Despite flashing potential, Penguins’ new-look power-play unit still a work in progress

Justin Guerriero | Sunday, October 8, 2023 12:16 p.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson plays against the Sabres on Sept. 28, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena.

Evgeni Malkin didn’t even crack a smile.

After scoring a power-play goal during the second period of Friday’s preseason finale against Buffalo, Malkin looked to be all business.

A brief embrace with his teammates and some fist bumps with the Penguins bench was the extent of Malkin’s celebration.

After all, it’s the preseason.

However, ahead of the game, which the Penguins won 7-4, coach Mike Sullivan relayed how big it would be for the Penguins’ new-look top power-play group to get their first goal with Erik Karlsson on the ice.

“A goal would be really good. That would be really good,” he told reporters in Buffalo. “We have to do a better job with our decision-making. We have to do a better job with our execution, and we need to simplify it and shoot the puck more.”

With Malkin’s goal, Sullivan got his wish.

The power play clicked and offered a glimpse of what it could be capable of doing regularly this season.

Karlsson personified good decision-making on the play, as he sent a precision pass to Malkin, who was lurking close to the net.

With one motion, Malkin redirected the puck, beating Sabres goalie Devon Levi.

Coach Sullivan on what would be a step forward for the power play tonight: "A goal would be really good. That would be really good. I just think we've got to do a better job with our decision making and execution."

The power play delivers! pic.twitter.com/eken6d5OFS

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 7, 2023

Karlsson’s pass to Malkin came instead of dishing to Kris Letang, who had set up on the edge of the left faceoff circle for a potential one-time try.

Letang, who occupied the left flank on the first power-play unit with Karlsson running point, later scored a 5-on-4 goal in the third period, burying the puck high over the right shoulder of Levi on a feed from Sidney Crosby.

Power-play magic ???? pic.twitter.com/7djHA1C3LV

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 7, 2023

Last season with San Jose, Karlsson’s 27 points on the power play (five goals, 22 assists) led NHL defensemen.

His acquisition by the Penguins in August quickly created speculation as to how his skills would best be put to use in Pittsburgh, particularly on the power play.

As training camp got underway, Sullivan offered an answer, shifting Letang from the right point, where he has played for the majority of his 17-year career, in favor of Karlsson.

Karlsson’s inclusion, positional changes and the absence of winger Jake Guentzel, who’s recovering from offseason ankle surgery, give the first power-play unit an altered look.

The initial reps were not pretty.

From the jump, it looked as if Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Karlsson and Rickard Rakell were going to need time to develop chemistry.

On Oct. 2 against Ottawa, the Penguins deployed a lineup of nearly all NHLers and, early in the second period, got their first power-play try.

Five more opportunities followed before the end of the game, none of which produced a goal.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Crosby said earlier in the preseason. “I think we still need to execute a little better, but regardless if you’re a unit that’s played together awhile or a new unit, it usually takes time. I’ve been with units that have played together for years, and it still feels like training camp, so we’ve got to work through a lot. That’s just part of the process.”

The players themselves probably recognize more than anyone the high expectations attached to the power play this season.

Last year, despite loads of elite talent, it experienced peaks and valleys, finishing 14th in the league at 21.7%.

Two months (November and February) featured conversion rates south of 15%, leading Sullivan to diagnose it as “a microcosm of our group, just with some of the inconsistencies,” after the season concluded.

With the regular season set to open Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Penguins’ power-play regulars are exercising caution when it comes to firing on all cylinders from Day 1.

“It’s going to be fun,” Karlsson said. “It’s going to be a lot of work. Even though we’re all pretty good players and that’s what we predominantly have been doing for a long period of time, it’s still not going to be easy to make it go around. We’re going to have to work on it (and) grow accustomed to each other. … Definitely the potential is there to be a really good power play for our club. Hopefully that’s one of the things that’ll help us win games when we need it the most.”

At Sunday’s practice, Sullivan slightly shuffled the deck, with Guentzel skating with the first unit and Letang joining the second group along with Jeff Carter, Bryan Rust, Reilly Smith and Jansen Harkins.

“We’re excited about the potential that this group could be very good for us and could be a difference-maker for our team,” Sullivan said. “We also anticipated some bumps, and just making sure that we exercise a little bit of patience in giving them and us an opportunity to work through stuff. And we will. When Jake gets involved and he becomes part of it, it makes it an even more formidable group.”