I confess, I didn’t see this coming. Not at all. Certainly not after our Penguins eviscerated Toronto on Tuesday night for their third win in a row and fourth in their last five to snatch first place in the ultra-tough Metropolitan Division.
Having claimed the top spot, maybe our guys were guilty of taking their collective feet off the gas pedal. How else do you explain losing to Toronto and Buffalo by a combined score of 9-2 and looking God-awful in the process?
Suddenly, it seems everything has gone south (or ‘sahth’ as we say in the ‘Burgh). The Pens are turning pucks over with the frequency of gumballs spewing from a dispenser at a Chuck E. Cheese. Yesterday, Evgeni Malkin set the tone with a dreadful dead-fish giveaway behind his net in the opening seconds of the game, leading to an easy goal by Buffalo’s Zemgus Girgensons.
Tristan Jarry had no chance.
It marked the second-straight game that Pens goalies, so good in recent weeks, were hung out to dry like the bed sheets on Sunday.
Offensively, our troops have once again fallen into the habit of trying to make pretty plays at the opposing blue line, rather than dumping the puck in and using their speed to pressure opposing defenses.
On defense, the stop-gap pairing of Kris Letang and Jack Johnson has exceeded its shelf-life…and then some. Mercurial No. 58 is back to his old tricks, making bonehead reads and high-risk plays, and Johnson simply doesn’t possess the ability or mobility to cover for him. Each was a minus-2 yesterday.
Over his past 15 games, Letang’s a minus-7…despite scoring five goals and seven assists over that span. Johnson’s a minus-6 (with two assists) over the same stretch. Following a decent start to the season while skating on the third pairing, Johnson’s metrics (47.3 Corsi, 5-on-5 shot attempts differential of -102) have sunk to his more traditional performance levels.
With a paltry two goals and eight points in 37 games, Justin Schultz ain’t exactly lighting it up, either. The Pens need more from him…a lot more…if they’re going to compete for a Cup. Sullivan and the coaching staff have made it loud and clear they don’t trust Juuso Riikola (a healthy scratch yesterday) despite his impressive metrics and skill set.
We really need the hale and healthy returns of stalwart Brian Dumoulin and super-rookie John Marino. The sooner the better.
A hidden factor in the sudden slide? Dominik Kahun’s extended absence. In the nine games he’s missed due to a concussion and taking a shot on the knee, the Pens are a pedestrian 5-3-1 with 25 goals for and 24 against. There’s something about this kid that helps Sullivan balance out his lines. He’s a darn good player and an underrated cog to boot.
Let’s hope he can stay healthy down the homestretch.
Meanwhile, trade rumors continue to swirl. Dan Kingerski of PittsburghHockeyNow strongly suggests two players could soon be wearing the black-and-gold, Devils power forward Wayne Simmonds and former Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian.
Although I confess I’m dubious about how well Simmonds will mesh with the Pens’ up-tempo style…and whether Sullivan will play him…I like getting a player of his ilk. When it comes to physical play and dropping the mitts, he’s as tough as they come. We got a snootful of that last season when he laid out Dumoulin with a high, hard hit in a Stadium Series tilt.
Simmonds is the reigning Mark Messier Leadership Award winner, so you know he’s a quality guy. He’s been a big-time scorer in the past and is an especially deadly net-front presence on the power play. And he does have eight goals this season…hardly chicken feed for a bottom-six forward.
Much like the aforementioned Johnson, Bogosian was maligned in Buffalo, where he struggled to live up to a fat contract. But he’s big (6’3” 226 pounds) and mobile for a guy his size, and he possesses a hard shot and brings some bite and sand. A right-handed shot, too.
Since his contract was terminated by Buffalo, Bogosian’s effectively a free agent and can presumably be signed for a much lower rate than the $5.143 million AAV he was pulling down with the Sabres.
Maybe it’s just me, but he sort of feels like Ron Hainsey, a key addition back in 2017. They even played together with Atlanta and Winnipeg.
In the meantime, we square off against the Capitals today in DC. Sort of a “high-noon” showdown for first place in the Metro. A litmus test for our suddenly floundering team.
Losers of four in a row (and eight of their last 11), the Caps haven’t exactly been on fire, either. But it figures to be an intense match-up and our boys had better bring their A-game.
That is, if they can find it.
Hey Rick,
Two points.
1) Marino is way more important to the Penguins defense this season than anyone has imagined.
2) Weird weekend, players play different around trade deadline. Saturday Tampa gave up 7 goals, Toronto gave up 6 and Boston gave up 9. That’s not normal.
Hey all,
Just some trade updates:
FEBRUARY 23: Washington Capitals acquire forward Ilya Kovalchuk from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2020 third-round draft pick.
FEBRUARY 24: Edmonton Oilers acquire defenseman Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional fourth-round draft pick.
New York Islanders acquire forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau from Ottawa in exchange for conditional first-round pick in 2020, second-round pick in 2020 and conditional third-round pick in 2022.
Carolina Hurricanes acquire forward Vincent Trocheck from Florida in exchange for forwards Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and Eetu Luostarinen and defenseman Chase Priskie.
Vladislav Namestnikov was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the Ottawa Senators for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Pens seem to be zeroing in on Patrick Marleau of the Sharks. It almost feels like Alexei Kovalev back in 2011.
