that, yes, you do need your third-and fourth-lines to provide some offense.
The third line played a huge role in Monday’s game with Lars Eller scoring a pair of goals, and I have generally liked the way that line has played no matter who the second winger has been. They are pushing play, creating chances and generally being an effective unit. When Eller and Puljujarvi have been on the ice together during 5-on-5 play they are pushing a 70 percent expected goal share and creating scoring opportunities. Granted, they are getting some pretty sheltered offensive zone start numbers, but given what we have seen from bottom-six lines here in recent years the Penguins should happily take what they have given so far.
The fourth line of Kevin Hayes, Cody Glass and Noel Acciari has also been useful.
That trio is pushing a 60 percent expected goal rate despite getting heavy defensive zone starts.
Hayes and Glass definitely bring some more potential scoring punch than what they had on that line a year ago, while Acciari looks far more effective on the wing than he did at center. They have been on the ice for more goals against than you would like to see for a fourth-line, but they are also dealing with a .760 on-ice save percentage. Goaltending has not helped them, while they are also, again, getting some very heavy defensive assignments.
It is important to keep in mind that it is only four games and there is still a long season ahead of them. These two lines need to prove they have staying power and can consistently play at this level. But the early returns are at least encouraging, and better than I had anticipated at the start. It’s something.
Even more encouraging than those two lines, however, might be the early play of Evgeni Malkin’s line.
Malkin, quite simply, looks rejuvenated and like he has something to prove. The gallop is there, the playmaking is there, the production is there. It also helps that his primary winger, Rickard Rakell, is also playing with some jump so far. Rakell was one of the single biggest disappointments on last year’s roster and his play helped sink the second line. The creativity we saw from him in his first year-and-a-half with the team was gone, the production evaporated and was as big of a nothing-burger as you could have in the top-six. Heck, it took him 20 games to score his first goal.
He already has two goals this season, and even more than that, he just looks better. His two goals were on absolute rocket shots and are the type of finishing plays they need on Malkin’s wing. He can still set people up. He just needs somebody to finish them.
The one line that has not been consistently great so far has, oddly enough, been the Crosby line. And that is the line I have the least concern about. Bryan Rust has not looked particularly good, but he is still working his way back and probably not yet 100 percent. I am also fairly confident that Crosby’s ability has not gone away in one offseason. The important thing, so far, is that the other three lines have at least played competitive enough hockey to help them get some offense and win some games when the top line has not been great.
That is what good teams need. That is also what the Penguins have lacked the past couple of seasons.