After watching our team absorb a second-straight shootout loss, it might be easy for us Penguins fans to lose heart. We’re so accustomed to success. Especially in shootouts, where until recently, we ruled.
I’ll address the collective concerns of Penguins Nation with a riddle. What do Trevor Daley, Jake Guentzel, Carl Hagelin, Ron Hainsey, Kris Letang, Olli Maatta, Evgeni Malkin, Tom Sestito and Scott Wilson have in common?
You get my drift. They’re all on IR or nursing injuries.
That’s a significant chunk of horseflesh to have sidelined. Not to mention talent.
Indeed, man games lost (309 for the season, 122 over the past five weeks) keep accruing like the compound interest on an onerous credit card. Heck, even a seasoned health care practitioner like American Red Cross founder Clara Barton might confuse the Pens’ locker room for a hospital ward.
That’s why I’m not overly concerned with last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena. The club’s second shootout defeat within a 24-hour span.
Considering how banged up we are, I thought the Pens gave a good account of themselves. After falling behind, 2-1, to a desperate and determined Islanders squad—one fighting for their very playoff lives—our guys clawed back to earn a point. Thanks, in no small part, to another lead-from-in-front effort from captain Sidney Crosby.
Talk about picking up the slack. The Kid from Cole Harbour logged 20:29 of ice time, unleashed four shots on goal and won 63 percent of his draws. In his favored style, Sid dropped to a knee to rip a made-to-order rebound past Jaroslav Halak at 13:41 of the second period. Knotting the score at 2-all and giving his team new life.
While No. 87 led the way with a take-charge performance, Marc-Andre Fleury continued his electrifying resurgence between the pipes. Flower made 43 saves, including 21 during the pivotal third period as the comparatively well-rested visitors poured it on.
Phil Kessel rebounded from a string of zombie-like outings to register two assists. He was particularly brilliant in overtime, roaming all over the ice while denying the exhausted Islanders a chance to change personnel. Only an unfortunate bounce of the puck in the waning seconds prevented him from a crack at the game-winner.
The locals got help from unexpected sources, too. The goalposts, for one, which took the brunt of at least three or four Islanders shots. And a favorable Mike Sullivan challenge on an apparent New York goal in the waning seconds of the first period.
Can’t forget Cameron Gaunce. After watching from the press box while Derrick Pouliot and Frank Corrado struggled to fill the void, the all-but-forgotten defenseman re-entered the mix and contributed a goal and an assist to earn the game’s third star.
Gaunce’s gritty performance typifies the mostly exemplary efforts the Pens have received from their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton call-ups. Josh Archibald, Carter Rowney and Oskar Sundqvist all have performed admirably while filling in for the likes of Malkin, Guentzel and Hagelin. To say nothing of Chad Ruhwedel, who appears to have established himself as a bona fide NHL defenseman.
Still, the Penguins are no doubt anxious for the return of their wounded teammates. Just as we are.
Keep the faith.
Better days lie just ahead.
Puckpourri
Bryan Rust returned to the lineup after missing 16 games with an upper-body injury. Slotted beside old linemates Crosby and Conor Sheary, “Rusty” registered four shots and two hits in just over 16 minutes of action.
The Penguins are presently in second place in the Metro Division—as well as the overall NHL standings—with 103 points. One point behind front-runner Washington. The Capitals and Columbus (101 points) each have a game in hand on the Pens.
Crosby leads the NHL with 42 goals, four more than Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. Sid is second in points (82), five behind Edmonton phenom Connor McDavid.
New York outshot the Pens, 46-40, and led the way in hits (44-39). The Pens won 57 percent of the faceoffs.
Hey Rick,
A couple of points to mention about last night.
1.John Traverses and his stealing the puck away from Ruhwendel and setting up the goal late in the second period.
That is the classic example of talent and size playing against at best a number 7 d man on any elite cup team and you saw the result. He then made a perfect pass and MAF looked foolish. That is why you see teams deep with first rounders on their roster out performing those who do not have that talent level.We are the second oldest team in the NHL and because of past drafting mistakes we do not have that level of young talent as other clubs do.
2. Last night there were times when the the Crosby line was bottled up in our own zone and could not exit. The bigger NYI players over pressured our system and it showed.Same thing in Ottawa.
