Inside Scoop: Pens-Caps (Game 1)
© Andi Perelman
* The main topic of conversation around the dressing room the last two days has obviously been Evgeni Malkin and how the Pens will handle his absence from the lineup tonight. And before we talk about what the players had to say, can we stop for a second and give Pens GM Jim Rutherford a ton of credit for going out and acquiring Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan to provide depth at the center position behind Malkin and Sidney Crosby? Rutherford said he felt more comfortable knowing the team now had more experienced NHL players down the middle in case there was an injury ahead of them. Those words have proved to be prophetic.
* The Pens had the next-man-up mentality in the First Round when Patric Hornqvist was hurt, and they have it again now. I really liked what Mike Sullivan had to say in that regard. Since the day he was hired - literally - the Pens head coach has talked so much about the importance of mindset in sports. I remember he told us that he is a strong believer in it and thinks that a lot of games are actually won or lost before a team steps onto the ice. He reiterated that this morning when talking about missing Malkin and Carl Hagelin for this game.
"I think a big part of winning this time of year is a mindset. It's a certain approach going into every day that you control what you can and you have an inner belief in yourself and the group in what we're trying to accomplish and then you go out and you execute and you act on it," he said. "We talk a lot with our team about mindsets all season long because it's so critically important to winning. Every team has skill, and we've got to make sure we bring a certain will to the table that makes us the team that we want to be."
* I feel like Brassard is ready to break out. He got injured right as he was starting to hit his stride down the final stretch of the regular season, and it isn't easy to get back into the groove during the postseason, especially with a new team. But he's been vocal about how he's feeling good and feeling ready to bring his best game, saying, "I'm going to try and be a difference maker in the next series." I think with increased ice time and responsibility, Brassard is going to thrive. He's nicknamed Big Game Brass for a reason.
* I'm also excited to see if Riley Sheahan and Phil Kessel pick up where they left off before Brassard arrived. They spent some time together on a line and really seemed to read and react off each other well. "You know what, we played together a little bit this year. And I think whenever you get a chance to play with someone for an extended stretch, it helps," Kessel said. "I was able to play with him for about 20 games or so this year, so you build a little chemistry and know where people are and where they like to play. He's a good player. He does all the little things right and he has really good skills, too."
* Hagelin is also an important part of this team. He exemplifies how the Penguins want to play with his speed, he's been a fixture on Malkin's wing and of course, a fixture on the penalty kill. His absence will be felt, but Carter Rowney did a terrific job of handling his shorthanded responsibilities in Game 6 against Philadelphia, and he's more than ready to do so again in Game 1. "You want to be able to contribute in any way possible, so when you go out on the penalty kill, you just want to get the job done," he said.
* Everyone has been talking about how different players have to step up in different situations, like Brassard, Sheahan and Rowney. But let's not forget how good the line of Jake Guentzel, Crosby and Hornqvist was last series. I don't know if it's even possible to build off a four-goal game, but it is possible to carry over the confidence that comes with it. "I feel good," Guentzel said. "Obviously you've got to turn the page and it's a new series and you know it's going to be a tough team to play against, so we're taking it game by game and going from there, so hopefully it keeps going."
