Judging by the simplest measures of offensive productivity, the final accounting of Wednesday's Game 1 between the Penguins and the Blue Jackets favored the boys from Ohio.
In total shot attempts, the Jackets edged the Penguins 60-47 in all situations, with that advantage holding at 48-34 at even strength and 32-25 in unblocked 5-on-5 shots. That last figure is especially notable since the Penguins blocked 21 Columbus attempts.
The Jackets surely tested surprise starter Marc-André Fleury frequently, and per their coach John Tortorella, they spent roughly 23 minutes in the Penguins' zone compared to 18 minutes in their own, but until Conor Sheary's giveaway led to Matt Calvert's goal midway through the third, Columbus barely got a clean look at the net from the so-called scoring area.
"We have to do more within those minutes," Tortorella said after leading a Thursday afternoon practice at PPG Paints Arena. "We have to be more effective when we're there."
"We need to get more quality shots on net," Jack Johnson told me. "I don't think we had too many Grade 'A' quality chances. That's what we need to concentrate on."
The Blue Jackets' lack of offensive efficiency can be born out numerically in a few ways. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Penguins ended Game 1 with a 9-4 advantage in 'high-danger' scoring chances, a striking advantage considering how decidedly their opponent won the volume battle.
In terms of the Expected Goals (xG) metric, the Penguins accumulated 2.97 xG to the Jackets' 1.71. Once again, the home team's performance exemplified the concept of quality over quantity, as we can see from this shot location chart by HockeyStats.ca:
The Penguins' shots are on the left, while the Blue Jackets' are on the right. There are fewer on the left, but a greater percentage of them are between the dots and under the top of the circles.
"I think it's just getting more into the blue (paint)," said 35-goal man Cam Atkinson, who mustered but one shot attempt in Game 1. "I think their 'D' just out-battled us. It was pretty evident while we were watching the tape that they were boxing us out pretty good. It's just getting into that mindset ... where you have to battle for every inch."
It's evident from Thursday's practice that the Blue Jackets' coaching staff doesn't believe getting more chances in Game 2 will be simple matter of toughness and determination. Drills focused on working pucks out to the points and generally using defensemen more in the offensive zone dominated the 30-minute workout.
"We have some ideas," Tortorella said. "We're not going to share them here." Atkinson revealed some details, though. "We gotta get pucks through from our 'D,' " he said. "We talked about going more east-west, using points for shots, making sure we have at least two guys in front of their goalie."
Tortorella shied away from saying the Blue Jackets need to press for more offense off the rush, so it appears if the Blue Jackets desire more octane in their attack, it'll have to come from what they perceive to be their game: Working the puck around the opponent's zone.
It'll still take more creativity in addition to more bodies inside the perimeter of the Penguins' defense. Tortorella said fostering a more incisive attack will be a challenge, because the Penguins will likely be prepared for a more focused effort:
Furthermore, the Penguins' habit of 'overloading' the puck side of the ice in the defensive zone seemed to pin the Blue Jackets against the boards, whether on the side wall or behind the net. Brandon Dubinsky said Columbus will have to get out of its perimeter comfort zone in order to make their possession time count.
"Have to do a better job of spreading them out, using our points better," Dubinsky said. "They did a good job shrinking that 'D' zone in the corners, and boxing out, too. Have to do our best to try to spread them out and use the whole zone."
Johnson said Blue Jackets defensemen need to focus on giving their forwards a fourth man on the rush more consistently, in order to challenge the Penguins' neutral-zone structure. Scott Hartnell honed in on variety, angled toward funneling pucks and bodies into the low slot.
"It's soft chips, pulling up (on the rush), looking for late guys," Hartnell said. "Stuff that we've done all year long. It's not rocket science. We need to execute a little better ... and make it hell for Fleury."
Being more threatening is possible for Columbus, but they have consistently been mediocre in that area all season. The Jackets ranked 12th in the NHL this season in share of 5-on-5 scoring chances (50.8 percent) and 14th in Expected Goals (50.1 percent).
By contrast, the Penguins were fifth in scoring-chance percentage and sixth in Expected Goals percentage, which helped them overcome their 16th rank in shot-attempt ratio (50.1 percent). They've made more of their shots than most, especially the Blue Jackets.
"That team scores three goals in five chances last night," Tortorella said. "It's a very dangerous team. When they get chances, they score goals. ... We need more offense."
