Penguins Not Doomed by Game One Loss

There are plenty of reasons for Penguins fans to feel glum this morning. Namely, our Game 1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders last night at creaky old Nassau Coliseum.

Yes, it was a disheartening defeat to say the least, one that hearkened back to similar heartrending losses to the Islanders in playoffs past. Especially after our guys rallied dramatically to knot the score at 3-3 with 1:29 left in regulation play on Justin Schultz’s seeing-eye drive from the top of the left circle.

In the misery-loves-company department, how’d you like to be a Tampa Bay fan this morning? Winners of a record-tying 62 regular-season games…practically a shoo-in to capture the Cup…the Lightning blew a three-goal first period lead en route to a shocking 4-3 loss at the hands of Columbus, a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs.

Suddenly, I don’t feel so bad. And I’m reminded that one game does not a series make. All is not lost.

We only need to look into our recent playoff past for encouragement. A scant three springs ago, the Pens trekked to Washington to take on the Presidents’ Trophy winning Capitals in the second-round series opener. They battled hard, piling up a 45-35 edge in shots on goal, but lost on T.J. Oshie’s overtime winner.

“This game could have went either way,” coach Mike Sullivan remarked afterward. “It was an even game. Our guys played hard…We’ll learn from it and put it behind us.”

Sounds like he was describing last night’s tilt.

Indeed, there were lots of things to like about the way we played. Fire and intensity, for one. Despite the atrocious quality of ice and the Islanders’ noted defensive bent, the Pens applied plenty of heat to goalie Robin Lehner, to the tune of an impressive 44-33 edge in shots on goal. The locals eclipsed their rugged foe in hits (43-42), with newcomer Nick Bjugstad (eight) and a returning Zach Aston-Reese (four) leading a spirited physical effort. Everyone got involved.

Our guys displayed plenty of push back and character, too, rallying three times from single-goal deficits in a hostile environment to knot the score. Heck, when Schultz’s timely blast eluded Lehner, I hollered and thrust my hands skyward in celebration, just like our players. I thought for sure we were going to win.

There were things not to like as well. A sluggish start, for one. No sooner did the Pens dodge a bullet 31 seconds in when expatriate Tom Kuhnhackl’s game-opening tally was waved off than we conspired to yield a for-real goal by Jordan Eberle 69 seconds later. It seemed we were determined to start the game in a hole.

Too, our defensive play unraveled at inopportune times. Prior to Nick Leddy’s go-ahead goal at 12:35 of the third period, Olli Maatta iced the puck. Following the ensuing faceoff, the baby-faced Finn compounded his mental mistake by coughing up the puck to Leo Komarov, who set up Leddy’s slapper from center point. For the record Maatta…who bumped veteran Jack Johnson to the press box…was a game-worst minus-2.

In the waning seconds of regulation, Sidney Crosby (minus-1, three giveaways) turned the puck over in the Islanders’ zone, leading to a glorious scoring opportunity for Josh Bailey, who mercifully missed the net.

Saving the worst for last, Kris Letang turned the puck over high in the attacking zone four-and-a-half minutes into overtime, stranding No. 58, Bjugstad and a late-arriving Phil Kessel, who inexplicably rushed in to join a broken play.

In an instant, the puck found the stick of streaking Matt Barzal, who had all day to slice in front of Matt Murray before attempting a backhander. Hung out to dry, the Pens’ goalie made a miraculous pad save, but couldn’t stop a sharp-angle follow-up by Bailey.

Bluntly put, Sullivan needs to have a sit-down with Letang (four giveaways) and Kessel, who otherwise had a strong game with a goal and an assist. It’s the type of high-risk, little-reward play that could send us to the golf course in a week or so.

Still, there were enough positives to believe we can top the Islanders. Game 2 is the key. If we beat them on Friday night and return to the ‘Burgh knotted at 1-1? I like our chances.

But we gotta’ play smart.

Puckpourri

Although he wasn’t named one of the three stars, Evgeni Malkin enjoyed a strong game. The big Russian whipped a power-play goal past Lehner from the top of the right circle at 13:41 of the second period to even the score at 2-2. He assisted on Schultz’s game-tying tally in the third period. For the night, “Geno” unleashed a game-high six shots on goal and won 64 percent of his faceoffs.

Sullivan juggled his line combinations. Malkin skated with Patric Hornqvist and Jared McCann. Crosby was flanked by Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. Kessel joined Bjugstad and Dominik Simon. Aston-Reese, Matt Cullen and Garrett Wilson fleshed out the fourth line.

Murray stopped 29 of 33 shots.