4 Penguins named to NHL’s All-Star ballot
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Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, goaltender Tristan Jarry and defenseman Kris Letang were named to the NHL’s ballot for the Metropolitan Division in this season’s All-Star Game event.
Fans can vote on the captain for all four divisions. The “game” is really a two-round tournament between the divisions with three-on-three play.
All four players previously have been selected to All-Star Games.
Before Saturday, Crosby had played in 14 games this season and had 15 points (four goals, 11 assists). He has been selected to eight All-Star Game events and participated in four.
Guentzel, currently sidelined because of an undisclosed injury, is the team’s leading scorer with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games. He was selected to the 2020 All-Star Game event but did not play because of an injury.
In 21 games this season, Jarry has a 12-5-4 record along with a 1.92 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and three shutouts. Jarry played in the 2020 All-Star Game event.
Letang entered Saturday with 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 22 games. He is a seven-time All-Star.
Voting opened Saturday and runs until Jan. 8. The event is scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Penalty kill remains perfect
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Entering Saturday’s home game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Penguins had killed 28 consecutive opposing power-play opportunities over 12 games, the latter figure being a franchise record.
Coach Mike Sullivan lauded his players’ ability to win faceoffs as being key to that success.
Last season, the Penguins were 27th in the NHL in short-handed faceoffs at 41.0% (120 for 293). This season, they were fifth in the league at 51.2% (62 for 121) before Saturday.
“Our faceoff percentages have improved,” Sullivan said. “When we win faceoffs, our ability to get 200-foot clears has improved. I’ve always been a strong believer if you can win that first faceoff, you get a 200-foot clear. You’re forcing a team to have to go all the way back behind their net to get the puck. It takes 20-plus seconds to gain access to (the offensive) zone. Then if you can be stingy on the entry and make the zone entry difficult, (opponents) have to expend a lot of energy getting the puck back in our zone. By nature of that alone, just improving in the faceoff circle and getting the clears when we do win the faceoffs, I think that’s gone a long way to limit some of the (offensive) zone time.”
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Penguins were first in the NHL in penalty-kill conversions at 92.2% (59 for 64).
“I give the (players) a lot of credit,” Sullivan said. “They’re the guys that get it done. They’re the guys going over the boards that are making sacrifices, whether it’s blocking shots or collective pressure or cooperative effort. They’re reading off of each other well. Their early success has brought them a lot of confidence. I couldn’t be more happy for them because I know how much they pride themselves in it. It’s been a bright spot for our team to this point in the season. There’s no question about it. There’s a lot of hockey left, and I know there’s areas we can continue to get better with respect to the penalty kill.”
Jarry moves up
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During Friday’s 4-2 road win against the Washington Capitals, Jarry recorded a secondary assist on an empty-net goal by forward Jeff Carter. Jarry’s assist was the eighth point of his career (all assists) and moved him past Wendell Young (seven) for third place among the Penguins’ career leaders in points among goaltenders. Only Tom Barrasso (31) and Marc-Andre Fleury (14) have more.