Rick
Bogosian reached a deal with Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rick – (Great article)
Couple of observations
1). I think everyone is overreacting – Pen’s have been on fire and
every team goes thru these types of slumps – Caps were in one
going into today’s game.
2) I don’t know if Simmonds is the answer on not but at some point
you have to get tired of watching Malkin defend himself.
3) I’m probably in the minority but I saw some huge flaws in both
Schultz and Peterson today “pulling up short on pucks” I don’t think
its a coincidence that the Caps went out of there way to be physical
with both players. People will never admit it but Jack Johnson value
to this team continues to increase.
4) Murray sucked – they can spin it how ever they like – i said it before he’s
horrible at controlling rebounds – to soft in nets for my liking. If you ask
me he’s playing to not get injured knowing the impact that would have on
his next contract. I hope I’m wrong
5) What’s the deal with Agozzini ?? What does he give the Pens? smh – He’s
centering the 2nd PP unit – Wt? That makes zero sense.
As always I look forward to your feedback – Go Pen’s
Hey Mike,
Always good to hear from you and read what you have to say. I confess, I’m a little more concerned after watching us blow a third-period lead against the Caps yesterday. But your point is well taken. Heck, the Caps were on a four-game losing streak prior to yesterday.
It’s more the way they’re playing that concerns me. They just don’t seem to have a whole lot of life and jump. To my eye, it reminds me of last season when it seemed we so rarely possessed the puck. We’re not winning puck battles, either, and we’re not get a ton of chances from inside the face-off circles…everything seems to be coming from the side or at angle. A sign that we’re just not getting to the dirty areas.
And my goodness, did the Caps hand it to us physically yesterday. At the end of the first period they showed a montage of the big hits and we were on the receiving end of them all.
Of course we know there’s nothing we can really do to fix this. The Caps play a certain way and we play a certain way and acquiring one or even two guys with a physical bent today isn’t going to change that. But I do wish we had somebody to stick up for the team, and on that note Simmonds would fit the bill. He’s as tough as they come and a great leader, too. There are rumblings that Rutherford feels we need more leadership.
The problem with Simmonds…or a Simmonds-type player…is Mike Sullivan’s apparent dislike of tough guys. Once the injured guys come back, I doubt if he’d play.
Speaking of injuries, we’re just so banged up it’s hard to imagine what our lineup would look like if everyone was healthy. I think we’d have a formidable team…but are we ever going to get there? As soon as one guy comes back another goes down. Not to make excuses, but sheeesh!
Now to address your specific issues. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I was secretly pleased when Murray gave up four goals versus Toronto the other night. Take nothing away from him…over the past month he’s played really well…but I think Jarry’s a better goaltender and I sense a bias toward Murray. Then Jarry gives up five goals against Buffalo… 🙁
Regarding Johnson, I do hear what you’re saying Mike. He’s the one guy who puts the body on people and who does the dirty work. He’s just miscast as a top-pairing defenseman. Again, if we could just get guys back and healthy, we could put players like JJ back in their intended slots.
Regarding Pettersson, I’ve been mildly disappointed in him. Not that he’s horrible. But to me he just hasn’t really taken a step forward this year. He does some things really well, like pass the puck. But his shot couldn’t find the net nor break a pane of glass, yet they seem to be casting him in an offensive role for which he may not be suited.
I know Schultz is trying and he’s had a rough year, injury-wise, but we need a lot more out of him than we’re getting. I don’t know if this is what happened in Edmonton, but his overall effectiveness and production have slipped noticeably.
I have no idea what the love affair with Agozzino is (I just learned we put him on waivers). The only thing I can figure is that Sullivan trusts him more than say, an Adam Johnson, because he’s a veteran. But I’d 100 times rather go with a kid.
Same thing with Riikola. Once again Sully’s dressing four right-handed defenseman, and even though I like Trotman, it just creates chaos in our zone. The last thing we need at this stage.
I’ll close by floating out the latest rumor. Rutherford, who I guess was really steamed following the loss to Buffalo, may be looking at Florida’s Vincent Trocheck, a Pittsburgh kid. The suggested trading chip was Dominik Kahun.
Don’t know how I’d feel about that.
Anyway, stay tuned…it’s liable to be an interesting day. Hope all is well… 🙂
Rick
Hey Rick,
Sorry to chime in here, but I heard that Fla rumor as well and actually, I don’t know how it plays out in the long term, but I am okay with a Kahun for Torcheck deal.
I am not sure if JR is ticked at Kahun but I am not. I would rather dump Simon but reality says you have to give to get.
With the way Bobrovsky has tanked I would think that Fla would be more interested in a Goalie though. I hate to give up on DeSmith to get Torcheck, but despite the logical attempt being to move Murray before he asks for $8 million, I doubt the Pens make that move and I am not sure Fla would go for it either unless they could get out from under Bobs.
Just dreaming here, but I may throw in an extra draft pick to Fla if they take Simon as well for Torcheck.
Hey Mike,
Shultz isn’t looking very good. Pettersson, someone told me he gets hit more than any other player in the NHL. I watched for it last game, and wow, he gets hit a lot!
I agree with the whole Agozzino/Agonyni sp? guy. I don’t get it.