Musings: Penguins Dominate Flyers in Season Opener

While this is a new year with some new faces, the Penguins certainly haven’t forgotten how last season ended, getting eliminated from postseason contention in six games by the Flyers.

“I wasn’t here, but (Head Coach Dan Muse) emphasized (the playoffs) yesterday, coming into tonight’s game,” Nick Robertson said.

They wanted to open the season on the right note on Wednesday in Philadelphia, and put forth a dominant effort – earning a 7-0 win and mostly silencing the hostile crowd, minus some boos for the home team.

"I think it meant a lot for us,” said Arturs Silovs, who was outstanding, producing a 19-save shutout. “We had a bitter taste after the playoffs, and season opener against the same team that knocked us out, everyone knew this was a great opportunity for payback and we were ready for that.”

The Penguins got contributions from throughout the lineup and some of their new additions, with goals from Robertson, Ville Koivunen, Evgeni Malkin, Hendrix Lapierre, Filip Hallander and Egor Chinakhov.

Two tallies came on the power play and another on the penalty kill, which went a perfect 3-for-3.

And as a team, the Penguins played with pace across all 200 feet of the ice, asserting themselves offensively while tracking back defensively and outworking their opponent.

Muse said the strong start was a testament to the players and how they prepared leading into training camp and throughout the preseason.

"It's important, I think you want to feel good about your game,” Sidney Crosby said. “You want to make sure the habits are there early. Obviously, everyone is going to try to improve as the season goes on, but when you have a short camp and unique circumstances this year, you want to make sure you're on the same page as much as possible. I thought for the most part, we did a good job of that.”

Here are a few more notes from the game.

Right after the puck dropped on Crosby’s historic 22^nd NHL season, he laid a crushing hit on Travis Konecny, setting the tone for the rest of the team.

“I mean, it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody that's watched him over all these years. It's kind of what he does,” Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse said. “Said before, nobody should take it for granted either. I mean, I mean, it's amazing. And you look back, and I've seen it now for over a year. It just seems like something is coming around the corner in terms of this incredible milestone all the time. Just having to start the season with another big one like that. Yeah, it's incredible.”

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Penguins management is very familiar with Nick Robertson, as Kyle Dubas drafted the forward while he was GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. After acquiring Robertson this summer, the Penguins told the forward “to come in and seize every opportunity... and see where the chips fall of who I play with or whatnot. They said to just play my game, have confidence, and then have fun.”

Robertson has made the most of his chance to play alongside childhood idol Sidney Crosby, opening and closing the scoring after an impressive preseason showing.

Robertson's speed and tenacity have helped the Penguins gain and establish the zone. He has used his hands and his shot to find the back of the net. It’s a credit to Robertson that he’s been able to hit the ground running like he has, joining a new team and new line after he and his wife welcomed their first child this month.

“The guys here have been great,” Robertson said. “I've been really comfortable, and I've learned that when I'm comfortable and talking with the guys, it kind of goes on the ice.

“Obviously, first game you're kind of nervous. It's not preseason. You're playing a tough building on the road. Obviously, I was fortunate to get the one, and obviously, that second one was kind of a gimme [laughs]. So, I'll take it. But yeah, it was a good start for the guys.”

The Penguins started training camp with a ‘third line’ of Andrei Kuzmenko, Ben Kindel and Bryan Rust. But with those three players unavailable for the opener, the Penguins reconfigured the trio, starting tonight's game with Filip Hallander, Hendrix Lapierre and Ville Koivunen. And they were fantastic, with each player getting in the goal column while spending long shifts in the offensive zone.

“They played really well,” Muse said. “Both in-zone, off the rush. They were reading off each other really well. In the first period, they probably didn't get as much of a rhythm, but they were still able to kind of stay in it and find ways to make contributions in the game, and then I just thought they kept getting better as it went on.”

Their strong start was nice to see, considering the circumstances that each player is in.

Lapierre, who set up Evgeni Malkin on the power play before burying a shot of his own, is trying to build on his first season entirely in the NHL after a lot of success in the AHL.

Koivunen, who scored an absolutely beautiful breakaway goal off a gorgeous pass from Sam Girard, is trying to reach his potential after signing an eight-year contract in July that was the talk of the hockey world.

Hallander, who wouldn’t be denied at the netfront for his tally, was sidelined for most of last season with a blood clot after making the decision to come back and play in North America following a stint in his native Sweden.

He is thrilled to be back doing what he loves after it nearly got taken away.

“I think just happy to be out there with these guys, and I think I wouldn't like to be out there with any other group than these guys,” Hallander said. “They were supporting me all last year when I didn't know what was going to happen. So, just happy to be out here and contribute again in some way.”

Afterward, Crosby awarded Hallander the player of the game helmet, which is a welder’s helmet this year.

“He’s just a guy that you root for, so much, just from everything kind of that he went through,” Muse said. “And then all the work that he put in, and just never having a bad day. That's the thing with him, too. I saw it firsthand. He's coming to the rink all last year in a tough situation, and not once did he ever have like a bad day. He just came to work, and so, I can't tell you how excited as a staff we are for him, every player, it was awesome to see.”