Big Game Hunting; Penguins Bag Panthers 3-2 in a Shootout

We deserve to win.

That’s what I was thinking as I watched our Penguins battle the very tough Florida Panthers tooth-and-nail last night. Shortly before Anthony Duclair scored an apparent go-ahead goal to give the visitors a 3-2 lead.

“Oh no,” I muttered under my breath as I averted my eyes from the TV screen. “We can’t catch a break.”

Then we did. At the behest of Brock McGinn, the Pens challenged the play and the goal was overturned. For once lady luck and the hockey gods had decided in our favor.

It’s about time.

To digress, a dozen games into the season this team has faced enough adversity to bring down a bull elephant. By my unofficial count, nine players have come through Covid protocol. Our coach, too. To say nothing of numerous man-games lost to injuries and surgeries.

Last night was just another example of this team’s almost perpetually rotten luck. Defenseman Marcus Pettersson, fresh out of Covid protocol and playing his first game in nearly two weeks, exited late in the first period following an innocent looking hit on Florida forward Owen Tippett. Forcing the Pens to play with five d-men for the final 45 minutes and change against one of the NHL elite. Two of whom, Kris Letang and Chad Ruhwedel, had only recently overcome Covid and a third (Mark Friedman) who’d been cited for spotty play of late.

Talk about having the deck stacked against you.

Yet our Pens sucked it up as they always seem to do and limited the powerful Panthers to a pair of goals, with a huge assist between the pipes from Tristan Jarry, who turned in a gritty 36-save effort.

I question our team’s makeup. I question our system. I question whether we’re good enough to make the playoffs, let alone compete for a Stanley Cup. Heck, I question just about everything. What I don’t question is our heart and soul or our willingness to give everything we’ve got. Not to mention our extraordinary mental toughness.

Those qualities were on full display last night.

The Goals

The Pens snatched the lead at 13:37 of the first period on a great bit of teamwork by the “Grind Line.” McGinn dug the puck out along the boards and fed Mike Matheson, who skated to center point and passed to Letang. Mercurial No. 58 did the rest, gliding through the left circle and past Tippett before delivering a perfect pass to Teddy Blueger in the slot. “Bluegs” banged the puck home. Pens 1-0

Florida responded just over three minutes later. Working on a 2-on-1, Anton Lundell fed Frank Vatrano, who roofed the puck over Jarry’s right shoulder. Tied 1-1

With just over two minutes remaining in the second period, the Pens caught Florida flatfooted. Transitioning quickly to offense, John Marino headmanned the puck to Jason Zucker, who carried it through the neutral zone. Zucker coolly drew the attention of defenseman Gustav Forsling, then slipped a perfect pass to Evan Rodrigues racing over the Florida line. “E-Rod” made no mistake, wiring the puck under Sergei Bobrovsky’s glove for his fourth goal of the season. Pens 2-1

The Panthers tied the score again early in the third period. With the Pens swimming in disarray in their own end, Carter Verhaeghe set up Aleksander Barkov in the high slot. Barkov ripped it high over Jarry’s outstretched glove. Tied 2-2

For the third straight game the contest was decided in a shootout, Jarry’s personal den of horrors. However, after yielding an early tally to Jonathan Huberdeau, No. 35 stiffened, stopping old friend Patric Hornqvist and the dangerous Lundell. At the other end of the rink, Bryan Rust (4-for-4 on shootout attempts) and Jeff Carter struck to bring us back from the brink. In the process securing a hard-earned (and richly deserved) two points.

Puckpourri

The Panthers outshot the Pens, 38-31. The locals held a sizeable edge in the faceoff circle (58 percent) and hits 31-28. We also gave the puck away 10 times, three by Danton Heinen, who replaced Zach Aston-Reese on the third line.

Florida dominated in 5v5 chances for (50-36), but the black and gold held a 9-8 edge in high danger 5v5 chances.

Our top line was active, firing off 14 shots, including a game-high six by Carter. The trio recorded a Corsi For of 52.17 on the evening. The Rodrigues-Zucker-Kasperi Kapanen unit was tops in Corsi For at 66.67. However, our other two lines were heavily underwater.

Rodrigues is tied for the team lead in points with Jake Guentzel (eight) and goals with Heinen (four apiece). He’s a plus-four on the season, tops among black-and-gold forwards.

Jarry earned first star honors, and deservedly so. For the season he’s posted a 2.23 goals against average and .929 save percentage.

The victory lifted the Pens (5-3-4, 14 points) past the Islanders and out of the Metro cellar. Next up, Matt Murray and the skidding Senators in Ottawa on Saturday night.