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Penguins' 81 newcomer goals prove Dan Muse system is already working
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Dejan Kovacevic points to Dan Muse's touch, but the harder number is this, Pittsburgh brings 83 points and an NHL-best 81 newcomer goals into Raleigh.
That is the real hook. Muse is not just calming the room, he is getting buy-in from a roster Kyle Dubas rebuilt on the fly.
The Penguins are 34-18-15 entering March 18, and the Hurricanes sit at 42-19-6. Pittsburgh also arrives off a 7-2 win in Colorado, which gives this matchup real weight.
Kovacevic's Daily Shot matters here because it lands on a theme fans can actually see. Muse has lowered the panic level without lowering the standard.
That shows up in the way Pittsburgh exits cleaner and gets its new forwards into the attack faster. Those 81 goals from first-year Penguins are not random heat.
You can see the exact setup in the clip, calm bench, clear message, and a coach who is not coaching scared.
Dan Muse pushes Pittsburgh Penguins forward
Fans are right to feel this shift, because this looks more repeatable than a one-week bump.
The next layer is tactical. Carolina drives play with volume, 32.2 shots per game, so Pittsburgh has to protect the middle and get off the wall clean on first touch.
That is where Muse's softer hand becomes hard hockey. If the Penguins sort coverage early, their speed through the neutral zone can force Carolina's defense to turn.
This is why the story plays bigger than a podcast take. A coach who settles veterans and new pieces at once changes how Dubas reads the summer blueprint.
Pittsburgh already split the season series with Carolina, and this game is the cleanest test yet of whether Muse's touch is a nice detail or a real edge.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Penguins surge under Dan Muse proves Mike Sullivan lost the room
Penguins surge under Dan Muse proves Mike Sullivan lost the room
| POLL | ||
MARS 18|92 ANSWERS Penguins' 81 newcomer goals prove Dan Muse system is already working Has Dan Muse already given the Penguins a real playoff identity? | ||
| Yes | 86 | 93.5 % |
| No | 6 | 6.5 % |
| List of polls | ||