It’s a day off from Penguins hockey, but not a day off from refreshing Penguins notes! Brooks Orpik scored? Seriously? That wasn’t trick photography, or old video? Maybe somebody got a stick on it.
-- Orpik’s overtime series-winner was a deserved big moment for the conscience of the Penguins. Orpik always makes the right play and always says what’s necessary. He’s a career Penguin who was here for the bad times. His value was evident during his absence of the start of the series.
-- No denying Evgeni Malkin’s 11 points. No denying his brutal turnovers, either. Or that he’s prone to floating. Biggest enigma since Jaromir Jagr. But production is key, and Malkin provided it vs. the Islanders.
-- Sidney Crosby has nine points. He could play a bit better. But Crosby almost never makes the wrong play. That’s the difference between him and Malkin. No one has ever played better on his backhand than Crosby. Crosby is unique. No one to compare him to. That’s why he’s the best.
-- Kris Letang could improve, too. He’s still prone to moments of madness, like the turnover on the Islanders’ third-period go-ahead goal in Game 6. But Letang remains the X factor, potentially the biggest difference-maker.
-- A big gust of wind blew through Pittsburgh from the northeast last night. That was the Penguins exhaling. Made the flight home faster. The first round is over. Psychologically, it gets much easier from now on.
-- Tomas Vokoun has to start Game 1 against Ottawa. His goaltending provided the steadiness the Penguins desperately needed. But Marc-Andre Fleury needs to steel himself and prepare. As well as Vokoun did in the first round, it’s difficult to imagine him winning 12 more playoff games.
-- Tyler Kennedy and Joe Vitale need to stay in the lineup. All they do is work hard and make plays. Not just energy, but results. This is about who is doing, not who did or who could. Kennedy provided a big moment in Game 5. Vitale did the same in Game 6. They dress until they shouldn’t.
-- Matt Cooke’s occasional dumb penalties are maddening. But during the Islanders series, no forward “got to his game” more consistently than Cooke. He played north-south and got there with a chip on his shoulder. Next up: Erik Karlsson. Sweep the leg. You have a problem with that?
-- The Penguins got outplayed, outhit and outshot by the Islanders. But the Penguins went 7-for-21 on the power play and 18-for-20 on the penalty-kill. Special teams and opportunism won that series. Same as it ever was.
-- Jarome Iginla is as advertised. Nine points in six playoff games. A man-advantage force and provider of big moments. A major presence.
-- Dan Bylsma survived the first round. That goes in every sense of the word. His lineup changes were inspired. His line reshuffling was overdue. His lack of a Plan B was damaging. But the Penguins advanced. That’s all that matters. The Penguins will get better. So will Bylsma.
-- Ray Shero’s late-season semi-overhaul was vindicated. Bylsma has many solid options. Without those options, the Penguins might be done already.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
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