You say wait until we get everyone back. Maybe so but I have seen many teams are making adjustments against us and we will be hard pressed to get 8 wins in the Cup finals.
3. Sidney lost his cool the other night and he lifted his stick into the groin area of the Ottawa player.From behind as well.There is no place in our game for that stuff.Anybody else would have been suspended.
Because our team is small and soft, Crosby has to retaliate .That is not right my friend.
Plus Fleury did not do any better in the shoot out then Murray. In the playoffs there are no shoot outs.
Finally with 8 games to go and we simply need every point possible. It looks like CBJ will be our dance partner in the first round. As Coach said…I want to believe but it is not going to be easy.
Cheers
Hey Jim,
A mild bit of pushback, my friend, concerning Tavares and Ruhwedel.
We all have a tendency at times to judge players by a single incident or series of plays in an effort to make a point. I’m guilty of it, too. My recent critiques of Derrick Pouliot and Frank Corrado, for example.
Having said that, I think you’re being a bit harsh in your assessment of Ruhwedel. I’d be willing to bet that somewhere along the line, Tavares has made…say…Shea Weber look silly, too. He’s got that kind of talent.
For the record, Ruhwedel played 20:39 against the Isles and registered two hits and an assist. He finished a plus-1 for the evening.
In 29 games with the Pens, he’s been a plus or even 23 times. I’m not saying Chad’s a top-four defenseman. I do think he’ll be in somebody’s top six next season–perhaps even ours.
Rick
Hey Rick,
You say “Keep the faith”
Channeling my inner Fox Mulder I tell you, “I want to believe.”
To continue with the platitudes; “Hope springs eternal”, so until the buzzer in the final game, there is still a chance.
Last year, at this time of the year, I was already willing to bet the bank on the Pens winning the Cup. This year, I am very unconvinced. I am not ready to give up, but I have not confidence like last year.
Hey Jim and Other Rick,
I’d started to do a combined response to your posts. Well, one thing led to another and ideas started to flow and it morphed into my next blog feature, to be posted tomorrow (Sunday).
I hope you guys don’t mind.
Rick
Rick
Biggest concern for me moving into the playoffs and I believe I
mentioned this previously is how Washington and Columbus
have copied the Pens style of play – The difference is there doing
it with size and speed instead of dwarfs w/speed.
Obviously teams have to deal with Crosby and Malkin – no one
else has this type of talent in the middle. My concern is the beating
that these two will receive come playoff time.
One other note – Bonino used in the shootout “come on” – I know
he’s been hot of late but there’s a lack of creativity in his game to
have success in the shootout. Go to Sheary, Cullen “anyone” but
Nick.
“GO PENS”
Excellent points, Mike.
I do worry about how we’ll stand up to a heavy forecheck come playoff time.
Still, I think if we have most everyone healthy (see my latest feature), we’ll be more than a handful for other teams to deal with. Especially the Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary line.
Provided, of course, that Jake bounces back in reasonably short order from the concussion.
Rick
Hey Mike,
Interesting comment about the Shoot Out. I agree. Yes Bonino has been hot and if the Shoot Out had gone to 5 or 6 rounds, yes by all means give him a shot, but like you, I would think that Sheary would be a better choice, I would use Schultz as well. He always has his head up with a very quick release on his wrist shot. I would bet the game as it really could be just that, he would whip a wrister by the goalie as soon as the goalie starts to move and opens up a hole. More importantly those 2 have been bringing it all year and deserve the gravy of a Shoot Out shot. I would also think that since Rust scored on a Penalty Shot this year he would be a good option.
Hey Rick,
No problem…As I have said many times, your blog has attracted some very knowledgeable and passionate fans with many varied opinions, but in the end “WE ALL LOVE OUR PENGUINS” and we want ultimately to raise the Cup every year.
So thanks for the opportunity to express my opinions to your site.
Cheers
JIM
Your opinions are ALWAYS welcome, my friend. And 9 times out of 10, I agree with you … 🙂
And it’s not like I haven’t missed the boat (and dropped into the Marianas Trench) with some of my opinions and evaluations.
Hopefully, Phil has deleted my old posts where I panned guys like Conor Sheary, Jake Guentzel and Scott Wilson … 🙁
Rick