The Pittsburgh Penguins won their preseason game 5-2 over the Ottawa Senators. This article looks at the players that impressed and struggled. The Penguins took to the ice for their third preseason with a special Kraft Hockeyville backdrop in Sudbury Ontario. This game was the first to feature the Penguins core players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. However, players fighting for playoff spots like Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke also got looks with Penguins mainstay.
Penguins That Have Impressed
Evgeni Malkin
The 38-year-old Evgeni Malkin comes into this season with something to prove. Having scored just 67 points in 82 games last season, Malkin hopes to redeem himself with higher production this year. Against the Ottawa Senators, Malkin drove offence, scoring a hat-trick along with an assist for four points on the night. His chemistry with Michael Bunting and Rickard Rakell was once again on full display. Their line did well down the stretch last season, and Malkin will look to continue building chemistry with his wingers. Malkin’s performance will be a large factor in whether the Penguins succeed this season. Pittsburgh needs him to maintain a high level of play this season to be competitive. A performance like this one is a good early sign that Malkin has not slowed down much.
Kris Letang
Factoring into the preseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time this year, Kris Letang proved he’s still capable of running the Penguins defence. His offensive contributions remain essential to the Penguins as he tallied two assists from the back end. His passing and puck movement were crisp throughout the game. Additionally, Letang showed chemistry with new Penguins signing Matt Grzelcyk. Grzelcyk was originally pencilled in for a third-pairing role by fans and analysts. However, Ryan Graves has failed in regaining his top-four defensive form, leading Grzelcyk to fill in beside Letang. The long-time Boston Bruins defender was more noticeable than expected, throwing the body and pinching at opportune times. As the Penguin’s second-best defenceman behind Erik Karlsson, Letang’s performance this upcoming season will be important to the success of the Penguins.
Penguins That Have Disappointed
Harrison Brunicke
2024 second-round pick Harrison Brunicke had a rough game in Elliott Town. The young blue-liner continually struggled to keep up with opposing forwards, getting beaten multiple times in the defensive zone. Notably, Brunicke was beaten twice on the Senator’s first goal of the game, where he failed to both clear the puck and then the front of the net before Ottawa tied the game. Brunicke was not expected to make the NHL this early, and this game highlights some areas he needs to improve before being able to take the next step. Key areas to target would include positioning and his ability to read plays, as Brunicke would get caught having to scramble too many times in his own zone. He will get further development time with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League this upcoming season.
Anthony Beauvillier
Free agent signing Anthony Beauvillier was faced with a great opportunity to play on the Penguins top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. Unfortunately for Beauvillier, he failed to show much of an offensive spark, and his performance left much to be desired. He is generally known for his speed and tenacity, which was on full display in this game. He buzzed around the ice and showed flashes of the player he can be. However, Beauvillier failed to generate or convert on any meaningful scoring opportunities. His one assist came as a secondary tally on a brilliant Letang pass to Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins as an organization have a glut of forwards battling for limited spots on the roster, and Beauvillier failing to drive play while getting top-line minutes with Sidney Crosby jeopardizes his chances of having a spot on the roster.
Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ third preseason game against the Ottawa Senators gave fans much to be excited about in regards to the team’s veteran core stars. Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang showed they both have a jump in their step while both nearing 40. Meanwhile, Harrison Brunicke highlighted areas of his game that he needs to improve on and will likely need a few years of development before being able to stick in the NHL. Beauvillier’s tenure as a Penguin is off to a disappointing start, as players like Drew O’Connor and Rutger McGroarty will likely get looks on the top line with Crosby and Rust following Beauvillier’s performance. With the Penguin’s fourth preseason game coming just a day later on September 30th against the Detroit Red Wings, cuts for players like Brunicke are expected to take place soon so the Penguins can hammer out their starting lineup.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
