Before we move on to the NHL’s 2nd season, the more important one, let’s take a moment to look at some final stats, highs, lows, and other miscellaneous tidbits that have the Pens sitting in 4th in the Conference. If you’re really bored, check out my season predictions and laugh at how off I was on some of these things: http://crosbyftw.blogspot.com/2011/10/pens-season-preview-2011-2012.html
Win/Loss:
Record: 51-25-6, 108 pts. 2nd in the Atlantic, 4th in the East (though, 4th in the NHL)
Home: 29-10-2 (4th in NHL)
Away: 22-15-4 (7th)
Shootouts: 9-3 (7th)
Goals:
Goals For: 282 (1st)
Goals Against: 221 (12th)
Differential: +61 (2nd)
Special Teams:
Power Play: 19.7% (5th)
- Power Play Opportunities: 289 (7th)
- Short-Handed Goals Allowed: 10 (26th)
Penalty Kill: 87.8% (3rd) *Franchise Record
- Times Shorthanded: 270 (15th)
- Short-Handed Goals: 11 (3rd)
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| Geno may have led the team in scoring, but these 3 were integral parts of the PP's success. |
Random:
Hits: 2058 (6th)
Blocked Shots: 1065 (22nd)
Missed Shots: 1088 (2nd)
Giveaways: 498 (28th)
Takeaways: 439 (30th)
Faceoffs: 50.4% (13th)
- The Pens won 45.7% of the games in which they allowed the 1st goal, the highest % in the NHL.
Transactions:
- Marc Letestu was traded to Columbus for a 4th round draft pick.
- Chris Kunitz received a 2 year extension for $3.725 mil./yr.
- James Neal received a 6 year extension for $5 mil./yr.
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| Neal became a part of the "core" of this team this year. |
Season Highlights:
- Opening Night, 10/6: 4-3 (SO) win over Vancouver. Led by a shocking 2 goal performance from the new Matt Cooke, the Pens won in Vancouver to start off the season with a playoff type win (minus the shootout)
- 10/27: 3-2 (SO) win over NYI: The Pens extended their winning streak to 5 games to take their record to 8-2-2, tops in the NHL early on.
- 11/21: 5-0 win over NYI: Sid’s Return Part I. Crosby came back from his concussion in dramatic fashion, scoring the 1st goal of the game and putting up a 4 point night to dazzle the NHL in his long-awaited return.
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| Everyone was all smiles as Crosby skated around the corner with a big "F*ck Yeah!!" |
- 12/27: 4-2 win over Car: The culmination of a 4 game win streak which saw the PK return to perfection and the PP score 6 goals in 4 games.
- 1/31: 5-4 (SO) win over Tor: The Pens 8th win in a row, 5 of which had come in OT, 4 of which had been in a shootout. Fleury started every game of the streak and simply had all the answers when he needed them most.
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| The shootout may be a gimmick, but Fleury has perfected it. |
- 3/15: 5-2 win over NYR: Sid’s Return Part II. The Pens were on the tail end of an 11 game win streak which would see them streak towards the top of the Conference and they were just getting healthy as they had their captain return yet again. They would win their next game before losing the streak to Philly.
- 4/7: 4-2 win over Phi: Though the game was meaningless, the Pens still managed to finish the season on a 3 game win streak and beat the Flyers for the first time in Consol Energy Center.
Season Lowlights:
- 11/19: 3-2 loss to Fla: The Pens hit a rough stretch, losing 3 of 4 games to Car, TB, and Fla, and watching the powerplay hit a 1 for 21 slump while the PK allowed 2 goals for the 2nd game in a row.
- 12/5: 3-1 loss to Bos: The loss to Boston was tough, but the bigger loss was Crosby re-injuring himself from a multitude of collisions, sending him off with concussion like symptoms yet again.
- 12/16: 6-4 loss to Ott: The 4th loss in 5 games since Crosby went out, and the 6th straight game the PK let up a goal. Panic began to take over Pens nation after this Friday night loss.
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| BJ wasn't himself and the D didn't help. |
- 12/29: 4-2 loss to Phi: In the much anticipated return of Talbot and Jagr to Pittsburgh, the Flyers watched both of them score to end the Pens 4 game win streak, and send them into what turned into a very rough losing streak.
- 1/11: 1-0 loss to Was: The Pens went on a major goal scoring drought, scoring just 6 goals in 6 games, all losses highlighted by a frustrating 1-0 loss to the rival Caps. The Pens outshot every team during the losing streak, and only received 14 powerplays through the streak, easily a 6 game low.
- 3/29: 5-3 loss to NYI: The Pens lost their 2nd straight game to the Isles, by 5-3 in both games and panic set in for what was supposed to be an unbeatable team.
- 4/1: 6-4 loss to Phi: In a game that simply turned into a disaster at the end, the Pens played poor defense and then got into a line brawl to end the game off of clean hit. Peter Laviolette and Tony Granato got into a shouting match in between the benches and were both fined for the mess.