Of course, Tortorella has a checkered reputation in that area. He made his name saying "safe is death" with the Stanley Cup champion Lightning team of 2004, but his Rangers squads seemed more committed to packing it in the defensive zone and relying upon the counterattack.
The 58-year-old sounded a lot more like his Tampa Bay self on Thursday when he was asked about coaxing more scoring chances out of his group.
"I think you have to be really careful as a coach, because we spent a lot of time on the offensive side of the game today," Tortorella said. "When coaches start teaching offense, you kind of get in the way sometimes, too. Who the hell are we? They're the guys that make the plays. They have the instincts, the skill and the talent. They see things. So it's a fine line between how much you give them and not turning it into 'running plays.' You have to allow them to play."
SECONDARY ASSISTS
• Citing the "good minutes" he saw from his team Wednesday, Tortorella announced there would be no lineup changes for Friday's Game 2.
"I don't think we gave up much defensively," Tortorella said. "I'm not changing for the sake of changing."
Of particular interest is the continued benching of 31-year-old defenseman Kyle Quincey, acquired at the trade deadline from the Devils. In his place, the Jackets have turned to 20-year-old Gabriel Carlsson, who has played precisely six pro games in North America, counting Game 1.
"I'm just worried about speed," Tortorella said. "I'm looking for a little more mobility back there. 'Q' has played well for us. This isn't anything he's done wrong."
• Brandon Saad, who ranked third on Columbus with 53 points this season, skated in just two shifts in Wednesday's third period and logged just 14:26 of ice time overall.
"I just thought other guys were going better," Tortorella said.
For his part, the 24-year-old Saad seemed to be taking it in stride, chalking it up to Tortorella's punitive style. Atkinson was benched late in Saturday's loss to the Flyers in similar fashion.
"I thought we played pretty good," Saad said, alluding to linemates Alexander Wennberg and Nick Foligno. "But it's his job as a coach, and he coaches the way he coaches,"
• One day after expressing an interest to get in Sidney Crosby's head, Hartnell continued to play his greatest hits for reporters.
After acknowledging that Fleury is a "good goalie" with championship pedigree just like Matt Murray, he couldn't resist slipping a backhanded compliment Fleury's way.
"He seems to stop the hard ones and maybe let in the odd easy one," Hartnell said.
In total shot attempts, the Jackets edged the Penguins 60-47 in all situations, with that advantage holding at 48-34 at even strength and 32-25 in unblocked 5-on-5 shots. That last figure is especially notable since the Penguins blocked 21 Columbus attempts.
The Jackets surely tested surprise starter Marc-André Fleury frequently, and per their coach John Tortorella, they spent roughly 23 minutes in the Penguins' zone compared to 18 minutes in their own, but until Conor Sheary's giveaway led to Matt Calvert's goal midway through the third, Columbus barely got a clean look at the net from the so-called scoring area.
"We have to do more within those minutes," Tortorella said after leading a Thursday afternoon practice at PPG Paints Arena. "We have to be more effective when we're there."
"We need to get more quality shots on net," Jack Johnson told me. "I don't think we had too many Grade 'A' quality chances. That's what we need to concentrate on."
The Blue Jackets' lack of offensive efficiency can be born out numerically in a few ways. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Penguins ended Game 1 with a 9-4 advantage in 'high-danger' scoring chances, a striking advantage considering how decidedly their opponent won the volume battle.
In terms of the Expected Goals (xG) metric, the Penguins accumulated 2.97 xG to the Jackets' 1.71. Once again, the home team's performance exemplified the concept of quality over quantity, as we can see from this shot location chart by HockeyStats.ca:
The Penguins' shots are on the left, while the Blue Jackets' are on the right. There are fewer on the left, but a greater percentage of them are between the dots and under the top of the circles.
"I think it's just getting more into the blue (paint)," said 35-goal man Cam Atkinson, who mustered but one shot attempt in Game 1. "I think their 'D' just out-battled us. It was pretty evident while we were watching the tape that they were boxing us out pretty good. It's just getting into that mindset ... where you have to battle for every inch."
It's evident from Thursday's practice that the Blue Jackets' coaching staff doesn't believe getting more chances in Game 2 will be simple matter of toughness and determination. Drills focused on working pucks out to the points and generally using defensemen more in the offensive zone dominated the 30-minute workout.
