Penguins Lay Game One Egg, Fall in OT to Canadiens

Just when you thought you wouldn’t have to read any more of my ramblings, I’m back. Well, sort of.

On a serious note, I’d like to apologize to our faithful PenguinPoop readers and commenters for my lengthy absence from the blog. It wasn’t due to sickness or anything like that. I’ve been absorbed in another writing project and it’s taken up much of my creative energy. And, frankly, I’d kind of lost interest in hockey through the long covid-19 shutdown.

Even now, I’m having trouble regaining my enthusiasm. It isn’t that I don’t still love the Penguins or hockey. I do. I still think it’s the greatest sport there is. I’m just having trouble wrapping my brain around the Stanley Cup playoffs in August. Summertime’s for Bucs, not pucks…or something like that.

Personally, I feel the NHL should’ve cancelled the season and begun fresh in the fall. I’m sure I’ll sing a different tune if the Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup. Which doesn’t look too likely based on last nights’ 3-2 Game One loss to Montreal in overtime.

Since I didn’t watch the whole game, I’ll refrain from doing a traditional game summary. Rather, I’ll offer up some thoughts and observations.

First, the good. The Pens held a 41-35 advantage in shots on goal, including a whopping 18-6 edge in the first period. So they were getting pucks on Habs goalie Carey Price. Problem is, they weren’t getting a lot of traffic to go with those shots. One of the few times they did, Bryan Rust cashed in on the power play, courtesy of Patric Hornqvist wreaking his typical havoc in the slot. More on that later.

Now, the bad. The Canadiens seemed more willing to do the dirty work. They held a 27-17 advantage in blocked shots and muscled the Pens around all night long, to the tune of a whopping 53-30 edge in hits. Leading the assault was defenseman Ben Chiarot, who gave black-and-gold stars Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel a particularly rough ride. Naturally without a whimper of retaliation.

Yeah, I get it. The Pens aren’t supposed to retaliate. They’re supposed score on the power play when opponents ramp up the rough stuff. Great in theory. But in execution?

Not so much.

Indeed, the power play—a sore spot all season long—mostly stunk last night (1-for-7). The Canadiens handed the Pens opportunity after opportunity, including a lengthy 5-on-3 early in the third period. The black and gold just couldn’t capitalize. At one point, Evgeni Malkin—wide open in the slot—unleashed a spinning backhander that thunked harmlessly off Price’s pads. It seemed to epitomize the night for our boys.

We flubbed a penalty shot as well. When Conor Sheary missed the net with a drive-by wrister late in the third period, I had an inkling of how the game would turn out. For the record, the only team Sheary seems to score against is the Penguins.

To digress, this isn’t an attractive matchup. It reminds me of 2010, when a very ordinary but disciplined Montreal team (coached by current Pens assistant Jacques Martin) ousted our defending Cup champs in the second round.

These Canadiens are young, fast and physical. Price showed last night that he’s still an elite goalie. While we’re on the subject, Matt Murray had his moments with several sparkling saves. But he also allowed Nick Suzuki to beat him clean off the rush. And, typically, he didn’t make the big stop with the game on the line.

The two-time Cup winner’s now lost seven playoff starts in a row and nine of his last 10. Time for a cool change. I know Murray is Mike Sullivan’s guy. But I’d like to see Tristan Jarry get the nod in Game Two.

Other changes that could help? How about Hornqvist on the top power-play unit. Plain and simple, he causes problems for opposing goalies and defensemen. I’m sure it’s a little harder for a goaltender to track a Crosby or Malkin with the salty Swede practically sitting on top of him. Sometimes a split second of lost reaction time is all it takes.

Although Crosby prefers guys who can skate on his wing, I wouldn’t mind seeing “Horny” get a shot on the top line as well. His presence draws Sid into the dirty areas, where he’s very effective.

I doubt it will happen. Sullivan seems to devalue anyone who has sand in his game. Much to the team’s detriment.

Back to the power play. It hasn’t been the same since Phil Kessel was banished to the Arizona desert. He ran the power play, and very effectively, from the left wall, making it easier for guys like Crosby and Malkin to slip into prime scoring areas undetected.

Maybe it’s time to have someone imitate “Phil the Thrill.” I’m serious. Put Crosby on the left wall and have him mimic Kessel. Can’t do any worse.

I’d also like to see some fresh legs. I know it’s early to pull the plug on Patrick Marleau. But the graybeard forward’s done next-to-nothing since arriving at the trade deadline. Insert Sam Lafferty and maybe Evan Rodrigues, too, to add some jump and grit and better match the Canadiens’ speed.

We’ll see what happens in Game Two. But in a best-of-five series, the Pens need to get it together…in a hurry.