Monday picks: Pens' new coach not enough
Welcome to the NHL Daily Picks where hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters make their selections for all of the day’s games.
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET
The Mike Sullivan era begins in Pittsburgh on Monday night when the Penguins host the Washington Capitals in a big Metropolitan Division game.
For the Penguins, it’s their first game since Mike Johnston was fired in the aftermath of their 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night and in the coming weeks we are going to get a pretty good idea as to where the real problems are in Pittsburgh. Johnston certainly had his share of missteps during his time behind the Penguins’ bench, but there are several other people in the organization (as well as people that are no longer in the organization) that have helped put them in their current situation and a new coach might not cover up for that.
When it comes to Sullivan, he is going to have his work cut out for him trying to jumpstart an offense and power play unit that are both near the bottom of the NHL, especially with a defense that has limited skill with the puck. Defensive zone breakouts were a big part of Sullivan’s first practice in Pittsburgh, but it’s still going to come down to the players on the ice and whether or not they can actually make the necessary plays.
One area that will give us a pretty good idea as to whether or not the coaching change will make a difference will be in some of Sullivan’s player usage, specifically on their defense with a veteran like Rob Scuderi. He has continued to be a staple in the Penguins’ lineup even though his play has clearly deteriorated since signing a four-year contract with the team three years ago. The Penguins’ inability to get positive play from their defense, both in terms of defensive play and their play with the puck in all three zones, has been one of the biggest factors in their goal shortage. They can’t move the puck out of their own zone and they are not providing anything in the offensive zone. And as long as a guy like Scuderi keeps getting 17 minutes of ice-time a night while Derrick Pouliot plays in the American Hockey League and Adam Clendening sits in the press box, it’s probably not going to improve no matter how much they work on it.
And that’s to say nothing of the ice-time for rookie forward Daniel Sprong, a player that was never able to get Johnston’s trust even as general manager Jim Rutherford publicly called for him to play more.
The Penguins might eventually make a push in the aftermath of the coaching change, whether it is due to some sort tactical change or whatever kick in the pants teams might get from a new coach, but it’s going to be a tough matchup on Monday night, especially with Kris Letang out of the lineup again, weakening a defense that is already thin on talent and potential playmakers.
The Capitals are still rolling after their win in Tampa Bay on Saturday night and their 20-6-2 record is the best start in franchise history through 28 games.
They are, quite simply, one of the best teams in the NHL. Pick: Washington Capitals 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
The rest of Monday’s picks
Boston Bruins 4, Edmonton Oilers 2
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Los Angeles Kings 3, Ottawa Senators 2
Detroit Red Wings 5, Buffalo Sabres 3
Mike Sullivan will make his coaching debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night against the Washington Capitals. (USATSI)
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