O'Connor's promotion sparks Malkin's line in win over Flyers

O'Connor had the primary helper on the Penguins' fourth and final goal, setting up Malkin for this shot from the right circle:

"We had a good play," O'Connor told me of the goal. "(Malkin) just gave it to me wide, was just trying to take him wide, the defenseman. He didn't really have it so I just curled up and found a lane there. (Malkin) took it and had a great shot."

O'Connor said it was a "weird game" settling in with his new linemates because of all the special teams play. The Penguins had six power plays -- five coming in the first period alone -- and the Flyers had two. There just wasn't much five-on-five time to start the game. But as they finally got time to play together, O'Connor thought they fared well.

"We did some good things, had some good possession, scored a couple of goals," O'Connor said. "It was good."

Jeff Carter, the previous recipient of the team's MVP Jofa helmet, apparently agreed. He chose O'Connor as the recipient after this win, lauding O'Connor "mucking it up" after the whistles in such a chippy game, and mentioning that he was "flying all night."

The timing of the change to the lines makes sense. Smith has four assists in his last eight games, three of which came at even strength. Going back over the last two months, dating back to Nov. 7, Smith has just been pretty cold. He has two goals and seven assists in those 28 games, with both goals and four of the assists coming at even strength. 

While the Smith-Eller-Puustinen line didn't record any points in the game, they were at least helping to maintain good momentum. In the 8:25 they were on the ice together at five on five, the Penguins recorded nine unblocked shot attempts to the Flyers' five (64.29%) and led in shots 7-4 (63.64%). No goals were scored in either direction while they were together.

O'Connor was a natural choice to get promoted to Malkin's wing in Smith's place. There's now a decent sample size to look at over the course of the season for Malkin's five-on-five time without O'Connor (409:22) and with O'Connor (139:07). When Malkin has O'Connor on his wing, the Penguins average 33.21 shots on goal per 60 minutes and allow 25.87 against. With Malkin but without O'Connor on the ice, the Penguins average 30.49 shots on goal for and 29.9 against. O'Connor with Malkin has led to better results on both sides of the puck, and that translates to goals. With Malkin and O'Connor together the Penguins have outscored opponents 9-3 (75). With Malkin but without O'Connor the Penguins have been outscored 15-19 (44.12%).

Sullivan said that O'Connor brings a "different look" to that line, is playing well and gaining confidence in that role. But he also thinks that O'Connor is gaining a better understanding of how the Penguins expect him to play, and that's led to this success and a well-deserved increased role.

"When OC is playing a straight ahead, north-south game, he's using his speed, he's taking defenseman wide, he's playing behind defenseman and getting in on the forecheck, he's a very effective player," Sullivan said.

It's not just that, either. Sullivan sees that O'Connor's better understanding extends to his play defensively and when he's on the penalty-kill, too. He's improved on both sides of the puck.

"His awareness away from the puck, he's much more conscientious," Sullivan said. "When you combine that with the speed he brings, in the north south game, and you utilize his size and his reach, I think he can be a very effective player."

O'Connor can play all three positions. He's a natural center, and played the position in college and in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. But the Penguins' coaching staff has long been clear about preferring him on the wing at the NHL level. He has the versatility to play both wings as well as center, and can fit in throughout the lineup, whether he's in a top-six role or a bottom-six role. He can move anywhere in forward lines depending where the Penguins need him, but his impact on Malkin's line specifically is hard to ignore.

"When he plays with Geno's line, Geno now has two guys on his flanks that are fast and they play a north-south game," Sullivan said. "I think both Rusty and OC excel at the puck pursuit game, and so I think that drags Geno into the fight a little bit down in the offensive zone. Geno is very capable of creating offense different ways, he's a dynamic player as there is off the rush, but trying to establish an end zone game or grind games with OC and Rusty, I think they're they're going to drag him into that a little bit."

That can lead to that line creating offense in different ways, in different situations. 

The Penguins could sure use some of that. If this O'Connor-Rust pairing sparks Malkin moving forward like the way it did tonight, that could go a long way.

O'Connor needs to get a real, long look on that second line moving forward. He's earned it and shown that he can play there.