Shortfall Penguins Come Up Empty Against Sabres

Caution to our faithful readers. This is going to be more a loose-leaf ramble from a frustrated fan than a traditional game summary.

“Someone needs to hit someone and put him into the fifth row.” Those words, or a reasonable facsimile, were uttered by AT & T Sportsnet color man Bob Errey during the Penguins’ disquieting 2-1 loss to visiting Buffalo at PPG Paints Arena last night.

I agree. I was contemplating an article about our lack of a “firestarter.” This wasn’t an issue during Brandon Tanev’s two-year stay in the ‘Burgh. When the Pens needed a wakeup call, “Turbo” almost always delivered with a big hit but just as often with his electric energy and all-out hustle on the ice.

While Zach Aston-Reese eventually answered the bell with a hard hit on Anders Bjork and a fight with Robert Hagg to ignite our passions, it isn’t a role that seems to come easily or naturally to him.

Along those lines, Errey mentioned the Pens had been unusually quiet at practice earlier in the day. He used the term “businesslike.” Perhaps they were distracted by news of the pending sale of the team…I don’t know. But I see another cause and culprit.

Coach Mike Sullivan.

Perhaps more than any black-and-gold team of this era, this one is built to his specifications. It’s no coincidence the two players to exit the lineup recently, Drew O’Connor and Brian Boyle, are two of the largest. Last season it was twin towers Anthony Angello and Radim Zohorna who received the quick hook.

Sam Lafferty, about as close as this bunch can come to a Tanev, is pretty much a permanent healthy scratch. With precious few exceptions (Jeff Carter), our forwards are small, quick and homogenous. The better to play Sully’s skating, puck-possession game.

As for big personalities? Ones who might stir up the room and light a fire under the team? Forget about it. Sullivan doesn’t seem to tolerate them. Ben Lovejoy, Ian Cole, Ryan Reaves, Phil Kessel, Erik Gudbranson, Patric Hornqvist and Tanev have come and gone. It’s as if his voice is the only one he wants his team to hear.

Back to the game. Last night’s contest was classic Sully hockey. The Pens unleashed 74 shot attempts to the Sabres’ 31, 46 shots on goal to the visitors’ 19. They outshot the Sabres 20-3 in the third period and 32-9 over the final 40 minutes. They dominated every conceivable metric. And they lost.

For the record, Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski isn’t the second coming of Georges Vezina but rather a journeyman who served as a backup at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a couple of seasons ago. We have a way of making ordinary netminders look unbeatable, don’t we?

Indeed, our lone goal came not on a shot but on a lucky bounce off Jake Guentzel’s skate. So much for the manic activity and blizzard of shots.

I’m still scratching my head over Sullivan breaking up our one effective line (Evan Rodrigues–Jason Zucker–Kasperi Kapanen). It seems everything needs to have his imprint and to be done his way…even to the detriment of the team.

The Pens are presently 5-6-4 (3-5-2 with Sullivan behind the bench). A team that seemed to find itself a bit under assistant Todd Reirden is suddenly sinking like a stone once again and dropping from playoff contention at warp speed. There are myriad issues, certainly not all of them our head coach’s doing. Maybe we’ll make a miracle turnaround under Sully. Maybe we won’t. Maybe this is the year his obstinance in terms of style and personnel choices catches up to him.

In terms of communication, preparation and knowledge of the game, I think Sullivan’s a good coach. Perhaps even excellent. There’s no questioning his passion and burning desire to win. However, as frequent contributor Jim so aptly pointed out, he’s one-dimensional. Perhaps a fatal flaw given the talent (or lack of) on hand. Some have suggested the Pens play a closer-to-the-vest style. Sullivan won’t hear of it. It’s his way or the highway.

I personally think his system and approach have grown stale. It’s time for a new voice and a new direction.