Anthony Beauvillier earning keep on Penguins' top line
Last week, a day after providing the Pittsburgh Penguins' only offense in a blowout loss to the Dallas Stars, Anthony Beauvillier spoke about closing in on his goal total from last season.
Beauvillier's tally in the 7-1 defeat Nov. 11 was his fourth of the season in game No. 17 with the Penguins, one shy of what he produced over 60 contests a year ago.
"I mean, not necessarily tough to beat," Beauvillier noted sardonically.
Beauvillier joined the Penguins in the offseason on a one-year, $1.25-million deal.
He started the 2023-24 season with Vancouver, where he played 22 games.
Two midseason trades in the span of four months saw him suiting up for Chicago (23 games) and Nashville (15).
Beauvillier, who spent parts of seven seasons with the New York Islanders from 2016-23, struggled to find rhythm offensively, scoring five goals with six assists.
So far in Pittsburgh, it's been a different story for Beauvillier.
Following goals in three straight games from Nov. 11-15, he's tied for second on the team with six, surpassing his total from last season in a third as many games.
"I feel good on the ice," Beauvillier said. "I feel like I have my legs most of the nights. Sometimes you just try to go to the right place, right time and let the puck find you. That's a little bit of what's happened. I'll try to keep doing that."
Beauvillier, averaging 13 minutes, 4 seconds of ice time per game, has managed to continue chipping in offensively despite coach Mike Sullivan frequently shuffling him up, down and around on the nightly lineup card.
Through 20 games, Beauvillier has skated with 12 different players, deploying at left wing 16 times and right wing four times.
He's most frequently slotted in at left wing alongside Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, forming the Penguins' top line.
The Penguins have utilized that combination six times so far.
"It's something I've done throughout my career and something I'm comfortable doing, playing the right side, left side and even center," Beauvillier said. "I think it's good to have, that you can play a little up and down the lineup, and it's something I'm comfortable doing."
Over his first 18 games, Beauvillier was more of a beneficiary than benefactor, managing only one assist.
However, during his current four-game point streak, Beauvillier has added two more assists, giving him nine points heading into Tuesday's puck drop vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"Because we liked his speed and his puck pursuit game, we thought that would help (Crosby's) line in particular, in order to get the puck back and control puck possession," Sullivan said. "I think that's what (Crosby) thrives in, so having someone with speed is an important element of setting (the Crosby) line up for success."
The Beauvillier-Crosby-Rakell line has produced a 40-24 advantage in shots, per Natural Stat Trick, as well as a 5-1 advantage in goals scored.
In Saturday's win over the San Jose Sharks, Beauvillier assisted on Crosby's second-period goal (No. 599 for the Penguins' longtime captain) and also scored in the shootout, technically advancing his consecutive games with a goal streak to four, even if the tally won't be showing up on his stat sheet.
When president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas acquired Beauvillier, it was worth pondering just what version of the 27-year-old, who scored at least 15 goals in five of his eight prior NHL seasons, would be arriving in Pittsburgh.
So far, Beauvillier is earning his keep and looking like the respectable scoring threat he was in New York.
"He's playing with confidence," Sullivan said. "He's been a real good addition to our team. He skates well, he brings a lot of speed, tenacity. He's a great teammate. He's fit in really well in our room. He's playing with confidence right now. The puck has gone in the net for him.
"He's earning those opportunities as well with his skating and getting in on the forecheck and getting inside the dots. He's playing well right now for us. He has scored some big goals. The shootout (goal) was huge for us. He's really been, I think, a great addition for our team."
