As the old saying goes, “all good things must come to an end.” Such was the case during last night’s disappointing 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay at PPG Paints Arena. For the first time this season the Lightning played like two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. And our Penguins played like a team that was missing arguably its five top players.
It wasn’t for a lack of effort. The Pens competed hard in what was a surprisingly physical affair, even dominating the action at times, especially during the second period. But in the end, we just couldn’t get ‘er done against former Vezina winner Andrei Vasilevskiy, who turned aside 28 of 29 shots.
It was obvious from the outset the Lightning came to play. They piled up an early 5-1 edge in shots on goal. When Sam Lafferty rammed Ryan McDonagh into the end boards with a hard check, the Lightning took exception. Emerging from the penalty box after serving his minor penalty, Lafferty was challenged to a fight by Corey Perry, setting the tone for a physical and spirited opening period.
The Pens had two opportunities to grab the lead. With Mikhail Sergachev serving a cross-checking penalty, Evan Rodrigues broke free but rang a shot off the goalpost from close range. Scarcely a minute later, Brock McGinn pounced on a loose puck in the slot and drove it past Vasilevskiy for an apparent goal. However, referee Conor O’Donnell lost sight of the puck and whistled the play dead just as McGinn made contact with the rubber.
Compounding their mistake, the zebras then ushered McGinn to the penalty box on a phantom high-sticking call, even though Tampa’s Anthony Cirelli initiated the post-whistle scrap.
Still, the Pens kept their composure and held serve to the final horn. However, the second period was a different story. Thirty-one seconds in Brayden Point blew through the makeshift (and shaky) tandem of John Marino and Brian Dumoulin and beat Tristan Jarry with a backhander high to the short side to stake the Bolts to a 1-0 lead.
Our guys responded with a strong pushback. Mid-period, the third and fourth lines enjoyed extended zone time, unleashing six shots…four that found their way through to Vasilevskiy…in 58 seconds. However, as is so often the case, the Lightning countered on a quick-strike goal by Ondrej Palat, who split a leg-weary Dumoulin and Marino and beat Jarry high glove side.
Ten seconds later the Lightning made it 3-0 on a McDonagh snipe from the top of the left circle. Shades of Game 6 against the Islanders last spring.
Coach Mike Sullivan called time out to settle his troops…and his goalie. The Pens continued to push the play for the remainder of the period. But with the outcome pretty much decided, they faded in the final frame.
After the Lightning made it 4-0 on an empty-netter by Sergachev with three minutes left, we salvaged a morsel of satisfaction and snapped Vasilevskiy’s shutout bid on a strong individual effort by Jason Zucker, who drove to the net and scored on a juicy rebound with the man-advantage. The Lightning countered with a second empty netter to run the score to 5-1. In the process setting me up for an “I told you so” from my esteemed colleague, Other Rick.
Puckpourri
The Lightning outshot the Pens, 31-29, and held a slight edge in most statistical categories, including faceoffs (52 percent) and hits (34-27). Corsi For was dead-even at 50 percent for each team.
It was a night of “firsts.” Tampa Bay earned their first regulation win and we suffered our first regulation loss.
Jarry stopped 26 of 29 shots for a save percentage of .897. Jake Guentzel assisted on Zucker’s tally.
Only four locals finished the game even…Chad Ruhwedel and the line of Lafferty, Brian Boyle and Dominik Simon. Everyone else was a minus. Zucker and Marino, who paced the Pens with five shots on goal, had the worst marks at minus-four each. The tandem of Dumoulin and Marino finished a combined minus-six.
Dumoulin has the second-worst 5v5 shot attempts percentage on the team (44.7), ahead of only Zach Aston-Reese (44.4).
Next up for the Pens, old friend Erik Gudbranson and the red-hot Calgary Flames on Thursday night at the Paint Can.
Hey Rick,
Wait for it,
wait for it.
“I warned you! I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh no, you knew it all, didn’t you? Oh, it’s just a harmless little bunny, isn’t it? Well, it’s always the same. I always told them, but do they listen to me? Oooh, no…” (channeling my inner Tim the Enchanter). Don’t tic off the hockey gods, just humbly accept the gifts and quietly enjoy the wins. But No! you had to keep poking the bear.
Actually, just like the first 5 games wasn’t a reason to buy Playoff tickets, last nights loss isn’t enough to punch our lottery ticket for Shane Wright. There are 76 other games to still be played. However, don’t think the Crosby, Malkin, and Letang are going to make all that much of a difference. One thing no one talks about when discussing the Pens success sans their big guns is that the team is forced to play a different brand of hockey than opponents are used to seeing. Just like in football when facing backup quarterbacks, defenses do not know how to prepare, the Pens opponents need time to adjust as well. However, once the clouds part and the stars return to ice, opponents have their game plans already mapped out and all they have to do is initiate that plan.
Actually, I thought I might see a rant about the lack of physical response by the Pens. No, I am not talking about Lafferty, to quote Mike Lange, “He was handing out checks like it was the first of the month”. No I am talking about when the inevitable slam back came from Tampa Bay after the solid, solid check Lafferty put on McDonough. For a minute I thought I had fallen into your Wayback Machine and ended up in 1979 watching Russ Anderson have to take on the entire Boston Bruins team alone. Every Bolt had Lafferty’s number after that hit and they kept coming a calling. Unfortunately the kid was left like Gary Cooper in High Noon, all alone.
More than the no goal, in my mind, the lack of “team” displayed by the little bunnies hiding their rabbit holes rather than coming to the aid of team mate was the turning point. Someone should have gone and hit Corey Perry after his go with Lafferty to send a message right back to Tampa but no, that would require grit. To make matters worse Sergachev cross-checked E-Rod while Lafferty and Perry were still in the box and the rabbits ran down their hole again.
The Song Remains the Same my friend.
Lol.
Love the reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the killer bunny and “Tim.”
Also, I hear ya’ about on the reference to Russ Anderson, although he usually had one other guy (Colin Campbell, Dave Schultz, Kim Clackson) to help him take on the enemy hordes. Usually in the finest Penguins tradition, not too successfully.
As much as I would love (and still wish) we could get a guy like Nicolas Deslauriers out of Anaheim (33 hits in seven games), I guess I’m pretty much inured to the fact that’s just not going to happen while Sullivan’s coach. Boyle’s probably as close to a genuine enforcer/protector as we’re gonna get. Too, Lafferty can take care of himself okay. Although, yes, it would’ve nice to see a teammate pay Perry a visit and send a little message of his own.
Otherwise, no issues with your comment.
Rick
PS–I’m tossing this out there for Mike. I watched Aston-Reese a little more closely last night. I know he’s got a sterling rep defensively and he did deliver five hits, but he doesn’t seem to bring much to the table offensively. Not very creative and he takes a long time to release his shots. It could be the aftereffects of covid…I had it about 10 months ago and it took forever to regain my energy level. But ZAR wasn’t especially effective last night.