- Bortuzzo's performance really helped boost the effectiveness of the Penguins defense. He didn't play enough with just 12:27 TOI... hopefully over time and when Niskanen returns and Engelland hits the press box... the ice time for Martin, Orpik, and Letang can get a little lower on a per game basis in order to keep them all fresh. I can't stress enough how much important it will be in a condensed 48-game schedule and playoff run to keep those top four defensemen healthy.
- Was happy to see less stretch passes by the Penguins. In fact, I thought it was hilarious to see the Penguins turn the table on another team's attempt at a stretch pass as the goal scored by Crosby was the result of a pass inside the NJ defensive zone to a forward standing still at the Penguins blue line with Bortuzzo in great position to shutoff the wall and knock the puck away. The loose puck was scooped up and quickly passed up to Crosby who had the momentum and Devils were flat footed because of the turnover. Someone needs to play that film over and over and over again.
- Crosby was outstanding yesterday and it was the little things that he, Kunitz, and Dupuis were doing along the boards that really stood out. Nothing highlighted that better than the Bortuzzo goal in which those three forwards were dogged in their pursuit of the puck after Kunitz dumped it into the corner. If you didn't see my breakdown in the game thread, check it out on page 26 or here -->
http://pittsburghfancentral.blogspot.co ... -goal.html- Still amazed by the turnaround in performance by Paul Martin.
- Players managed the puck so much better with less stretch passes, in turn, less turnovers (13) than during some of those ugly games where they had 21, 19, and 17.
Game Pens TK Pens GV Opp TK Opp GV Pens Turnovers Opp Turnovers
PIT at PHI 10 8 8 12 16 22
PIT at NYR 7 5 5 7 10 14
TOR at PIT 3 2 3 7 5 10
PIT at WPG 1 9 10 7 19 8
PIT at OTT 9 9 12 9 21 18
NYI at PIT 4 11 6 2 17 6
PIT at NYR 3 6 6 3 12 6
NJD at PIT 2 8 5 5 13 7
