Commentary and thoughts on the Penguins’ prospect game against Boston

Expected names pop out in Pittsburgh’s win over Boston prospects on Friday

Running commentary and various stray observations can be found here for the Penguins 6-3 win over Boston on Friday to kick off the Prospect Challenge in Buffalo.

The game was highlghted by Rutger McGroarty scoring a goal and adding an assist, narrowly missing out on an even bigger day when a late shot hit the cross-bar. Tristan Broz added two goals for the Pens, both on the receiving end of one-timers. Ville Koivunen recorded two assists, including a dandy of a pass to Broz for the game’s final goal. Sergei Musharov entered the game halfway through and stopped all seven shots he faced.

Joining slightly in progress, here’s some real time notes as the scrimmage went on.

It was a difficult task since the Penguins again are using practice jersey that featured yellow lettering on the black jerseys that was very difficult to discern names on the single cam internet feed. The Bruins and most the other teams involved use standard NHL jerseys for this event. But it was better than nothing!

This chart of lines and numbers proved to be invaluable:

-McGroarty activates early with physicality

-Koivunen getting muscled off pucks, looks unsure this shift of how to exit zone with pressure in his face

-Harding gets pulled out of position on rush for a goal against. Score is now 2-0 Boston.

-Broz, McGroarty, Pickering, Koivunen, Hayes on ice for first power play, nice hold by Pickering and quick puck movement by McGroarty led to chip in goal for Hayes at front of the net. 2-1 Bruins

-Brunicke is a very fluid and good skater, very pretty to watch

-Bruins take puck to net and score, not Gauthier’s finest moment as guy crashes into him after. 3-1 Bruins

-Ponomarev great work on forecheck to strip puck and set McGroarty up for shot. Saved but turned routine breakout against into scoring chance

-McGroarty skates close to goalie covering puck, Bruins push him after whistle.

-Broz with good speed takes puck up alone, surrounded by four Bruins and runs out of options, loses puck

-Lower line goal, nice move by Beck in ozone with puck to get it to net. Sequence started by Brunicke skating and good decision. 3-2 game

Second period

-Pens move the puck around early and a big shot from Broz goes in. 3-3

-Outside of the goal, 26 keeps standing out for good little plays around the ice. Keep having to look at the sheet to tell which number is which player. Broz is No. 26.

-in the other way, the 50-78 pair (Belliveau and Harding) not the most steady in their own end

-Koivunen nice job to win a puck and looks good in space, easily shrugged off it soon after in closer quarters

-Pickering has a bomb go off his stick on indirect pass attempt and into netting

-Brunicke almost mesmerizing with his skating. Recovers puck, leads rush, throws big hit 10 seconds later when they lose it

-McGroarty making a number of little plays in zone

-Murashov now in net about midway through period/game for a planned switch of goalies

-McGroarty loses puck at ozone blueline but backtracks hard, helps prevent scoring chance against

-Second line two shifts in a row with extended ozone time. Koivunen with nice shot and a second chance later on deflection attempt

-Pretty goal off rush, Belliveau stretches ice, Foster enters zone with speed, finds 54 (De St. Phaille) cutting to net who finishes in tight. 4-3 Pens ahead

-first line starting to roll, both Brinkley and Brunicke step up at different points. Hayes takes puck to net it gets poked away from him but McGroarty in close support to quickly poke loose puck in net. Nice rotation and some smarts shown by McGroarty glide back to cover the right point for pinching defender then sneak back into scoring territory late and pop up when the puck was there. 5-3 Pens

Third period

-Pens Pk, Belliveau for two minutes. Not much drama. Murashov great lateral movement. Take back what I said about him not looking like a small goalie visually, he does, but his setup and angling erases the bottom of the ice at almost all times.

-3v1 rush, really good cross ice pass by Kouvinen to setup goal for Broz. 6-3

-Jelsma takes hit to keep puck in, Bruin keeps on him and takes penalty

-Different PP group to start with Ponomarev and Brunicke out there, among others. Top group back on later

-Very slick pass by Koivunen on rush nearly sets up another goal. Boston has to hook Penguin at net and take penalty to prevent it

-The second group: Klassen, Beck, Ponomarev starts power play again

-First powrplay back on, McGroarty picks his spot on open look from middle of the ice and hits the cross bar on hard wrister

-Bellieveau attempts wrap around. Far from home but not afraid to get into the play

-Klassen destroyed by big hit and Bruins take penalty late going after him. Pens take one too, 4v4 to end game

—

All in all, great debut or pre-debut for McGroarty. It was only one game where lines were very evenly rotated but he stood out on the ice physically and also some encouraging signs mentally to suggest he’s not far off at all from being NHL ready. Koivunen had some nice moments as well and Broz continued his knack of scoring goals.

Among the other notable prospects, Owen Pickering had a quiet but controlled game for his part. 2024 draftee Harrison Brunicke is green but certainly showcased the tools that made him a second round draft pick.

The Pens’ prospects are back in action tomorrow at noon against Ottawa.