Context for Penguins’ Zach Aston-Reese quote on Canadiens top line
Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese didn’t lack for honesty Monday in Toronto.
The winger was asked about the potential of his line matching up against the top-scoring unit of the Montreal Canadiens in the preliminary-round series between the clubs.
That unit likely will be Phillip Danault (47 points) flanked by Tomas Tatar (61 points) on his left and Brendan Gallagher (43 points) on his right. Those three players totaled 151 points.
“I’m not sure exactly who is on their first line. Or what exactly it is,” Aston-Reese admitted.
Perhaps that’s an example of “ignorance is bliss” from Aston-Reese.
However, many Canadiens fans on Twitter took it more as “ignorance is dis’!”
Aston-Reese’s quote speaks to a unique reality heading into these NHL playoffs. At the outset of competition in the hub cities, “self-scouting” is going to be at an all-time high. Meanwhile, reliance on opponent tape study and research could be vastly limited compared to the start of a normal playoff campaign.
Can coaches and players watch individual cutups to learn tendencies, traits and techniques? Sure.
But these franchises are starting elimination-round hockey with nothing but four-month-old opponent tape to observe.
“You don’t want to worry too much about the other team,” said Aston-Reese’s linemate, Brandon Tanev. “You want to work with the guys you have in the locker room and work on getting your game back to the level it was before the break as fast as you can. Come together. Communicate. Be confident in one another on the ice.”
While Aston-Reese’s answer may have been eyebrow-raising in Montreal, maybe they should look at it from the other end of the lens.
Consider that the last time these two teams played one another it was Feb. 14. The Penguins would win the game 4-1 at PPG Paints Arena. Jason Zucker scored twice on assists from Sidney Crosby. Aston-Reese scored, too.
Tristan Jarry was in goal for the Pens that night. Conor Sheary was still in Buffalo. Jake Guentzel was on injured reserve. Brian Dumoulin and John Marino were also hurt. Players such as Andrew Agozzino, Sam Lafferty, Dominik Simon, Chad Ruhwedel, and Juuso Riikola were all on the ice in black and gold.
Agozzino is now with the Anaheim Ducks. Simon is injured. And the other three players will probably start the postseason as scratches.
Not to mention, Matt Murray will probably start Game 1 in net, Crosby will likely be between Sheary and Guentzel. And Zucker will potentially be alongside Evgeni Malkin.
In other words, how much does the opponent scout tape really mean? It’s not like the Penguins and Islanders in Round 1 of a year ago when the two teams squared off after jockeying for position in games that mattered right up until the last week of the regular season.
For clubs starting this hybrid-bracket 2020 postseason, early success or failure in the mini best-of-five series may come down to each team’s self-evaluation more than ever.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan referred to the recent training camp practices as “a unique circumstance” and reiterated his mantra “of controlling the controllables” when it came to preparations for the hub playoffs.
Translation? Sharpen what you can. Work on yourselves.
“We are going to try to challenge one another to continue to grow and capture their very best game,” Sullivan said. “They came into this training camp in great shape. And we tried to build on that every day. We are pleased with the progress we have made.”
With that context, Aston-Reese’s headline-grabbing quote carries a less dismissive and more pragmatic tone.
Especially as he expanded the thought.
“Any team, (when) you go against their superstars, it’s going to be the same thing,” Aston-Reese said. “They’re all skilled players. You have to play a gritty game and a hard game. Make it tough for them. It’s little details. Finishing every check. Get in their way. Slow them down.
“No matter who we are playing, it’s little details like that.”
Or we could just go ahead and say, “Z-A-R TALKS TRASH ON MONTREAL!”
That works, too. Hey, it’s been four months since we’ve seen a game. I’ll do anything for a little manufactured controversy.
Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me for our weekly hockey podcast. We talk about that topic, as well as Sidney Crosby’s health.
We also dive into the goaltending situation, potential preliminary-round upsets, and who the Penguins may see as a result of the round robin, if they survive the Montreal series.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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