While penning my playoff preview of the Penguins-Islanders matchup a few days ago, I made it a point to mention our Pens were the better team on paper. Perhaps that still holds true. But it sure hasn’t played out that way on the ice.
Through two games of our first-round Eastern Conference series with the Islanders, our adversary has been the better team…by far. The no-name Isles are faster, more aggressive and more opportunistic. Hungrier and more invested, too.
By comparison, our Pens have the look of a team that’s trying to hold back an orange-and-blue avalanche…especially during the third period of last night’s dismal 3-1 loss at raucous Nassau Coliseum.
When we needed to be at our very best, we served up one of our most undisciplined postseason efforts in recent memory, handing the Islanders six power-plays, including an extended two-man advantage early in the second period. Although we killed all but one, the near-constant parade to the penalty box disrupted any rhythm or flow we might have achieved.
Nor did it help that our top line struggled for the second-straight game while frequently butting heads with the Islanders’ physical fourth line of Cal Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin. Sidney Crosby was held to one shot on goal, a spectacular one handed back-hand attempt in the first period. After that zip…nada.
He has three shots on goal for the series (and no points). To put that in perspective, Martin has four shots on goal.
Although more noticeable than he was in the series opener, Sid’s trusty sidekick Jake Guentzel wasn’t exactly a ball of fire, either, although he did manage three shots on goal.
Jake had company. The third member of the unit, Bryan Rust, underwhelmed to such an extent that coach Mike Sullivan yanked him off the top line in favor of Dominik Simon (one shot on goal for the series) in an effort to provide a spark.
Bluntly put, there just wasn’t a whole lot to like from a Penguins perspective. After grabbing a 1-0 lead midway through the second period on Erik Gudbranson’s first-ever playoff tally, it took our guys all of 169 seconds to fritter the edge away. With the game knotted in the third period, we simply had no answer for our hard-charging foes.
We were dominated in the faceoff circle (33-24). Although shots on goal were virtually even (the Islanders held a 34-33 edge) it felt like our rivals had possession of the puck all night long, not to mention the far better of the scoring chances.
Speaking of scoring chances, if you’re searching for bright spots in an otherwise dismal defeat, look no further than our net. Although he yielded three goals, Matt Murray was outstanding. The rangy netminder faced down a plethora of Grade A opportunities and kept us in the game almost single-handed.
While I’m doling out kudos, Phil Kessel was a force for a second-straight game, unleashing a game-high seven shots on goal (a dozen for the series) and displaying good hop.
Although he turned the puck over in the neutral zone on Jordan Eberle’s nifty go-ahead goal, on a whole Evgeni Malkin’s elevated his game, as he usually does come playoff time. Along with Matt Cullen, who was foiled by Isles goalie Robin Lehner on a golden scoring chance from in tight to start the second period, “Geno’s” one of the few Pens to hold his own in the faceoff circle (54.5 percent).
As for my honor roll, that’s about it.
So the locals are down 2-games-to-none heading back to the ‘Burgh. History says we have a 10.5 percent chance of winning the series. Yikes…not good.
If the Pens are to buck the odds, they’ll need to find a way out of the ditch they’ve dug for themselves. No easy task, but attainable. They need to start winning games one shift at a time, one period at a time.
They need to be disciplined. I’m all for pushback. But there’s a smart way to do it and a dumb way. Thus far, we’ve embraced the latter.
The big boys need to step up and start producing. So do the support players. The playoffs are no time for passengers.
A glimmer of hope amid the gloom? With the last line change, Sullivan should be able to get favorable matchups on home ice. I’m sure he’ll make a concerted effort to keep the Crosby line away from the Islanders’ checkers.
Win Game 3, and we have a fighting chance. But make no mistake, the Islanders will be ready. We’ll need to be at the top of our game. Something we most decidedly weren’t in Game 2.
