Pittsburgh Penguins Practice in Philly: Photo by Dan Kingerski
VOORHEES, N.J. — The scene went viral as the anger was visceral. An early second-period melee in Game 3 stuffed five Pittsburgh Penguins and five Philadelphia Flyers into the penalty box.
Beyond the Penguins’ disgust at their perceived inequity of the calls, the post-whistle scrums, extra punches, and various extra-legal physical plays have long been a tactic of the Flyers. They feed upon the chaos and the raucous atmosphere while referees attempt to keep the calls even, and opponents are left to defend themselves.
It was a conversation PHN had with multiple players at the Flyers’ practice rink Friday.
For the Penguins to win a game, let alone a near miraculous comeback in the series, keeping their emotions in check and keeping themselves out of the penalty box will be chief among their needs.
But can they really just skate away? Flyers coach Rick Tocchet coached the Penguins through a couple of Stanley Cup wins as an assistant to coach Mike Sullivan in 2016 and 2017.
Evgeni Malkin knows him well. And Tocchet knows Malkin well.
“It’s tough. You know, when a guy is coming to you and punches you in your face, you want to answer him. But again, we understand Philly always plays like this. And we know Rick Tocchet coaches–they know us, and they know we answer for sure,” said Malkin. “It’s tough, but we need to understand the situation.”
PHN chatted with Rickard Rakell following practice for his take specifically on the ever present scraps, scrums, and punches and how to deal with them.
“It’s obviously very tough. Like, you think that you’re already in the scrum with somebody, and the ref is going to see everything that happens out there, but they missed the first punch that you ate, and now you try to give it back, and that’s what he’s going to see,” Rakell said. “So, yeah, I think you just have to be smart.”
Perhaps being 6-foot-8 and more than 250 pounds helps. Penguins coach Dan Muse appears ready to launch into a new tactic for Game 4. Muse inserted his biggest players back into the lineup during the over 60-minute practice.
Elmer Soderblom and Ilya Solovyov took regular turns in practice with the primary group; Soderblom on the third line with Ben Kindel and Anthony Mantha. Solovyov was on the third pairing with Ryan Shea.
Muse went to his beefy lineup. The Penguins acquired Soderblom at the NHL trade deadline in early March. He was not a physical presence with the Detroit Red Wings, but has increased his heavy play with the Penguins, including one fight.
Sometimes throwing the first punch is the best way to go?
“I mean, you also have to be smart and don’t give them anything they want, at all. I feel like sometimes their team feeds more off that stuff after a whistle and trying to get penalties and stuff like that. But as long as we don’t do anything stupid, I think we can be doing the same things they’re doing to us,” Soderblom said. “So, I don’t see any problem with that.
“I mean, maybe sometimes (throwing the first punch) is the way to go, but I think most importantly, it’s having focus on the game, what we should do to beat these guys.”
Malkin-Chinakhov
Muse said the lines weren’t final, but it surely seems if the Penguins go down, they will go down swinging with some big players.
Muse not only inserted two players who combine to weigh just about 500 pounds, but the Penguins bench boss also reunited the Russian duo of Malkin and Egor Chinakhov.
“When he first (arrived) here, we played like 10 or 15 games together. You know he’s a great player,” Malkin said of Chinakhov. “Probably his first experience in playoffs, you know, it’s not easy, for sure. And playing against Philly, but I’ll try helping him tomorrow. I hope we score again tomorrow.”
Reporters also asked Malkin about his future. His tune has not changed. He wants a new contract.
“I hope it’s not over. I hope we still fight and my future and I say the same thing: I want to be here. I want to be part of a team next year too, and I want to retire in Pittsburgh,” said Malkin. “But it’s not my choice. Kyle (Dubas) has a decision. Its new owners (have a decision), probably too. But again, I just play my game tomorrow, and I hope it’s not over and we’re back to Pittsburgh, because we want to play for our fans too.”
Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov-Tommy Novak-Evgeni Malkin
Elmer Soderblom-Ben Kindel-Anthony Mantha
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard-Kris Letang
Ryan Shea-Ilya Solovyov
The Penguins group made a point to have some fun. Late in practice, the power play scored a goal and raced to the crease to hug and celebrate around the goalie they had just beaten, Stuart Skinner.
“Kind of rude wasn’t it?” Skinner said with a laugh in the dressing room.
Tags: Egor Chinakhov Evgeni Malkin Philadelphia flyers Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized:Penguins Practice