The Penguins as a whole have stepped up in a huge way in the absence of fellow teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Dare I say that the Cooke, Staal, Kennedy line is the most noticeable with the media and out on the ice? The most consistent? I do.
All three scored a goal last night against the Ottawa Senators. Kennedy and Staal each had an assist.
This trio certainly turns heads and produces points. All three guys know how to play their game, with nerve, skill and experience. Collectively, they have 37 goals, 53 assists and 90 points this season, with Staal rejoining the team for the first time of the season on January 1st for the Winter Classic.
Jordan Staal, who regularly wears an "A" even with Crosby and Malkin on board, continues to be a source of leadership for the team. He has become one of the more targeted guys in the locker room from the media after games and practices. The 22 year old shouldered the brunt of the responsibility this past Saturday for the 3-0 loss against Montreal. General Manager, Ray Shero said that Staal's performance for that game was "horrible". The next game against the Edmonton Oilers, Staal took it personally to get the team back on track and that he did with a goal/assist, much like last night.
Tyler Kennedy, as we know, has been blazing a trail of his own lately. He seems to show up in just the right moment, as he did last night with his redirect at the net. Saturday he had 3 assists. He's now racked up 10 points in the last 11 games. He tends to be more understated and modest off the ice when being praised for his efforts but Kennedy's scrappy, almost spastic style of play comes in handy along side Staal's more stoic and reserved style. These two fit together perfectly (no matter who happens to be in line with them).
Matt Cooke, who has been coined as the league's dirtiest player, got himself on the scoreboard last night as well. He brings the punch to this trio and to this team. Cooke is even profiled in this weeks issue of Sports Illustrated, where the question of who the dirtiest player in the NHL still remains unanswered according to Cooke. "No comment," he says, smiling. "But I don't think it's myself."
He was suspended for four games early on in February after a hit into the boards to Fedor Tyutin of the Blue Jackets, costing him upwards of $87,000. He's since returned from said suspension with the same hunting prowess as always. His hits are still powerful but he's toned down his own rigid style that's allowed him to really showcase his tough demeanor without all the unwanted attention.
He was suspended for four games early on in February after a hit into the boards to Fedor Tyutin of the Blue Jackets, costing him upwards of $87,000. He's since returned from said suspension with the same hunting prowess as always. His hits are still powerful but he's toned down his own rigid style that's allowed him to really showcase his tough demeanor without all the unwanted attention.
Even with the different line combinations Dan Bylsma has been running lately, this one seems to stand out the most to me. There's an energy to it. These guys have a fluidity with one another on the ice that's simply effective.
written by Lori Pometo
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