Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Jim Rutherford can’t hide it, the Pittsburgh Penguins have his attention
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford watches the Pittsburgh Penguins roll, and Kyle Dubas gets a loud reminder.
Rutherford is back in town this week, and you can feel the GM instincts kicking in. He’s not handing out compliments for fun.
The Pens just smoked Chicago 6-2 on Thursday, their fifth straight win, and the building sounded like April. All night.
They’re 27-14-11, and the surge isn’t smoke, it’s pace, layers, and four lines that can punish you.
Anthony Mantha ran the show with a goal and two assists, while Connor Dewar buried two, and that’s the depth Rutherford loved.
That clip making the rounds has Rutherford talking about his messy exit, how happy he is in Vancouver, and how impressed he is with Dubas.
If Rutherford is impressed, it’s because the Penguins are playing fast without cheating, and they’re defending like it matters.
Jim Rutherford sees a Pittsburgh Penguins identity
Penguins fans are still a little scarred, but this streak has them believing again.
Since Christmas, Pittsburgh has driven play at five-on-five and piled up goals without leaning on one line.
Over the last five games they’ve outscored teams 25-10, and their goals against sits near the top of the league.
That’s the Rutherford blueprint, pressure, support, and a blue line that moves pucks before trouble finds them.
Saturday brings the New York Rangers to town, and it’s the kind of game that tells you if this is real.
If the points keep stacking, Dubas can buy smart at the deadline instead of reaching. That’s when a hot team turns into a problem.
For Rutherford, watching Pittsburgh look organized, loud, and dangerous again has to feel perfect.
It's too bad he doesn't feel the same way about his Canucks team at the moment.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Penguins reveal a "strange" injury update on Malkin and Letang, and it’s the last thing fans needed
Penguins reveal a "strange" injury update on Malkin and Letang, and it’s the last thing fans needed
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 30|173 ANSWERS Jim Rutherford can’t hide it, the Pittsburgh Penguins have his attention Is Jim Rutherford right to rave about the Pittsburgh Penguins? | ||
| Yes | 159 | 91.9 % |
| No | 14 | 8.1 % |
| List of polls | ||