Guys not named Sid, Geno need to put puck in net
Coach Dan Bylsma paused for 11 seconds yesterday when pressed about the consistency of secondary scoring.
That would be players not named Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, who have combined for 34 goals during Crosby's 24-game point streak.
"We certainly have one guy who is having an exceptional year," he said, referring to Crosby's NHL lead in goals (30) and points (61). "But in order to be at the top, you need goals from a lot of different areas."
A quick glance at the trends indicates they are getting goals from different areas, just not as many lately.
Only Malkin, with 10 goals, and left wing Chris Kunitz, seven, have provided more than four markers from forwards during Crosby's run of 24 goals in the past 24 games.
The Penguins, at 3.17 goals per game during Crosby's streak, are scoring more than enough to win consistently given their 2.32 goals-allowed average.
They are on an 18-5-1 run with a game tonight at Consol Energy Center against the upstart Atlanta Thrashers.
Still, the top line of Crosby and wingers Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis (four goals) has provided 46 percent of the Penguins' markers over the last seven weeks.
Bylsma didn't use terminology such as top-heavy regarding overall forward production, but ...
"There are a few guys, looking at their first half, who could say, 'I could do that plus three or four more goals,' " he said, adding the Penguins "haven't got as many goals as we could have" from the second line.
The Penguins have received 17 goals from the second line of Malkin and wingers Matt Cooke and Max Talbot during Crosby's streak.
Talbot has gone 11 games without a goal.
Third-line winger Tyler Kennedy -- the most NHL-experienced player on his line with winger Chris Conner and center Mark Letestu - has gone nine games without a goal.
Fourth-line forward Mike Rupp hasn't scored in six games and, like Kennedy, has provided only two goals during the past 24 games.
Granted, the Penguins aren't built to win on the strength of goal scoring from Rupp and Kennedy, or even Talbot. In fact, as constructed, the expectation is for Crosby and Malkin, the co-highest-paid players, to carry the bulk of the offensive load.
Crosby is on pace for 66 goals. Malkin, after a slow start, is on pace for 30 goals.
If their current paces hold, Kunitz will hit 20, Dupuis 17, and Cooke and Letestu 15 apiece.
That would make this season look a lot like last season, when the Penguins only had six forwards score at least 15 goals.
One of those forwards was center Jordan Staal, who has yet to play a game this season. Easily their third most talented forward, he will add a boost to the offense eventually.
Until then, a little bit more consistency from the so-called "secondary scorers" will be required if this club is to finish atop the Atlantic Division and secure home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.
"A lot of it has to do with the time of the goals," Rupp said. "You can't ride certain guys every single night of the year and expect to win.
"I think we're perfectly capable of doing that, even if it hasn't happened as much lately."
Additional Information:
Crosby carrying Pens
Center Sidney Crosby has scored 24 goals during his 24-game point streak, accounting for 31.5 percent of the Penguins' 76 tallies over that span. A look at the other contributing forwards in those games, their total goals and the number of consecutive games they have not scored.
Arron Asham,3 goals,4-game goal-less streak
Chris Conner,3,3
Matt Cooke,4,2
Pascal Dupuis,4,2
Tyler Kennedy,2,9
Chris Kunitz,7,1
Mark Letestu,3,2
Evgeni Malkin,10,3
Mike Rupp,2,6
Max Talbot,3,11
Source: NHL.com
Additional Information:
Today's game
Penguins vs. Thrashers, 7 p.m.
Consol Energy Center
TV/Radio: FSN; WXDX-FM 105.9, Penguins Radio Network
Season series: Penguins lead, 2-0. They have limited the Thrashers to two goals in both games. Centers Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have each recorded hat tricks against Atlanta, accounting for all but one of the Penguins' goals.
Streaks: Penguins lost 1; Thrashers lost 3
Player to watch: Right wing Nic Bergfors, who has replaced injured forward Nik Antropov in Atlanta's lineup. Bergfors has five goals and 10 points in eight games against the Penguins.
Trends n'at: Thrashers defensemen have combined for 25 goals and 95 points. ... Atlanta has lost five of seven games. ... Goalie Ondrej Pavelec has allowed three goals six times this month.
Additional Information:
Around the Penguins
⢠Center Jordan Staal practiced with teammates for a second consecutive day during a morning session at Southpointe Iceoplex. Staal, who wears a hockey glove on the right hand that was surgically repaired Nov. 2, reiterated he has no set timetable for his regular-season debut. 'Every day he's out there, I tell him I'm happy to have him out there,' coach Dan Bylsma said. 'He's in good shape. He's working. We'll see how his hand reacts the next few days before we get into a timetable for him to play.'
⢠The practice session wrapped with a shootout drill, though not the one that determines 'mustache boy' for each month. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury used the drill to put on a show for the fans who packed Iceoplex. He twirled in a complete circle as right wing Tyler Kennedy approached, and dropped to do push-ups as forward Mike Rupp skated in for a shot. 'It was a little bit unusual, but I felt pretty good today, and the crowd was cheering for me instead of the other players,' Fleury said.
⢠Bylsma said goalie Brent Johnson (groin) missed practice because of illness. Forward Craig Adams, who didn't practice, will be available to play tonight against Atlanta at home, Bylsma said. He added that right wing Eric Godard, who missed practice, will be re-evaluated by team physicians today.
⢠Center Sidney Crosby was named the NHL's third star for last week. He scored four goals and recorded seven points in four games for the Penguins, who went 3-1-0.
