Canucks Stagger Reeling Penguins

How quickly things can change. One week ago the Penguins ran off an impressive comeback victory over Columbus to run their record to 4-0-1. If our overall game wasn’t airtight, the offensive side of the ledger sure was. Indeed, six-goal outbursts had become the norm.

Meanwhile, the Canucks were in complete disarray. Losers of their first six, with several of the defeats owing to late collapses. Coach Bruce Boudreau’s hide was on the line.

And now? Vancouver appears to have righted the ship, especially following last night’s resounding 5-1 victory over our Pens.

As for the black and gold? We’ve lost three games in a row and looked mostly terrible in the process. How terrible you ask? Since grabbing a 3-1 lead early in the second period against the Oilers we’ve been outscored 14-2. That’s how terrible.

Indeed, a team that was playing like a well-oiled machine out of the gate presently resembles a sputtering, wheezing wreck. We’re giving opposing forwards wide-open looks around our net, as was the case on last night’s game-opening goal by old friend Tanner Pearson. (Don’t worry…I’m going to forgo a traditional game summary. No one would read it anyway.) And we’re hanging goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith out to dry in the process like the bed sheets on wash day.

Of particular concern, the play of long-time defensive stalwart Brian Dumoulin. Dumo’s a minus-five during the three-game skid and has been caught in-betwixt and between on occasions too numerous to count, continuing an unfortunate trend that began last season. He’s definitely lost a critical step, to the extent that coach Mike Sullivan dropped him to the third pairing last night.

While we’re at it, Kris Letang…also a minus-five on the western swing…hasn’t been good, either.

Then there’s the (un) special teams. The fact that we’re doing okay on the power play (24.2 percent) is largely due to the second unit stepping up. Early on the top unit featured players embracing new roles and plenty of movement both with and without the puck. However, like quick-drying cement they’ve fallen back into old, comfortable ways. We’re just shuffling the puck around the perimeter and looking for the perfect shot. Grooved in our imperfection, as they say.

And the penalty kill? Simply dreadful (69 percent). Woof.

The downturn, as sudden as it’s been dramatic, seems to have coincided with the absence of our top left wings, sniper Jake Guentzel and sparkplug Jason Zucker. It’s forced Sullivan to shuffle his line combinations and the new units simply aren’t meshing, at least not on the scoresheet. Which is causing him to shorten his bench.

Not to single out or pick on one guy, but to me Brock McGinn has been an empty jersey. What I wouldn’t give to have a guy who hits and stirs the pot in his place. A guy like…Brandon Tanev (who we’ll have the pleasure of seeing tonight).

We sure as hell could use a player (or two or three) of that ilk to light a fire under our collective arses. It isn’t that the players aren’t working, but there’s no real oomph behind their efforts. Perhaps the danger inherent in going with such a veteran mix.

Can’t absolve Sullivan and his staff or blame, either. Sully has a reputation for being a great coach, but in my book he relies far too heavily on shuffling his personnel to resolve the team’s issues. Perhaps it’s time to tweak his system. A more controlled style of play may help cure the team’s maddening inconsistency and tendency toward breakdowns, while saving a bit on old legs.

To sum up, the Pens probably weren’t as good as they appeared to be the first couple of weeks. And we’re probably not as bad as we appear to be now.

Then again?

Puckpourri

The Pens surprisingly dominated in shot attempts (64-45) and shots on goal (35-29). The Canucks won the faceoff battle (51 percent). Rookie Sam Poulin won 60 percent of his draws.

Rickard Rakell tallied the lone goal for the black and gold, on the power play at 16:03 of the second period to close the gap to 2-1. Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin got the helpers.

Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh native J.T. Miller waged a private war, which the feisty Canuck won handily. He finished with a goal, a plus-one, three shots on goal, three hits and two blocked shots. Sid was a minus-two with three shots on goal. He was on the receiving end of most of the roughhousing.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph drew back into the mix following a one-game absence. He was paired at times with Letang.

Annoying Commentary of the Night

Play-by-play announcer Steve Mears and color man Bob Errey repeatedly harped on what a vulnerable team the Canucks were and how they were just hoping to escape the third period. I know it’s their job to wax rosy about our Pens, but sheesh was it annoying. The Canucks scored three goals over the final 20 minutes, in the process proving just which team was vulnerable.

The Curse of Jeff Petry?

Not to keep harping on the negative. But the Pens last few outings have reminded me an awful lot (emphasis on awful) of last season’s Canadiens. As a refresher, the Habs had gone to the Stanley Cup Final the previous spring. With Petry serving as an assistant captain and leader, they appeared to be a strong, veteran team. However, the rouge blanc et blue staggered out to a horrific 8-33-7 start. They weren’t even competitive in the vast majority of those games.

Sound all-too-familiar?

On Deck

The Pens wrap up their road trip against Pittsburgh West (Seattle) tonight. Old friends Jared McCann, Jamie Oleksiak, Justin Schultz, Daniel Sprong and Tanev are waiting.

It doesn’t get any lighter when we return home. We face the red-hot (and physical) Bruins on Tuesday night.