Training Camp Takeaways: Preseason Game 2
* Early on, Tristan Jarry didn't see a lot of action as the Pens got out to a 7-1 shot advantage in the opening minutes of play and had a strong first period. But the Wings reversed that in the second period, outshooting Pittsburgh 19-6 in the frame and finishing with 44 total shots. And the Pens netminder looked terrific, coming up with quality save after quality save. What impressed me the most was how calm he looked, even when he was forced to scramble to make a stop.
It's been exciting to watch the competition for the backup spot between Jarry and Casey DeSmith, who was excellent on Tuesday in Buffalo. Last year was such a learning experience for both of them, and you can tell they both came into training camp with a lot more confidence and a lot more comfortability just knowing more of what to expect at this level. It's showing in their play.
"He was outstanding," Pens assistant coach Mark Recchi said of Jarry. "Both our young goalies have been terrific, and it's great. They're both terrific goalies and they're both great kids. It's great to see Jarry step up and play a game like this. He got peppered quite a bit and he found a way to stop it. It was too bad he didn't get the win."
* This was our first real look at Jack Johnson in a Pens jersey. The more I watch him play, the more excited I get that he's on this team. He fits in perfectly with how the Pens want to play. His combination of size - he's a tank at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds - and skating ability is truly impressive to watch. As Recchi said, they love his mobility and composure with the puck, and he's only going to get better and better as he gets more comfortable.
* Calen Addison told me that coming into training camp, his goal was to play in an exhibition game. It's a big deal for such a young kid to get a chance like this, and he was super excited heading into the game. "I want to be able to create offense out there, make things happen, but I really want to focus on strong defense and show them that I can defend hard against good players," he said.
I thought that's exactly what the Pens' top pick in the 2018 draft did. There was a lot to like about his game and Recchi said the coaching staff was impressed with his performance. At first, Addison - who was paired with Jamie Oleksiak - wasn't too noticeable, which is a good thing since that means he wasn't out of position or getting beat. Then, once he started getting comfortable, he started jumping into the play and was more involved offensively. He even made a fantastic feed to set up Ryan Haggerty's goal in the third period.
"It was probably the best experience of my life," Addison said afterward. "Putting on that jersey for the first real time in a game was special. I'm just kind of overwhelmed by the whole game and just being here and being able to play. I'm just thankful for the opportunity and can't thank them enough for allowing me to play."
* Daniel Sprong had his moments in the Pens' preseason opener Tuesday night in Buffalo, but I thought he struggled with his decision-making. He passed up shots, especially on the power play, and took an ill-advised retaliatory penalty.
Tonight, he looked a lot better. The 21-year-old winger was a lot more assertive and involved, especially early on, moving his feet and making plays. His line with Adam Johnson and Teddy Blueger did a good job of breaking out and getting up the ice to create offense. But while it was a step in the right direction, the Pens coaching staff still wants to see more from Sprong.
"He hasn't stood out like we would hope right now, but we've got to keep working with him and keep getting him games and keep getting him comfortable here," Recchi said. "He's a good young player. We expect more and we expect we'll get that from him. He'll have lots of opportunity, there's four more games. He's a good young talent and we'll just keep working with him."