"We have some ideas," Tortorella said. "We're not going to share them here." Atkinson revealed some details, though. "We gotta get pucks through from our 'D,' " he said. "We talked about going more east-west, using points for shots, making sure we have at least two guys in front of their goalie."
Tortorella shied away from saying the Blue Jackets need to press for more offense off the rush, so it appears if the Blue Jackets desire more octane in their attack, it'll have to come from what they perceive to be their game: Working the puck around the opponent's zone.
It'll still take more creativity in addition to more bodies inside the perimeter of the Penguins' defense. Tortorella said fostering a more incisive attack will be a challenge, because the Penguins will likely be prepared for a more focused effort:
Furthermore, the Penguins' habit of 'overloading' the puck side of the ice in the defensive zone seemed to pin the Blue Jackets against the boards, whether on the side wall or behind the net. Brandon Dubinsky said Columbus will have to get out of its perimeter comfort zone in order to make their possession time count.
"Have to do a better job of spreading them out, using our points better," Dubinsky said. "They did a good job shrinking that 'D' zone in the corners, and boxing out, too. Have to do our best to try to spread them out and use the whole zone."
Johnson said Blue Jackets defensemen need to focus on giving their forwards a fourth man on the rush more consistently, in order to challenge the Penguins' neutral-zone structure. Scott Hartnell honed in on variety, angled toward funneling pucks and bodies into the low slot.
"It's soft chips, pulling up (on the rush), looking for late guys," Hartnell said. "Stuff that we've done all year long. It's not rocket science. We need to execute a little better ... and make it hell for Fleury."
Being more threatening is possible for Columbus, but they have consistently been mediocre in that area all season. The Jackets ranked 12th in the NHL this season in share of 5-on-5 scoring chances (50.8 percent) and 14th in Expected Goals (50.1 percent).
By contrast, the Penguins were fifth in scoring-chance percentage and sixth in Expected Goals percentage, which helped them overcome their 16th rank in shot-attempt ratio (50.1 percent). They've made more of their shots than most, especially the Blue Jackets.
"That team scores three goals in five chances last night," Tortorella said. "It's a very dangerous team. When they get chances, they score goals. ... We need more offense."
Of course, Tortorella has a checkered reputation in that area. He made his name saying "safe is death" with the Stanley Cup champion Lightning team of 2004, but his Rangers squads seemed more committed to packing it in the defensive zone and relying upon the counterattack.
The 58-year-old sounded a lot more like his Tampa Bay self on Thursday when he was asked about coaxing more scoring chances out of his group.
"I think you have to be really careful as a coach, because we spent a lot of time on the offensive side of the game today," Tortorella said. "When coaches start teaching offense, you kind of get in the way sometimes, too. Who the hell are we? They're the guys that make the plays. They have the instincts, the skill and the talent. They see things. So it's a fine line between how much you give them and not turning it into 'running plays.' You have to allow them to play."
SECONDARY ASSISTS
• Citing the "good minutes" he saw from his team Wednesday, Tortorella announced there would be no lineup changes for Friday's Game 2.
"I don't think we gave up much defensively," Tortorella said. "I'm not changing for the sake of changing."
Of particular interest is the continued benching of 31-year-old defenseman Kyle Quincey, acquired at the trade deadline from the Devils. In his place, the Jackets have turned to 20-year-old Gabriel Carlsson, who has played precisely six pro games in North America, counting Game 1.
"I'm just worried about speed," Tortorella said. "I'm looking for a little more mobility back there. 'Q' has played well for us. This isn't anything he's done wrong."
• Brandon Saad, who ranked third on Columbus with 53 points this season, skated in just two shifts in Wednesday's third period and logged just 14:26 of ice time overall.
"I just thought other guys were going better," Tortorella said.
For his part, the 24-year-old Saad seemed to be taking it in stride, chalking it up to Tortorella's punitive style. Atkinson was benched late in Saturday's loss to the Flyers in similar fashion.
"I thought we played pretty good," Saad said, alluding to linemates Alexander Wennberg and Nick Foligno. "But it's his job as a coach, and he coaches the way he coaches,"
• One day after expressing an interest to get in Sidney Crosby's head, Hartnell continued to play his greatest hits for reporters.
After acknowledging that Fleury is a "good goalie" with championship pedigree just like Matt Murray, he couldn't resist slipping a backhanded compliment Fleury's way.
"He seems to stop the hard ones and maybe let in the odd easy one," Hartnell said.
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