In countless games last season, the Penguins dominated five-on-five play but had meager results to show for it.
The story was very much the same on Tuesday night.
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Despite registering over 40 shots on goal and carrying play for most of the night, the Penguins came up short and fell to the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, in the second of a back-to-back slate with them.
Rickard Rakell scored the lone goal for Pittsburgh, and the Penguins went 0-3 on the power play despite some great looks. Detroit goaltender Ville Husso stopped 43 of 44 shots and was stellar throughout the game.
Here are some thoughts, notes, and observations from tonight’s preseason matchup.
– I think The Hockey News – Pittsburgh Penguins page is about to become a Harrison Brunicke fan page.
I feel like I’ve been repeating myself a lot over the last several days, but what a performance by him. He was everywhere tonight, and he was good in all three zones. He joined the rush. He sprung breakouts. He broke up some plays in the defensive zone. He imposed his will in the neutral zone.
This guy – at age 18 and fresh off the 2024 NHL Entry Draft – looks like a top-six NHL defenseman right now. At this point, the Penguins need to highly consider giving Brunicke an extended look with the nine-game trial run, regardless of Erik Karlsson’s health.
Jack St. Ivany has been good, but he’s also waiver-exempt and can easily be moved back up to the NHL club after the trial run.
At this point, I need to see more of Brunicke. And I think the Penguins do, too.
Related: Penguins’ 2024 Second Round Pick Turning Heads in Preseason
– Vasiliy Ponomarev left the game midway through the second period after crashing hard into the boards and did not return. Head coach Mike Sullivan said they’re evaluating Ponomarev for an undisclosed injury.
He was favoring his left shoulder when he came off the ice. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious because he’s definitely been one of the standout players in camp vying for a roster spot. It would be unfortunate for him if it’s something that keeps him out.
– I really like what I’m seeing from the Penguins’ power play so far in the preseason.
It did not register a goal tonight, but the differences from last season are noticeable and palpable. There is a lot more puck movement. A lot more player movement and less standing still. They are utilizing a low bumper – usually Rust – once they establish possession in the zone, which has already paid off on more…