Penguins Put the Ugh in Winning Ugly

In the late 19th Century, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a popular novelette titled The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Dr. Jekyll, on the surface an upstanding citizen in every way, secretly concocts a potion meant to enhance his goodness. However, upon consuming the elixir, his inner demons are unleashed and he transforms instead into his barbaric alter-ego.

Last night’s 3-1 Penguins triumph over Carolina at PNC Arena was kinda’ like that, only in reverse. The Pens started the game in full Mr. Hyde persona before morphing into the good doctor in time to salvage two points.

The Pens were led—or more accurately—misled through the early going by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Normally twin paragons of leadership and on-ice virtue, each seemed determined to outdo the other in the dubious category of trips to the penalty box.

By the 23-minute mark Geno had already visited the sin bin three times for assorted infractions. Not be outdone, Sid was whistled for slashing Brock McGinn—his second minor penalty—only minutes later.

Their teammates followed in lock-step. For the better part of two periods the Pens acted as if the boards were barricaded by an invisible out-of-bounds marker they weren’t allowed to cross. If they did happen to find the puck on their stick, for the most part they displayed a complete lack of understanding of what to do with it. As if puzzling over a complex bit of differential calculus.

Only the sterling play of goalie Matt Murray (29 saves), coupled with the home team’s disinclination to score, kept our guys in the game. Unable to hit the proverbial side of a barn, let alone the 4-foot by 6-foot net, the offensively challenged Hurricanes muffed chance after glorious scoring chance.

A good thing, too. Or we might have been trailing, big time, instead of clinging by our fingernails to an improbable 1-1 tie.

If Crosby was at least partly culpable for the Pens’ malaise, he was fully responsible for pulling them out of it. Determined to right his team’s sagging fortunes, Sid beat ‘Canes goalie Cam Ward late in the second period with a picture-perfect deflection of a Phil Kessel rocket on a 5-on-3 power play. One that gave the Pens a 2-1 lead they clearly didn’t deserve.

Malkin was next to atone for his misdeeds. Midway through the final period the big center rambled to the slot and buried a pretty backhand feed from Carl Hagelin to provide some insurance.

In stark contrast to their woeful play over the first 40 minutes, the black and gold finished strong, limiting the ‘Canes to just six third-period shots on goal.

“I thought our third period tonight was by far our best,” noted Pens coach Mike Sullivan, an observation that would qualify as the understatement of the century.

Bottom line? We earned two points. Pulling us to within three points of the Metro-leading Capitals. But man, was it ugly.

Ice Chips

Carolina outshot the Penguins, 30-22. The Hurricanes out-hit the locals, 38-21, and won 58 percent of the faceoffs. The Pens blocked 25 shots, compared to 10 for the ‘Canes.

Scott Wilson scored the game-opening goal at 2:15 of the first period on a deflection, his sixth goal of the season.

Trevor Daley suffered a lower-body injury late in the first period and did not return. Nick Bonino missed last night’s game with an undisclosed illness. He was replaced by Carter Rowney. Cameron Gaunce was a healthy scratch.

Crosby continues to pace the NHL with 33 goals. He trails Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (67-66) in the point-scoring race. Malkin’s tied for sixth with Chicago’s Patrick Kane (60 points apiece). Kessel leads the league with 26 power-play points.

The Pens don’t play again until Saturday night, when they square off with Philadelphia in a Stadium Series matchup at Heinz Field.