Aggravating ex-Penguins shining during playoffs

Old faces in new places have been coming through better than they did in Pittsburgh lately

Whether the feelings stir emotions of sourness, chagrin, indignation or something a little more tame, former Penguins have been all over the place in recent days in the NHL playoffs. And not just any old, random ex-player but some attention-grabbing, high-profile failures in Pittsburgh have been making big time plays elsewhere at the most important time of the year.

Two nights ago, Mikael Granlund supplied all the offense Dallas needed by scoring three goals to help beat Winnipeg in a 3-1 game that also tipped the series 3-1 in the Stars favor. Granlund famously only scored one goal in 21 games with the Penguins after being acquired as a short-term rental in 2023.

Many with Penguin ties will never get over that, for good enough reason; or even believe that Granlund is a quality player since he was anything but that in the few months he played in Pittsburgh. Can’t argue the feeling but the Game 4 results speak for themselves, it’s just too bad he wasn’t able to do that for the Pens.

As if that wasn’t enough from the category of “unfulfilling former players” file, last night Kasperi Kapanen scored the only goal of the whole game in Edmonton’s 1-0 overtime win over Vegas.

Kapanen’s case has been even more curious than Granlund’s. Kapanen has faded away to the fringes of the NHL — he was placed on waivers this season and was a healthy scratch for the Oilers all playoffs until the last two games. He was playing with some purpose, drive and enthusiasm when he got back into the lineup, as if sensing this might finally be his last chance. And, what do you know, last night’s goal shows he just might be starting to make the most of his talents.

Oh yeah, and since Toronto was getting blown out last night they turned to their backup goalie to close things out. It was none other than Matt Murray in the role, due to regular starter Anthony Stolarz’s injury. Murray appeared in his first NHL playoff game since 2020 with the Pens. Murray stopped six of seven shots. Murray went down swinging, literally, by showing some heart and getting in the faces of the treacherously villainous Panther players (they don’t seem to mind their roles of wearing the black hat when it comes with winning so many playoff games..)

The Pens may be out of the playoffs but some of their former players have been squarely in the limelight. What’s next, an Anthony Beauvillier or Jordan Staal hat trick tonight? That might not hit as squarely as managerial mistakes like Granlund and Kapanen getting their moments in the sun, but at this point it wouldn’t be surprising to see this week’s theme of former aggravating Penguin players showing up on the big stage.