Penalty-killing rounding into form for Penguins
It, by some standards, was a modest streak, one that covered a mere one full game.
But for the Pittsburgh Penguins penalty kill, denying nine consecutive opponent power plays was a sign the unit is rounding into form after a bumpy start to the season.
A late goal after the outcome had all but been decided Thursday against the New York Islanders was the first opposing power-play goal the Penguins had allowed over a span of 10 opportunities.
“We made a couple changes,” defenseman Cody Ceci said. “We are really focusing in on it. Things are starting to click a little better and guys are starting to understand a little more what we’re trying to do. And that always helps.”
Before shutting out the Washington Capitals’ power play during a defeat Tuesday, the Penguins had allowed one power-play goal in each of their previous seven games. But from a first-period tally by the Capitals on Sunday until a third-period goal by New York while trailing 3-0 with less than 5 minutes to play Thursday, the Penguins were stingy on the penalty kill.
After allowing two power-play goals in a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Penguins have not allowed more than one PPG in any game this season. But for the season, their 75.5% kill rate ranks 25th among the NHL’s 31 teams.
“I think at first we were a little scrambly and trying to change a few things up,” Ceci said. “But now I think we’re getting back to what guys are used to, and it seems to be working. So it was good we picked up on it early in the season.”
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.