Superstitions are innately intertwined with all competitive sports, but perhaps no game takes them as seriously as hockey.
This season, a patch of bad luck in Boston led Kris Letang to shave his beard into a mustache that would rival any PA State Trooper. Conversely, a run of good luck has led others to adopt elaborate pre-game routines, wear the same suit for weeks or – in the case of at least one Penguin – sport the same jock strap for more than a decade.
Lately, the Penguins power play stumbled upon something that works. His name is Jared McCann.
Since McCann earned the promotion to the top unit in Evgeni Malkin’s absence, the Penguins have converted 14 of their 38 opportunities (36.8%). The versatile 6-1 lefty did it again on Saturday, crashing the crease to clean up a loose puck and propel the Penguins to a 4-2 win.
McCann, who began the year on the second unit, now has six of the 14 power play goals scored since March 25. On the season, his seven total goals on the man-advantage leads the team, even though he has played less than half of the power play minutes (71) as other mainstays like Sidney Crosby (144), Jake Guentzel (147) and Kris Letang (145).
What makes this success more striking is that it took not one, but two injuries for McCann to earn his nod with the main group. When Malkin initially was injured, Kasperi Kapanen got the first chance. Then, when he got hurt, McCann stepped in.
Now, comes the big question. This week, Malkin began skating in a team setting, another significant step in his return from a lower-body injury.
When the big Russian comes back, what do you do?
“It’s a good challenge to have when you have a guy like Geno come back in your lineup,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “It gives us the ability to have two solid units, no matter what the combinations look like.”
Okay, so what will they look like?
Does McCann get demoted to the second unit? You can’t possibly do that when his big left-handed shot and puck retrieval has been such a catalyst. Does Bryan Rust, who has scored more goals than any Penguin since the start of the 2019-20 season, get bounced out of his position? Will they move 40-goal scorer Jake Guentzel out of the net-front role and onto the second unit?
Or, do the Penguins decide that they don’t want to mess with what’s working, keep the band together and make Malkin the focus of his own power play? That sounds bonkers. But is it?
If some barista screwed up Sullivan’s Starbucks order, gave him a soy macchiato latte with 18 pumps of caramel and – suddenly – the power play started scoring like this, you better believe Sullivan would have a new favorite drink. So why should the super-charged power play be any different?
Here’s where context is key. It’s not like the power play has been some high-octane engine firing on all cylinders no matter who is on the ice. Actually… quite the opposite since Phil Kessel left a massive void in the left circle. After the Penguins were bounced from the playoffs last year, one of former GM Jim Rutherford’s biggest criticisms was of the power play. The next day, Mark Recchi – a respected former Penguins player, a trusted Sullivan confidant and the man in charge with the man advantage – was fired.
With assistant coach Todd Reirden steering the ship this year, the Penguins started slowly when Malkin was in the fold. They were 24th out of 31 teams (13.5%) on Feb. 11 and Sullivan was facing nightly questions about what was wrong. By March 20, the Penguins had only begun to climb out of their hole and were 19th (19.3%).
Now? They’re eighth-best in the NHL with a 23.3% rate, which is staggering considering the hole they started in.
Asked about the power play in the past, Sullivan has often cited his Boston University hockey coach Jack Parker who once told him, “Sometimes, it’s the best idea to start with your five best players, and then figure it out from there.”
Six of 14 goals since March 25 sure makes a strong argument that McCann is one of the five best. The Penguins can figure it out from there.
One of the ‘greatest of all time’ hits another milestone
Crosby beat the buzzer with an empty net goal on Saturday. And, in the process, he clinched his 16th point-per-game season.
There are only two players in NHL history with more point-per-game seasons. You may have heard of them: Wayne Gretzky (19) and Gordie Howe (17).
“Anytime you’re mentioned with Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky, that’s pretty neat,” Crosby said.
“It’s also a reminder of how long I’ve played,” the captain added with a sly smile.
Crosby, who missed one game this season, now has 55 points during this shortened and condensed 56-game season, including 20 goals. Those 55 points rank eighth-most in the NHL and second-best in a tight-checking East Division.
“Some of these milestones he’s reaching now, he’s in such elite company,” Sullivan said. “He is – in my mind – building a real compelling argument for being one of the greatest players of all time. We believe he is. With each milestone that he reaches along the way here, for me, it just provides the hard evidence that he deserves to be in that conversation.”
Rust never sleeps
Speaking of milestones, Rust netted his 20th goal of the season. Sullivan coached Rust in the American League and may be more qualified than anyone to talk about his progression.
“When I look back on my experiences, I can’t think of another guy that has developed his game as much as Rusty has,” Sullivan said. “He’s always been a solid player. A real good defensive conscience. An energy guy. A good skater. But he’s developed his offensive game so well in the time that I’ve been with him. I just think that Rusty deserves so much credit for maximizing his potential and his work ethic to continue to grow his game.”
Keep an eye on Blueger
Very late in the third period, Teddy Blueger took a somewhat awkward hit. New Jersey’s Andreas Johnsson pinned the Penguin center’s left arm and wrist against the boards. Blueger hunched over in obvious pain and continued to try to shake it off for several minutes on the bench. The medical staff talked with Blueger as he repeatedly opened and closed his left hand. He did not take another shift. But it was also the end of the game.
Asked if there’s a reason for concern, Sullivan said, “Not right now, no.”
Meanwhile, Kapanen got his feet tangled with Blueger in the second period and fell hard on his face. He went down the tunnel to the dressing room with a towel over his face but was able to return after missing several shifts.
Mike DeFabo: mdefabo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MikeDeFabo.
First Published: April 24, 2021, 10:39 p.m.