Puckpourri
Jack Johnson replaced Olli Maatta for Game 2. He was more noticeable than the young Finn, delivering four hits and blocking a shot while unleashing two shots on goal. However, the veteran defenseman drew two minor penalties and was victimized by Eberle on the game-winner.
Jared McCann sat out with an upper-body injury. He was replaced by rookie Teddy Blueger, who registered a hit and two shots on goal in 11:41 of ice time.
Get the broom out, it’ll be a clean sweep. I think they’re tired, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
On the other hand, this would be an excellent time to go on a 16 game winning streak.
Hey Rick,
It just got deeper, too. Reminds me of a joke Jimmy Dean told a long time ago on one of the late night talk shows about a guy driving through a snow storm in North Dakota. He’s driving along and he comes upon a ten-gallon hat lying in the middle of the road. He slams on the brakes a slides to a halt, gets out of his truck, goes over and lifts the hat. There’s a guy underneath, just his head above the snow. The driver says, “Stay calm, Buddy. I’ll go home, get a shovel and dig you out.” The guy under the hat replies, “You better bring a damn big one, I’m on my horse.”
I don’t think Sully has a big enough shovel for this one. I don’t think he could buy enough vitamins, or shots of Five-Hour Energy to awaken this team, either. They don’t give a damn. It’s embarrassing to watch.
I can hear Sam Cooke singing in the background, “A change gonna come…”
And, thanks for a great hang last night. It was a pleasure to meet you, get your book and talk hockey, and all the other stuff we hit on, too.
— 55
Put Malkin Crosby and Letang together . Lets go Pens .
The coaches, players need to regroup and get this shit done .Tuesday is win and go on or lose and go home season over.
The Penguins need to dig down deep and show the Islanders who they really are .Let’s go Pens
Oh
Simon and Zar is hot garbage and should be in the bottom lines. Personally, I would play Blueger and Adam Johnson over them.
They keep getting undeserving minutes with stars where it do not work at all. I don’t see the long chemistry and the same page to play Stars game in the ice.
Simon might have good enough possessions number but Crosby’s line do not need that . They need someone to create space and finish chances with them be able to play their give and go cycle..
Simon is very vanilla and gotta get last touch of the puck that brings nothing..
I hope he takes two stupid penalties and just falls all over the ice. Sheary 2.0
I can’t stand a coach who thinks everyone gotta play with the Stars thst bottom tier players that offer nothing in return.. It never work short term or long term..
Mike Sullivan wants turn bottom players into top players and top players that have some great upside in to bottom players..
Rick – Hope all is well.
I’m going to try and make this brief. I love when people say hitting has never won a game. They obviously haven’t watched our series with the Isles or the Boston /
Toronto game this evening. Hitting opens up so many scoring opportunities.
Also, and I may get a little backlash on this from the Other Rick but IMO Murray
contributes to our Defense not being able to move the puck out of our own end. He’s horrible at controlling rebounds – its almost like his body is caked in butter.
Freeze the damn puck.
Last but not least I’m leaning slightly with Dee on Sullivan. This is a series where Sully needs to check his ego – we have to be a little more patient / conservative – the Isles are not a scoring power-house – Sully needs to adjust – if we play the Isles the right way its low scoring and we win the game.
Pen’s will be at home – they get the last change so some of Sully’s adjustment will naturally kick in – we need to play a defensive minded game if we want to get back into this series.
Sorry – not as brief as I intended.
Good Morning Mike,
Thank you.
Murray?
I appreciate him sustaining some success to help accumulate some wins with a lot starts. I will say this. Sully and organization did to try stop coddling him and make it seems like he can handle the hard stretch to be a starter. I don’t he can and often time other team goalies in the net are outplaying him ..
Murray is substandard goalie. He make good unique saves . He doesn’t still the show consistently and stand his on crucial moments..
I don’t see him as consistent starter and Mike Bales is truly missed.
Murray? Rebound control, glove hand and make himself small is out of control.
He cannot take shooters one on one..
