Without Kris Letang, Penguins’ defensemen step up in playoffs
CRANBERRY TWP. 鈥� When Kris Letang was lost for the season in April from neck surgery, it seemed like a devastating blow. A top-flight, minutes-eating defenseman has been a constant for just about any championship team, a role Letang played in the Penguins鈥� Stanley Cup championship run last year.
Without him, the Penguins were left without anybody who could directly and wholly full that role. But where most perceived a hole, the Penguins鈥� defensemen saw a challenge, an opportunity to step up in Letang鈥檚 absence.聽
With three playoff-series wins and a chance to now win the Stanley Cup against the Predators, the defensemen have been able to sufficiently hold down the fort. No one has matched Letang鈥檚 all-around brilliance, but they鈥檝e done their jobs well enough, and have a 2.32 goals-against average in the playoffs to show for it. That mark is just worse than the Penguins鈥� 2.29 goals against in last years鈥� postseason run.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had to rally together. No one鈥檚 going to replace him, and we know that,鈥� Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin said. 鈥淎nd we just had to continue to play well as a group and no one get outside their comfort zone, everyone just do what they do best. I think that鈥檚 how we approached it.鈥�
In the playoffs last season, Letang was a minutes-eater, playing 28:53 a game. As Dumoulin put it, it was 鈥淜ris Letang and then the rest of us.鈥� This time around, the Penguins have split up the duty, rotating pairs in and out constantly. Ian Cole has played the least out of the regular six at 19:10 a game, while Dumoulin is at the top with 21:55. It鈥檚 very much been a group effort, especially when other defensemen, like Trevor Daley and Justin Schultz, have missed time in the playoffs.
鈥淚 think we really look at sharing the responsibilities, using our three pairs. Obviously without Kris Letang, other people have filled in and have given us some good minutes,鈥� Penguins assistant coach Jacques Martin said.
鈥淚 think that was the key last year in the playoffs from a standpoint that our team game was really a six-man defense, and I think that鈥檚 part of the solution this year as well.鈥�
As the top minutes-getter, Dumoulin and his partner Ron Hainsey have often been on the ice against opponents鈥� top lines. They鈥檝e usually limited the opposition鈥檚 stars well. Penguins winger Conor Sheary described Dumoulin as someone who just 鈥済oes out there and takes care of business鈥� and 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 make too many mistakes.鈥� He鈥檚 one of many who have stepped up since Letang鈥檚 injury.
鈥淚 think we have a group back there that cares about each other, that really play within their limitations, I think that鈥檚 the key. And they鈥檝e been able to raise their level of play,鈥� Martin said.
Though no one has played the quantity of minutes like Letang, if there鈥檚 been somebody asked to replace some of Letang鈥檚 responsibilities, it鈥檚 Schultz. Like Letang, he鈥檚 been the Penguins鈥� primary puck-mover, as well as the quarterback on the power play. He鈥檚 scored ten points and three goals in 15 games in the playoffs after a 51-point regular season.
鈥淲hen you look at Justin when he came here, he always has had the ability to excel on the offensive side. He has a tremendous shot, he has excellent vision. He鈥檚 been able to replace Kris on the power play as far as the quarterback,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淏ut I think the area that鈥檚 been most noticeable in his development as a player has been his defensive side.鈥�
鈥淗is defensive ability now, I think over the season he鈥檚 been a responsible player as far as choosing when to join the rush, when to pinch in the offensive zone, as well as the defensive zone, I think he鈥檚 improved his position, he鈥檚 improved his compete level, his use of his stick, his position, those are all areas that he鈥檚 grown in over the season that鈥檚 made him the kind of defensemen he鈥檚 been lately.鈥�
It鈥檚 been a reinvention year for Schultz, who was traded out of Edmonton to the Penguins last season after sinking to the lowest point of his NHL career. At the time of the trade, one writer called him the 鈥�worst player in the NHL.鈥� Now he鈥檚 perhaps the best defenseman on a Stanley Cup Finals team.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been phenomenal this year. He鈥檚 having fun,鈥� Dumoulin said. 鈥淚 think last year he never wanted to make a mistake or do something wrong, do something to hurt the team and this year he鈥檚 just going out there and playing.鈥�
The rest of the Penguins鈥� defensemen have taken on a similar mindset this postseason. They鈥檙e not worried about their heightened roles or trying to replace Letang. Instead, they鈥檝e just gone out and continued to play their game. And thus far, it鈥檚 worked.