shine in competition. Galvas is clearly the latter and there is real reason to pay attention to the 20-year-old second-round pick.

Penguins Lines Mikhail Ilyin-Bill Zonnon-Atley Calvert Carter Sanderson-Markus Ruck-Liam Ruck Pierce Mbuyi-Brayden Edwards-Jordan Charron Tiernan Shoudy-Daniel Russel-Traves Hayes Defense Jake Livanavage-Harrison Brunicke Tommy Galvas-Finn Harding Tyler Duke-Peyton Kettles Goal: Xavier Wendt Prospects Report Card Tommy Galvas: Holy Cow Two straight strong games, and Sunday was probably better than Saturday.

Galvas’s high points were the highest, and he was easily the best player on the ice Sunday. He scored the beaut to tie the game 2-2 with an end-to-end rush around a few would-be defenders.

He was often active on the rush, and he displayed an ability to see and seize opportunity. He showed speed and puck smarts.

For the most part, he was electric. “Yeah, he looks sick.

I mean, obviously you’ve seen that shootout goal (Saturday), which was gross. Like I don’t even know,” said 2026 third-round pick Pierce Mbuyi.

“And then he’s just so so calm with the puck. I feel like every time he gets it, he’ll make a play.

And he’s always open. It seems, he’s always just making the right play.

So he’s awesome to watch.” There was also a third-period penalty kill, in which Galvas stole the puck near the top of the zone and went for a skate into the offensive zone, one-on-one, and around the net, before passing it back to teammate Tyler Duke at the red line. Now, before anyone pencils him in as a potential NHL’er this season, there were some plays that also highlighted his challenges to get to the next level.

In the first period, 24-year-old Red Wings free agent Theo Rochette spun him around and stole the puck at the top of the zone for a shorthanded breakaway. Detroit also scored the tying goal, 3-3, when Galvas went deep into the offensive zone, was easily rubbed out against the wall, quickly lost the puck, and didn’t get to his man near the net in the defensive zone.

Consequently, Detroit had numbers in the Penguins’ blue paint. His rush with a one-goal lead and six minutes remaining was the epitome of his game.

He breezed by a couple of opponents on the backhand deep into the offensive zone, but was then outnumbered in the corner. It was a beaut until that moment, but with a lead late in the game, the play is to move the puck and get back.

Instead, Galvas pressed the issue and lingered with the forwards. No harm, no foul, but that’s a lesson he’ll need to learn.

His size at 5-foot-10, 168 pounds, is going to be a challenge, but boy howdy, he’s got some game-changing skills. There was talk after the draft that he would return home to Czechia to play this season, but the Penguins might well be convinced to accelerate his development in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Liam Ruck/Markus Ruck: An Education The toughest thing for scorers at the next level is to learn how to find space. To that axiom, the puck avoided the Rucks, especially Liam, Sunday.

They did not make the notebook with any offensive chances, or even noteworthy possessions. Instead, they were fighting for space, often in vain.

L. Ruck’s shots were into shin pads.

M. Ruck’s high point was a shovel pass at center to spring linemate Carter Sanderson for a goal.

But the line was largely held in check. Jake Livanavage: Expecting More Livanavage, 22, is one of the more experienced players on the Penguins’ roster, with three years of NCAA experience at the University of North Dakota and one NHL game.

However, even the scouts who spoke with PHN were ambivalent regarding his performance. He wasn’t invisible.

Wasn’t good. Wasn’t bad.

But overall, kind of disappointing because he didn’t make more of an impact. Peyton Kettles: More Work The Penguins’ 2025 second-rounder is a big defenseman, but lost most of last season due to injury, returning only for the Memorial Cup.

However, he’s showing real signs of rust and will need to improve his skating. He’s a step slow to the puck, which only puts more pressure on his defensive zone game.

There’s no reason to pass any judgment yet. Team: B+ Despite their big guns remaining quiet Sunday, the Penguins were pretty good.

After they settled, everything went their way.