This isn’t going to be a very involved game summary. In fact, I’ll cut to the chase and spare you a lot of gory details.
The Penguins just didn’t have it yesterday. To borrow from the old Association song Cherish, “listless is the word I use to describe” our effort during an uninspired 4-2 loss to Buffalo. Skewered on a spit and roasted by the opportunistic Sabres like so many penguin-kabobs.
Perhaps the effect of playing our third game in four days.
Our best players paved the way, if you can call it that. The top line of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust…normally redoubtable…was a combined minus-five. Our top defensive pair of Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin, a combined minus-three.
However, the poster child for our uneven play may well have been Jason Zucker.
With the Pens down 2-0 midway through the second period but still very much in the game, the snakebitten winger broke into the Sabres’ end on a two-on-one with Jeff Carter. The defender peeled off to cover the pass, giving Zucker a clear lane to the net. Yet Jason inexplicably tried to force a feed to his linemate, resulting in a botched opportunity.
To his credit, “Zucks” made amends to midway through the final period, pouncing on a short pass from Carter and rifling the puck past Dustin Tokarski from inside the left circle for his seventh goal of the season.
His moment in the sun proved to be short-lived. Minutes later No. 16 turned from hero to goat, firing a pass to no one at the right point with an empty net yawning behind him. He could only watch from a distance as the Sabres’ Rasmus Asplund split the vacated cage.
That pretty much summed up our afternoon.
Puckpourri
Zucker had plenty of help in the flubbed chances department, as Crosby and Guentzel both missed open nets.
Teddy Blueger scored our second goal off the rush with 24 seconds remaining. Way too late to help our cause.
The Pens outshot the Sabres, 36-29, but had very few second-chance opportunities. A lot of “one-and-dones” bemoaned the Ol’ Two-Niner, radio analyst Phil Bourque.
Casey DeSmith stopped 25 of 28 shots. Following an incredible hot streak, Casey’s 1-3 in his past four games with a bloated 4.70 goals against average and .828 save percentage.
Despite Carter’s presence, we continue to take a beating in the faceoff circle. We’re presently 21st in the league at 49.3 percent.
In a pair of personnel moves, the Pens activated feisty defenseman Mark Friedman and recalled forward Anthony Angello from the taxi-squad. Both have recovered from injuries; both were healthy scratches yesterday.
The MassMutual East is packed tighter than a tin of sardines. Washington leads the way with 62 points, followed by the Islanders (60), Pens (59), Bruins (56) and Rangers (52). I’ll say it again…beware the Broadway Blueshirts. If we hit the skids, it could get dicey.
Just ask the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies.
Opinyinz
With the guys displaying the intensity of a wet dishrag, we’re clearly missing the spark and energy provided by Brandon Tanev and Frederick Gaudreau. The former for his all-out hustle and hitting and the latter for his gritty, inspirational play.
Perhaps the peppery Friedman could provide a shot of adrenalin. Angello, too. Or even Sam Lafferty, a healthy scratch of late.
Hey Rick,
We have 7 Home games and 4 Road games left. Nothing is a lock, but the odds we don’t make the playoffs are slim and none and slim has his ticket out of town already.
I am not all that worried about not getting into the playoffs. What I am worried about is what we do once the dance starts. What I am worried about is that Sully will still be flirting with Jankowski and Sceviour. That will kill them.
Jankowski was AWOL for 22 games this season. Worse is that in the 11 GP he has played against potential Playoff opponents (Caps+ Isles) he has 0 points and is a -3.
Sceviour is better but not by much.
Yet, because they have played over 700 NHL regular season games Sully will give them playing time come the post-season and they will continue phoning in games.
Rick
Yesterday’s game was hard to watch. I had to listen to the Buffalo broadcasting
crew and all they could talk about was how the Sabres wore the Pens down. I
started to wonder if Buffalo wore us down then what would the Bruins and Caps
do to us?
Pens did look really tired and I’m not sure why – Saturday’s game wasn’t all
that physical and neither was Sunday’s for that matter. I’m starting to have
serious concerns about our 3rd line – I know Blugs scored late yesterday and
when everyone is back healthy he’ll be centering the 4th line. Carter will get
the nod on the 3rd line but “Lord” between Aston-Reese and Rodrigues. ZAR
doesn’t do anything for me and hasn’t scored a goal in 12 games and I don’t
see that changing anytime soon – maybe it’s me but he looks like he’s skating
in mud and he hasn’t been the physical winger that was originally advertised.
Like to hear your thoughts on our 3rd line.
GO PENS
Hey Mike,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
Yeah, Aston-Reese hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire of late. A shame, he got off to such a strong start and I thought (hoped) he might have finally found his stride. But I agree, he hasn’t been especially noticeable of late (a goal and an assist in his past 12 games). Just kind of taking up space, although he is a plus-three over that span.
Re: physical winger…yeah I know. Unfortunately, in Mike Sullivan’s scheme he’s what qualifies as physical.
ZAR’s saving grace is, he does have great chemistry with Blueger and Tanev. I’m not sure how his metrics are playing out this year, but he’s generally a good defensive player, too.
When everyone’s healthy (a big if), here’s how I see our lines playing out…for better or worse.
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
McCann-Malkin-Kapanen
Zucker-Carter-Rodrigues
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev
Missing in that mix is some size and jam (Angello, Lafferty, Zohorna) which I think we’ll need come playoff time. I really think the kids and Gaudreau provided a spark…like back in ’16 with Kuhnhackl and Sheary. I guess we’ll see how a more veteran lineup plays out.
I’m just hoping we don’t run out of gas heading into the stretch. The Rangers are comin’…
Rick
Rick
I agree. When I look at the lines I cringe when seeing Rodrigues on
the 3rd line but I do think that’s how it will shake out. Then everyone
will complain about Carter and Zucker’s lack of production.
E-Rod can’t pass to save his life – he gets abused on the wall which
means Carter and Zucker will be doing the heavy lifting. Not a
promising picture for success. I would rather see Zucker-Carter-Tanev.
The use Angello with Blueger and ZAR although I would rather see
Angello-Blueger-Zahorne. That would be 4 solid lines IMO.