Penguins, Pouliot, Pulock, and more…

Hey, it’s Ian again, filling the big shoes of Dobber tonight.

The Penguins scored not one, not two, not three, but four goals in the first period and added three more en route to a 7-0 whitewash of the Senators on Sunday afternoon.

A team can’t get much better than 3-for-3 on the power play, unless it’s 4-for-4, or 5-for-5, and so on… but you can only take advantage of the chances that you’re given. The Penguins did just that; in fact, they shot 100 percent (3-for-3) on the power play as well.

With his first-period power-play goal, Sidney Crosby has scored goals in three consecutive games. He was one of numerous Penguins to record multiple points in this game.

With three assists, Evgeni Malkin extended his lead in the playoff scoring race to 23 points (6g-17a) in 17 games.

The surprise players are always worth mentioning here. Sunday’s longshot success story in daily leagues was Carter Rowney, who also recorded three assists and a plus-4. The three assists were Rowney’s first points of the playoffs in his 12^th game.

Matt Murray recorded the 25-save shutout for the Pens. Personally, I think we’ve seen the last of Fleury in a Pens uniform. But as per yesterday’s Ramblings (see the comments for more insight), I’ll stick to my conviction that there’s still a slight chance he somehow stays in Pittsburgh next season. Because nothing is ever 100 percent.

Craig Anderson’s luck wasn’t good on his 36^th birthday, as he was in the net for the four first-period goals. So that’s seven goals allowed over Anderson’s last four periods. But if there’s any doubt whether Mike Condon will start Game 6, Guy Boucher has thrown water onto the fire.
 

Guy Boucher didn't like being asked if Craig Anderson starts Game 6. pic.twitter.com/YKCenh7Kom

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 21, 2017

With the outcome a foregone conclusion by the third period, Erik Karlsson, Cody Ceci, and Derick Brassard were all held out as a precaution. It sounds like all three will be ready for Game 6.

Jumping the gun, I know, but wouldn’t a Penguins/Predators Stanley Cup Final be something to watch?

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With the outcome of the Pens/Sens game already decided early in the game, hockey fans were fortunate to have another option on Sunday afternoon. But in case you missed it, Sweden won the gold medal with a 2-1 shootout win over Canada. Needless to say, the Swedes were pretty excited.
 

Greatest photo on the World Wide Web right now pic.twitter.com/h2vRJ7kDdQ

— Duke (@CanadianDukeYT) May 22, 2017

📢 advertisement:

You can’t feel too bad for Canada because international games that go to the shootout are either a) a total coin flip, or b) games where Canada would have a disadvantage, since we don’t usually decide playoff games this way. Regardless, congratulations to Sweden on a fine victory.  

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Today’s Ramblings are brought to you by the letter P. (I can’t help myself with that one, since I have two children under the age of 10.) P for prospects. P for Pouliot and Pulock. And P for possibilities… for the Vegas Golden Knights? At least this mock expansion draft, which I also mentioned in yesterday’s Ramblings, believes could happen. Expansion draft aside, it’s worth revisiting these two blueline prospects to determine whether their ship has really sailed.
 

If Derrick Pouliot can't get a game now (and he won't), it's pretty much over

— Mike Halford (@HalfordPHT) May 20, 2017

Sunday’s playoff game was yet another Penguins’ game that didn’t have Derrick Pouliot in it. The Penguins’ defense is a revolving door of injured veterans, trade acquisitions, and youngsters that seem to come out of nowhere. You’d have to believe at this point in time that the Penguins would bring back Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill before they give Pouliot a shot.

It’s not as if Pouliot has completely fallen off the map offensively. His 23 points and +26 in 46 games in AHL is respectable, but not spectacular and not worthy of an NHL callup if his defensive skills aren’t there. Plus he’s just turned 23, so it’s not like the window has closed as far as an NHL career goes. But it seems like we’ve been waiting forever for him to become a permanent fixture in the Pens’ lineup. So it’s fair to say that Pouliot as an elite power-play QB just isn’t going to happen.

After time as one of the top blueline prospects for fantasy purposes, Pouliot has sunk to number 18 on Dobber’s Top 50 Fantasy Prospect Defensemen. He’s now behind the likes of Gustav Forsling and Jake Walman but still ahead of Jacob Larsson and Noah Juulsen. If you have to make room for a younger player that has more upside, then I say do it. But before you make that decision, let’s find out whether Pouliot is in another organization to start next season.

I’ll add Ryan Pulock to the discussion, since one of my league mates mentioned that he is in the same boat with Pulock as I am with Pouliot. Pulock has played in fewer NHL games (16) than Pouliot (67) with the same birth year (1994), which explains why his owners believe that time is passing by.

The past season wasn’t easy on Pulock, though, since he missed time with broken foot. Despite that, he still scored 46 points in 55 games in the AHL last season. So it’s all about getting opportunity. Unfortunately the Isles’ defense should remain much the same as it did in 2016-17, with only RFA Calvin De Haan currently without a contract for 2017-18. An opening could result for Pulock should Vegas claim an Islanders’ defenseman, assuming he not the one claimed by the Golden Knights. In that case, Vegas could represent a great opportunity.  

Pulock is still number 8 in the same Top 50 list, so right now he still has more upside than Pouliot. Again, the offseason will be telling, but there’s still the chance that Pulock starts another season in the AHL should nothing budge on the Isles’ blueline. But the opportunity should eventually come, so I’d continue to be patient if possible.

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For more fantasy hockey information, follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.