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| This may be the defining point of the season in the end. |
Players Overrated Going Into the Season:
Paul Martin – I don’t think I have to write much about this, it’s safe to say that everyone has been disappointed in his performance from top to bottom. Not enough offense, weak shot, poor defense, pinches too much….just pick a complaint. His final stat line was: 73gp, 2g, 25a, +9, 18 PIM. It really isn’t a bad stat line…until you consider his $5 mil contract and if you’ve watched him play.
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| This was the story of Paul Martin: missing. |
Brent Johnson – Johnny may have set the expectations a little too high when he saved Fleury at the start of the season. He had a rough go for most of the season, though he came up very strong towards the end for the Pens. His final stat line: 16gp, 6-7-2, 3.11 GAA, .883 Save %. It will be interesting to see if the Pens want to retain him for next season. He’s a great locker room guy, cheap, and Thiessen doesn’t look ready to me, but we shall see.
Tyler Kennedy – Coming off of a career year, he was one of the bigger question marks going into last offseason. Without top PP and top line time this year though, he was a disappointment after last year. His final stat line: 60gp, 11g, 22a, +10, 29 PIM. Hidden disappointing stat: 5.6 shooting %. He finished 5th on the team in shots on net, but 15th in shooting %. That pretty much sums up his disappointing year.
Players Underrated Going Into the Season:
This section literally could be half the roster, so I’ll try to keep it short, I know I left players out.
Pascal Dupuis – No one saw Dupuis breaking out like this, having a career year in all aspects. He put up a 17 game point streak to end the season and was simply fantastic all year. His final stat line: 82gp, 25g, 34a, +18, 34 PIM. Dupuis finished 4th on the team in scoring, raise your hand if you saw that coming.
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| Dupuis has turned into the ultimate spark plug and threat. |
Matt Cooke – It was hard to know what Cooke would do coming off of his season ending suspension last year. He had the talent, but would he use his brain? He did. Final stats: 82gp, 19g, 19a, +5, 44 PIM. Big 2 for me: 82gp and 44 PIM. Very impressive numbers for Cooke and a true inspiration for change.
James Neal – After Neal slumped his way out of everyone’s hearts through the playoff run last year, predictions were all over this year. Guess what, it didn’t matter what anyone predicted, he beat them all. Final stats: 80gp, 40g, 41a, +6, 87 PIM. I could have done without some of those 87 PIM, but 40 goals from Neal is success no matter how you look at it. 18 of those goals were on the PP too, helping a dismal PP from last year.
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| It took him far too long to get on the roster, but he surely deserved it. |
Steve Sullivan – Sullivan seemed like a good bargain and depth signing going into the season. What he turned into was a durable powerplay specialist that the Pens badly needed. Final stats: 79gp, 17g, 31a, -3, 20 PIM. 21 of his 48 points came on the PP as he joined Neal to help that unit out greatly. The 79gp are still a shock to me for the former Masterton winner who has missed well over 100 games in his career due to injuries.
Evgeni Malkin – I’ll end this with a player that everyone knew was great but no one was sure how great he would be this season. I can certainly tell you I did not predict Malkin would score 50 and put up a Hart worthy season as he led this team without Sid for much of the year. Final stats: 75gp, 50g, 59a, +18, 70 PIM. He took fewer stupid penalties, scored more goals, and simply kept his head in the game throughout most of the season. He literally grew up in front of our eyes this year into a league MVP (though not official yet).
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| Time to push for Conn Smythe #2! |
Individual Stats Leaders:
Goals: Malkin (50)
Assists: Malkin (59)
Pts: Malkin (109)
+/-: Letang (+21)
PIM: Neal (87)
Avg. Time on Ice: Letang (24:50)
Shots: Malkin (339)
Shooting %: Staal (16.8%)
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| Staal found his scoring touch from his rookie season again. |
Hits: Orpik (259)
Blocked Shots: Michalek (144)
Missed Shots: Neal (123)
Giveaways: Malkin (73) *Next Highest: Martin (39)
Takeaways: Malkin (52) *Next Highest: Staal (39)
Faceoff %: Vitale (55.7%)
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| Faceoffs, Fights, PK, Joe Vitale demonstrated he can do it all this year. |
- Asham and Engelland led the team in fights with 8 each
- Malkin was on for the most goals for, 132
- Martin and Orpik were on for the most goals against overall, 81 for each
- Interesting stat on Martin: He is a +14 against the Atlantic, but a -5 against other divisions
- Malkin was the team shootout leader, going 8 for 11.
Team Awards:
Baz Bastien Memorial “Good Guy” Award (Media Cooperation) – Fleury & Dupuis
NHL Masterton Nominee (Dedication to Hockey) – Cooke
A.T. Caggiano Memorial Booster Club Cup (Most 3 Star Votes) – Malkin
Player’s Player Award (Leadership) – Orpik
Edward J. DeBartolo “Community Service” Award (Charity Work) – Malkin
Defensive Player of the Year (Best Defensively) – Orpik & Fleury
MVP (Best Overall) - Malkin
Now, ON TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!
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