DETROIT — Never mind that the Pittsburgh Penguins lost 6-3 on Wednesday in Detroit.
And let’s disregard that the bottom six still doesn’t have a goal this season, the third defensive pairing looks like a serious problem and the Penguins’ special teams endured a rough night. Let’s also ignore the slightly concerning reality that fast teams — like the Detroit Red Wings — give the aging Penguins fits. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were fighting their own battles again, which isn’t ideal, either.
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Let’s instead focus on something positive. This was only one loss in 82 games, so it’s not a cause for alarm. What really should be remembered about this game, above all else, was the show Erik Karlsson produced in the third period.
It was an astonishing display. If Karlsson is capable of finding that level on a regular basis, look out.
“We were down,” Crosby said, “and I think he had the green light a little bit more than usual. He’s just so talented.”
Perhaps he should have that green light at all times.
Karlsson played a high-risk game in the third period, yes, but that’s who he is. The puck followed him during those final 20 minutes. He had the partisan Red Wings crowd in awe on a couple of occasions. He was flawless.
Early in the third period, he scored his first goal with the Penguins to give his new team life. It was a perfect shot, a goal scorer’s goal.
Keep battling 💪
Lots of time left. pic.twitter.com/HZJAYNGcvK
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 19, 2023
Karlsson then made a fabulous play from the blue line, finding Bryan Rust’s stick for a deflection that cut Detroit’s lead to 4-3.
Bryan Rust brings the Penguins within 1 with a nifty redirect on Karlsson's rip from distance!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/cHJ5q6MfOQ
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 19, 2023
He was just getting started.
The Penguins made a dramatic push to try to even a game that appeared finished early in the third period. Karlsson was the ringleader. He finished with a goal, two assists, three points, four shots on goal and 12 shot attempts. When he was on the ice, the Penguins recorded 36 even-strength shots and allowed only 14.
“I think that was his best period of the first four games,” Malkin said. “He’s feeling it. He’s moving his feet. He’s Erik Karlsson.”
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The reigning Norris Trophy winner was perfectly fine in training camp and the exhibition season. Though he had only one point through three games, he had been pretty good in those contests.
Then came the third period.
“He just elevated his game,” Mike Sullivan said. “That’s what he’s capable of.”
Sullivan noted all of Karlsson’s brilliant attributes, from his skating to his vision, his ability to get pucks through from the blue line and his knack for finding teammates’ sticks around the net. The coach’s glowing assessment was right on the money, and yet it almost felt as though he undersold what Karlsson did in that final period.
Perhaps Sullivan is already getting used to having such a weapon at his disposal. Or maybe coaches still can’t be too complimentary after losses.
“The way he was carrying the puck, joining the play,” Crosby said, “he did so much to get us back into this game. Had some great looks.”
The Penguins shortened their bench in the final minutes, using only Karlsson, Kris Letang, P-O Joseph and Marcus Pettersson on defense in an attempt to generate offense. Karlsson played a game-high 27 minutes, 56 seconds and never looked fatigued.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen him play in the past,” Ryan Graves said. “But I have. He does that a lot.”
The more he does it, the better off the Penguins will be.
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Pittsburgh Penguins on 2023-10-18:#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/y62ixyecxw
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) October 19, 2023
In their two losses, the Penguins have allowed 10 goals (three were empty-netters). It’s a small sample and we shouldn’t draw any conclusions, but it would be foolish to presume the Penguins are going to be some defensive juggernaut this season. It’s not who they are. If they are to be a playoff team, and perhaps something more, a dynamic offense will lead the way.
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Karlsson will be very instrumental.
This was truly his first great game as a member of the Penguins.
“He could have had four or five goals tonight,” Malkin said.
Malkin isn’t wrong.
“There was a lot of offense in the third period,” Rust said. “He was right in the middle of it.”
10 observations
• Karlsson’s defensive work, by the way, has been solid.
Many had concerns that despite his wondrous offensive ability, Karlsson’s relative uninterest in playing attentively in the defensive zone would be a problem. So far, it hasn’t been at all.
He’s been solid in the defensive zone and, on the rare occasion he’s been trapped in the transition game, his hustle to return to the play has been admirable. The Penguins should be delighted with what they’ve seen. The pairing of Karlsson and Pettersson has been the Penguins’ best through four games.
Karlsson’s overall game is outstanding and, like Letang, he possesses the trait where he never appears to get tired. Don’t be shocked if the Penguins become great comeback artists this season. Having one of those two on the ice at all times while trying to mount a comeback is a very big deal. The Red Wings felt very much on the ropes late in the third period, and Karlsson was the biggest reason.
• The Penguins were excellent in the first five minutes of regulation.
The impossible-to-ignore chemistry between Malkin and Reilly Smith showed up on the game’s first shift as Malkin recorded his seventh point in four games.
Everything was working early. The Penguins were alert and winning every battle for loose pucks.
Then, a failed Pittsburgh power play seemed to trigger a Detroit surge. By the end of the second period, it was 4-1 Red Wings, and the Penguins looked completely out of sorts.
Sullivan said he liked the Penguins’ performance in the first and third periods but they lost their way in the second for a stretch. They certainly did.
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• It was a horrendous night for the Penguins’ third pairing.
Chad Ruhwedel, in particular, was awful. He was burned on the opening Detroit goal as Austin Czarnik slid past him before setting up Alex DeBrincat.
In the second period, he skated into Tristan Jarry, throwing the goaltender off his angle.
Joseph wasn’t much better. He was out of position consistently.
“I don’t really like my first couple of games,” Joseph said. “I have to regroup a little bit and move on from here.”
That third pairing can’t stay together for much longer if the struggles continue.
“It wasn’t (the game) we wanted,” Joseph said.
• It wasn’t the game the bottom six wanted, either.
Jeff Carter had a breakaway in the first period but couldn’t finish. Otherwise, the third and fourth lines enjoyed precious few scoring chances.
Drew O’Connor has been particularly disappointing, as he was one of the best Penguins during the preseason. He was invisible during this game.
Given the loads of talent the Penguins showcase on the top two lines, they don’t require their bottom two to be scoring machines. But they need to provide some offense.
• Jarry’s performance was indifferent.
I can’t really fault him on any of the four goals he allowed. It was a poor defensive showing from the Penguins.
It felt like a typical Jarry performance in a loss. He wasn’t really at fault, but you’re also allowed to make a great save or two, which he did not.
• Crosby and Malkin lost their tempers in the second period.
Sometimes they do this and it’s difficult to say others need to jump in because they can be impulsive. However, I would suggest not enough players have their backs when this happens.
Kyle Dubas has made a couple of comments in recent weeks suggesting he’s not thrilled about this. Stay tuned.
• Malkin scored the 474th goal of his career, surpassing the great Alexander Mogilny for third place among Russian goal scorers in NHL history. This is no small deal, especially coming in Detroit, with its rich history of showcasing some of the great Russian players of all time.
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Only Alex Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov have scored more, and Malkin figures to catch Fedorov later this season.
• Rickard Rakell is way, way too quiet. Something isn’t right with him. I don’t love his game. Way too passive.
• On the other hand, I love Rust’s game.
And not just because he’s scoring goals. His energy is clear. He’s playing high-level hockey.
• The Red Wings appear to be improved and the Penguins rarely play well in Little Caesars Arena.
This loss isn’t a huge deal.
But issues remain. The bottom six, the third pairing and team speed weren’t good enough. These items were problems last season. Dubas made the Penguins much better this summer. His work might not be done.
(Photo of Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson in front of goalie Tristan Jarry: Rick Osentoski / USA Today)
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