From what I’ve observed Murray wants and needs a team that happens really be very defensive minded and smooth in breakouts to keep the puck away from so he would not have to worry about stopping the puck … in front of him unfortunately
There’s to many times Murray is not secure and not very comfortable in net to have better athletic, angles, rebound controls and confidence that he has stop the the puck ..
He gets down to quick, not sure he has the puck, unaware and really looks very shaky all the time.
Most games. Game 1 and Game 2 he has play very good to keep them game at times with some very good saves .. But he’s very troubling in the net and very out of position with one goal I remember he went down to quick thought he save it and went behind him and he wasn’t playing attention.
Murray is weak substandard leaky goalie.
Penguins cannot relay heavy on him. They need share workload with DeSmith. Putting Penguins and Murray in a better situation to not get hurt with prevailing in this playoffs..
I understand and know pens D got better and gotta scarifice them self like 2015-2016 to make it easy for him
Penguins will never be that. That’s on coaching and weak D with a leader like Letang who do not have smart hockey iq and do not play defensively to shut the situation.
It’s on coaching and the way the spread minutes..
Trotz do not have the best D but he put out defenseman that strive to put in work defensively without aggressively pinching..
Penguins D suck because it isn’t enough on the back end and their coaching breakouts/ defensive structure is weak without no lesson learned to fix it..
Honestly, Penguins are better when they separate minutes and I really think Casey DeSmith should get some games..
I wish Sully would see that and learn from coach that are better than him..
I think DeSmith should get some workload with some players get limited deserved minutes among young guns like Adam Johnson and. Blueger get chance to simplify the speed game.. Let young players let loose.. McCann did exactly that with a phenomenal game 1 ..
Penguins needs to have better unique breakouts and defensively come together.. Be simple and have stand up resistance to let nothing easy come to Murray in the blue paint.. clogg the middle of ice and stop aggressively pinching and working on the boards..
Game 3 and 4 is crucial
Like I said .. Sullivan, Reechi,no consistency with line combos, adjustments,strong tactics, Letang and Murray is the biggest culprits to Penguins success turning into failure..
I cannot blame players like Crosby, Guentzel, Kessel , Malkin , Hornqvist..
Their coaches and defenseman are the problem not getting the puck to them..
Sullivan needs to listen to Jacques Martin.. From what l know he want to limit Letang , better plan on the system,keep him from pp and not have Johnson-Schultz together..
I will repeat this over and over again..
Penguins need new coaching staff.. Mark Reechi gotta go ..
No one wants to admit it . Rick Tocchet is severely missed. He was the recipe and solely the winner behind back 2 back cup and players to objectively player where they belong.. He understand players and lay the law to get it right the ice with adjustments that gave the resilience to suceed..
Simon has no goals in the last 30 -40 is on Crosby’s line is pure stubbornness and insanity..
Sullivan doesn’t remember that Hornqvist got you far with top line..
He doesn’t see Rust and Simon do not mesh nor do nothing outstanding to create space to let Crosby-Guentzel do what they need to do to suceed.
Zar have not look good and often Kessel m-Malkin are only playing/ clicking with themselves with him. he brings nothing and do not finish nor create nothing for them to succeed how they like to play in the.
Crosby and Malkin can’t play like that and be dragged like that with mediocre RW with Sid and Mediocre LW with Malkin..
Recipe for disaster and cry out that Penguins star players are crying for help from needing a new coach..
Hey TOR and Rick,
Pens loss in the series down 0-2 it has nothing to do with players. It has everything to do with Mike Sullivan and Mar Reechi.
Poor coaching and execution of a plan to go against dictating the play how they want to.
Penguins are not a good when Crosby and Guentzel do not score goal and contribute with assist to create goals from others with Malkin and Kessel.
I don’t know if you guys understand my stance and my direct straight no sugarcoat about those two coaches on this team.
I have been saying the same thing all season plus I have giving reasons why they are underachieving with heavy with mediocre defense where Sullivan do not have defenseman play solid D with great smooth transition breakouts that supports five man unit.
