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Yohe’s 10 observations: Penguins throw a hit that changes the game’s course

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PITTSBURGH — A number of hits — some legal, some not — paved the way for the Rangers to defeat the Penguins in last season’s classic first-round series.

One hit from the Penguins returned the favor in their first meeting with the Rangers since May.

Rickard Rakell brought a sleepwalking Penguins team to life with a game-altering hit as the Penguins woke up and handed the Rangers a 3-2 setback.

Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust scored in the second period to give the Penguins a lead they’d never relinquish. Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal to continue his exceptional play.

Chris Kreider scored both of New York’s goals.

Through more than 30 minutes of play, the Rangers were in complete control. They enjoyed the majority of the good looks, toyed with the Penguins at times, hit the post twice and were utterly in control of this game.

Then, Rakell decked Filip Chytil.

The Penguins were unanimous in their belief that Rakell’s hit on Chytil changed everything.

“It absolutely did,” Marcus Pettersson said. “I was actually disappointed that we didn’t come out with more energy in this game. We’re playing the team that beat us last year, you know? And then he threw that hit and you could feel the building come alive.”

Later on that very shift, Rakell drew a penalty from K’Andre Miller.

On the following power play, Rakell set a screen on Igor Shesterkin that led to Malkin’s goal.

Rakell has been with the Penguins for almost a year, yet his physical play still surprises the Penguins from time to time.

Were they expecting him to be this complete of a player?

“No,” Kris Letang said. “We all knew him for his skill, for his shot, for his playmaking ability.”

There are times in a game, however, when Rakell will deliver a big hit.

“He’s selective about it,” Mike Sullivan said.

He chose correctly on this night.

“The game didn’t go our way in the beginning,” Letang said. “A play like that gives you juice, gives you momentum. It was good to see Rake get invested physically like that.”

After that hit, the previously quiet crowd started chanting “Igor, Igor,” in an attempt to get under the goaltender’s skin.

Whether or not that worked is something only Shesterkin knows. But there’s not much question that it ignited the Penguins.

“It really did,” Pettersson said. “He’s always had that kind of side to his game. It was huge.”

Ten postgame thoughts

• What a difference it is when Jason Zucker is in the lineup.

Zucker returned to action after missing two games with a lower-body injury. The Penguins said that Zucker would be out “week to week” last Wednesday. Six days later, he was back.

For most of Tuesday’s game against the Rangers, the Penguins were as flat as a pancake. The one skater for the Penguins who wasn’t lifeless from the very beginning of the evening, however, was Zucker.

“He dragged us into the fight,” Sullivan said.

The word “energy” is a little overused in hockey, but in Zucker’s case, it can’t be used enough. He forechecks with a purpose. He’s fast. He’s direct. He’s unafraid. And he plays with an edge.

The Penguins are a more effective team when he’s in the lineup. That is not debatable.

• Seriously, what a player Rakell is.

Go back and look at the pass he made to Jake Guentzel on Crosby’s goal. It made the entire play.

There’s nothing this guy doesn’t do well. Ron Hextall didn’t have to give up a first-round pick to get him, either. He keeps getting better and better. Rakell is the real deal.

• When Rust scored to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead late in the second period, he had to be retrained.

Rust had just been leveled by Ryan Lindgren on what should have been called for cross-checking.

Immediately upon getting to his skates after being knocked down, Rust started to charge towards Lindgren only to be restrained by Kasperi Kapanen. Credit to Kapanen for preventing a melee.

And credit to Rust for some determination that you’d expect from him.

• Late in the third period, Crosby and Guentzel were on the ice when Shesterkin was pulled, as usual.

However, the shift went long and after a whistle, Sullivan put Malkin on the ice with Jeff Carter because he wanted two centers on the ice.

Malkin isn’t always known for his attention to detail in the defensive zone, but he was exceptional on this shift. He made two plays to tie up a Rangers forward along the boards, killing precious time. His strength was very much on display.

I like his game a lot right now. He’s cut down on the turnovers and the bad penalties. Malkin is playing an intelligent game at the moment.

• The Penguins are just terrible in most first periods. How else can you say it?

They couldn’t do anything right in the opening 20 minutes of this game. It was painful to watch. The Rangers skated circles around the Penguins during that period and very easily could have taken a two or three-goal lead.

The Penguins are lucky that they only trailed by a goal at the game’s midway point, frankly.

I think the Rangers, who were playing their third game in four days, ran out of steam. I also think the Penguins woke up in a big way, which they deserve credit for. They might want to start games a little faster, however. It’s definitely an issue and it has been all season.

• Tristan Jarry, anyone?

Apologies to the goaltender for not mentioning him earlier in this article. With all due respect to many of the Penguins who played well in this game, Jarry was their most important player.

The Rangers had plenty of Grade-A looks throughout the evening, especially in the game’s first half. Jarry was beaten only twice and is now 11-0-1 in his past 12 starts. This is perhaps as locked in as we’ve seen him.

It hurts to say for Penguins fans, I know, but it does make you wonder how the playoff series in May would have concluded had Jarry been healthy for all seven games. I’m of the opinion that the series wouldn’t have lasted seven games had he been available.

• Crosby was oddly quiet early in the game, like the rest of his team.

But when he turned it on, he turned it on and was easily the best player on the ice.

His goal was a beauty and it was his 16th even-strength goal of the season. No NHL player has more even-strength points than Crosby, who continues to play at an MVP level.

His tenacity on the forecheck was something to see in the third period.

• The NHL standings are something to see, too.

Notably the Metropolitan Division standings.

There are 10 NHL teams with 40 or more points currently, and four of them reside in the Metropolitan Division. Six of the NHL’s 13 best teams currently in the Penguins’ division.

Hockey players often claim they don’t look at the standings, but the Penguins are admitting the obvious.

“I look at them every day,” Letang said. “It’s that tight.”

Pettersson does the same.

“It’s unbelievable how good this division is,” Pettersson said. “You have a losing streak like we did earlier in the season, and before you know it, there’s a gap and you’re behind people.”

• Trocheck received plenty of buzz this summer while he was an unrestricted free agent.

Had Malkin left Pittsburgh, which did feel briefly possible, Trocheck was very much on the Penguins’ radar as a replacement. Some in the fan base had a conspiracy about this possibility.

He’s not as good as Malkin!

Well, no, he’s not. I don’t believe anyone ever claimed this to be a fact. But let’s not diminish the career that Trocheck has had. Through 34 games, he produced 11 goals and 27 points with the Rangers. For his career, Trocheck has managed 161 goals and 405 points in 589 NHL games. He was named an NHL All-Star in 2017. His career 0.69 points per game puts him right in range with JT Miller (0.70) and Brandon Saad (0.58) among the three terrific, Pittsburgh-area forwards all drafted in 2011.

Take your pick regarding which one you prefer, but they’ve all been excellent NHL players. And just because Trocheck isn’t Malkin doesn’t mean he’s not a really good player, because he is.

• Crosby visited the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Monday, which is something he does on a regular basis with absolutely no publicity.

I’ve never known anyone whose reputation is more directly aligned with the actual person that he or she is. Crosby, I firmly believe, is a better human being than he is a hockey player. Let that sink in.

(Photo of Rickard Rakell and Evgeni Malkin: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)

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