The Penguins got to work early on Tuesday, knocking out their third and final game of the prospect tournament in Detroit against Dallas.
The lines for today:
Pierce Mbuyi – Bill Zonnon – Tanner Howe Mikhail
Ilyin – Markus Ruck – Liam Ruck Carter Sanderson – Atley Calvert – Jordan Charron Max Graham – Brayden Edwards – Travis Hayes
Jake Livanavage / Harrison Brunicke
Tomas Galvas / Chase Pietila
Broten Sabo / Benett Kelly
The opposition had the following lineup with 11 forwards and seven defensemen dressed for the Stars.
The Ruck twins got the first goal, with linemate Mikhail Ilyin featuring into the scoring play as well. As seen so many times in the Rucks’ WHL highlight videos they used a quick pass from behind the back of the net that gives the goalie almost no chance. As usual it was Markus making the play and Liam finding the perfect spot to hammer in a quick shot and put the Pens on the board in the first period. The chemistry between the two and the suddenness that they can get a little ahead of the play makes it just about automatic for the puck to end up in the net.
Penalty trouble was up next for the Pens, with them taking eight total minutes worth of penalties in the first period, including a Chase Pietila double minor. Dallas hit a post behind Matvei Ninkovich and then eventually scoring with a 5v3 advantage when former first round pick Emil Hemming scored on a one-time shot.
The score remained tied through the second period, early in the third Dallas pulled ahead with a player getting a stick to deflect a centering pass in. Ninkovich remained strong stopping a Stars shorthanded breakaway later in the third.
The Pens pull the goalie late, Dallas makes them pay with a long-range empty net goal to set the score at 3-1.
Some more passing thoughts
- Loved to see Harrison Brunicke play with an edge and come to a teammate’s defense after a post-whistle hit. Passive might not be the perfect world to use but sometimes in the past Brunicke has seemed a little physically disengaged. Not so today, it’ll be interesting to see if he brings some chippiness into NHL camp.
- Can’t really take any game too seriously that starts at 10:30 in the morning. For further levity, there was a whistle in the second period because an errant soccer ball went onto the ice courtesy of a team warming up for the next game after this one.
- That said, the two teams were feisty. Max Graham got into two fights. Pietila also dropped the gloves and connected on some big punches.
- it’s still one of a few evaluation tools to see players compete in a game setting. Tomas Galvas earned playing in all three games of the tournament – a reward for his impressive games to date. This one wasn’t really as impressive, his most notable play of the game might have been an early turnover resulting in a scoring chance against. Young players can be all over the map like that.
- It was nice to see the Ruck magic happen at the pseudo-professional level. The perk of having twins is how quickly and little effort it took for Markus to know exactly where his brother was and put a perfect pass out from behind the net to him. Then it was in the net.
- Was only perfectly whelmed by Jake Livanavage at this event – much like his performance at July’s development camp didn’t stand out. One would have thought his skills and strengths would be well-suited for summer hockey’s more relaxed style. Surprisingly enough, that wasn’t the case. Might be something to watch for in camp for any dark horse hopes he might have to make a run for a spot with the NHL team.
- Have liked the development of Ilyin in the last 12 months. He’s had another successful KHL season then jumped over to the AHL where he was pretty darn good for a first look of North American playoff action (nine points in 15 games that ranked tied for second among WBS playoff scorers). Last year I remember I called him ‘a stranger in a strange land’ for how he kept mostly to the perimeter and periphery of much of the action as he got acclimated. This time around Ilyin was right in the middle of it. He stole a puck, made a nice pass and drove to the net in the third, denied a goal only by a really nice save made on him.
- For being 18-years old and fresh to seeing all these players and this style, you could see why the Pens liked Nikonovich enough to draft him this year. He played an athletic style and gets himself in front of pucks, not having much of a chance on the only two goals he surrendered and playing well to stop a few tough ones. He’ll be headed to the OHL and will be a young prospect to watch.
That wraps it up for the Pens in Detroit, the young players now head back to Pittsburgh for the start of full NHL training camp on Thursday.