Penguins woes shown on the ice long time ago. When Sullivan can’t adapt the season system. Their practices are on heavily on breakouts and getting entry on blue line. Martin And Gochar are doing it and have been stating several times the solution to other team’s plan..
Mike Sullivan practiced a day before game 2 solely for players to change sticks with each other and shoot the puck for special teams. No working on breakouts, Defense, entry to give them self option to get offensive pressure..
I stated this many times Penguins been having one line team for 3 long seasons with Hornqvist, Kessel , Guentzel. Sullivan relay heavily on big stars and have no objectively way to get all players to succeed.
Penguins have a lot of mediocre players that do not bring nothing with long leash that have no business playing on this team.
Players like Blueger, McCann, Adam Johnson bring that spark to this team. They have heavy forechecking , speed, hungry and two way game that wants to contribute on the ice to take the initiative to help the Stars.
Wilson, Zar, Simon have no business play on the team. No business.. they are not thst fast and not hungry enough to take to next level to do it right to give Penguins a edge..
This is no brainer here.
Sullivan has been out coached heavily for a long time and no one will admit it . Players getting the end of the stick..
Mike Sullivan thinks constant line shuffling and weak line combos with undisciplined mediocre defense that cannot whether the storm again Trotz well oiled great plan..
There no way you have
Crosby- Guentzel-Rust
Zar -Malkin-Hornqvist
Simon-Bjugstad-kessel
Blueger-Cullen -Wilson
Then
Double shift Crosby with Simon -Kessel then Cullen -Wilson . Ultimately took his time in a crucial third period to put Simon with Crosby.
It make entirely no sense..
Malkin is seriously act out due to bad coaching and weak linemates that do not give him the recipe for him to succeed.
I feel heavy for Malkin, Crosby, Guentzel, Kessel and Hornqvist. They have not been shelled of themselves for a long time. They doing everything they can to put their team on their back with getting shutdown..
Mike Sullivan line up should have been
Crosby-Guentzel McCann/Hornqvist
Adam Johnson/Blueger-Malkin-Kessel
Bjugstad-Rust
Load up on top lines
Instead he wants to put Simon with Crosby..
Today’s practice
Guentzel-Crosby-Simon
Aston-Reese/McCann-Malkin-Kessel
Rust-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Blueger-Cullen-Wilson
Dumoulin-Letang
Johnson-Schultz
Pettersson-Gudbranson
Extras Määttä, Trotman
That’s a mediocre weak line combos. Simon has no business with Crosby . Malkin needs speed and heavy forechecker that help create and bring speedy defense that space take everything off of Malkin.
It bad enough that defenseman do not get the puck deep with smarts to the top stars to do their thing on the ice
I do not have nothing else to say … I’m very disappointed in this team and I just do get excited anymore with how this team is constructed with poor coaching..
I’m not amused and not a fan of Mike Sullivan and Mark Reechi ways with plAyers. It feels like Dan Blysma and Mike Johnston all over again..
Crosby and getting shut down by fourth line that’s play 15-18 mins is very telling with Sullivan inability to objectively do right…
Simon have no business with Crosby…
I would like Mark Reechi and Mike Sullivan gm Fire. I have been wanting this for a very longtime. I want Penguins to succeed this year to a cup. I think it time to revamp D core and better supporting cast.
I’m removing
Simon
Wilson
Zar
Rust
Letang
Johnson
Pettersson
Määttä
Reechi
Sullivan
From this team..
I do not mind Martin as head coach and new coach for fowards.. Gochar as full time defense coach..
I have more to say.. it what it is.. Penguins starting Winning to go far it will be in the players and not coaching..
Blueger and Adam should be playing in second and third line to bring spark .. Whether it’s good or not
Malkin-Kessel should be playing together with a speedy LW that heavily invested defensively to create space.. etc.. Crosby need a big body to take the heat to let him work down low..