WASHINGTON – Say this about Kasperi Kapanen, the guy is honest. Asked this week how he’d evaluate his play of late, the Penguins sparkplug winger responded with two words.
“Terrible,” he said. “Thanks.”
In the 12 games leading up to Friday, Kapanen scored just a single goal. Obviously, the coaching staff wasn’t thrilled by that production, as the Finnish forward was recently relegated into a bottom-six role. He finished Monday’s game in Seattle on the fourth line.
But then? Jake Guentzel's hand injury provided an unexpected opportunity for Kapanen at a somewhat ironic time. Instead of a demotion, Kapanen was promoted all the way up the lineup to skate on Sidney Crosby’s right wing.
During Friday night’s 4-2 win in Washington, Kapanen capitalized on the opportunity against the Capitals. He scored a critical second-period goal to help the Penguins pull away from their Metro Division rival. The goal was just one piece of, arguably, his most-complete game of the season.
“I thought he had a great game,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “You could tell he was excited to play and he certainly stepped up for us tonight.”
Meanwhile, Danton Heinen and Brock McGinn scored early and Jeff Carter tacked on an empty-net goal. Goalie Tristan Jarry saved 29 of 31, as the Penguins won for the eighth time in 11 games.
Now, back to Kapanen.
Former GM Jim Rutherford had high hopes when he acquired Kapanen ahead of the 2020-21 season in exchange for a package that included a first-round pick. In theory, the 25-year-old Kapanen should be a young, fast player whose skillset is highlighted in Sullivan’s system.
However, his Penguins tenure to this point has been up and down. His Pittsburgh debut was delayed by visa issues. Then, in the middle of last year he discovered real chemistry with Evgeni Malkin. However, just when Kapanen began playing his best hockey as a Penguin, Geno went down with a knee injury.
This year, Sullivan repeatedly praised Kapanen in the preseason. The coach said he believed Kapanen had the potential to evolve into an “elite” player and Kapanen said himself he was in the best shape of his life.
The preseason talk didn’t match the early-season production. Kapanen went scoreless through the first nine games of the season. On at least three separate occasions, Kapanen has been critical of his own performance.
Friday’s game was just one game, but it was a noteworthy step in the right direction. Beyond just scoring, he sprung Evan Rodrigues for a breakaway attempt. He centered a pass for Crosby that nearly provided a Grade-A chance from the slot. And, on a few instances, he hustled to backcheck, using his speed in more than just the offensive zone.
“Obviously the way I've been playing hasn't been my best so I think it was important to kind of get back on track,” Kapanen said. “It's pretty easy to do that with Sid and [Rodrigues]. I thought, throughout the game we were getting a lot of chances and playing well.”
The goal, Kapanen’s sixth of the season, came mid-way through the second period. Off of a Capitals turnover in the neutral zone, Rodrigues found Crosby racing ahead in transition. As the defense collapsed around the Penguins’ captain, he flicked the puck over the Kapanen. Using one of the best wrist shots on the team, Kapanen burned Washington’s Ilya Samsonov.
Kapanen’s tally ultimately proved to be the difference after the Capitals made a late rally. The Penguins built a 2-0 lead that was reflective of their solid start. In the first period, Danton Heinen and John Marino worked a nifty give-and-go play. Marino vacated the blue line and, from the right dot, hit Heinen in the slot. Heinen one-timed the puck past Samsonov.
The Penguins extended their lead to 2-0 mid-way through the second period on a semi-fluky goal. McGinn tossed the puck on net, looking for Teddy Blueger. Instead, the puck hit Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov’s skate and ricocheted over Samsonov’s shoulder.
The Capitals made a late push and added a goal with the extra attacker to briefly cut the lead to one. But Carter hit the empty net to seal it.
Friday’s result is reflective, in some ways, of how far the Penguins have come since the first time these two teams met at Capital One Arena on Nov. 14. At the time, the Penguins were at the tail end of a miserable stretch in which they lost eight of 10 games. They played much of that drought without their coach (Sullivan), their captain (Crosby) and half their blue line.
But that lopsided 6-1 loss a month ago became almost a turning point. Jarry, who said he took that six-goal showing “personally” used the poor outing as a springboard, eventually turning in three shutouts in five outings. As a whole, the Penguins likewise responded. They’ve now posted an 8-3-1 record in their last 11 games.
“I think our team is in a different place right now,” Sullivan said. “With all the challenges that we had with COVID and the injuries that we've had, it's provided opportunities for other guys to step up. What I admire about our leadership group is no one ever looks for excuses. The expectation is that we're going win hockey games and we have what it takes to win regardless of who's in our lineup.”
Now, they’ll have to continue that approach for the next few weeks with Guentzel sidelined.
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