It looks like I’ve done it again. No sooner do I write a complimentary article about our ‘Guins than they drop one to the visiting Seattle Kraken in come-from-in-front fashion. Snapping our six-game winning streak in the process.
With the Red Wings visiting tonight for the second of back-to-back games and struggling Casey DeSmith likely to get the start in goal, I’ll need to hurry up and write a negative article about our boys to reverse the bad juju I’ve invoked.
Kidding…sort of.
From a scoring standpoint, there isn’t much to describe. The Pens generally dictated play through the opening 40 minutes, piling up a 20-9 advantage in shots on goal while Tristan Jarry and his counterpart, Philipp Grubauer posted matching goose eggs.
As incredulous as it seemed, thoughts of a rare scoreless tie danced in my head until the clock ticked down to 11:19 remaining. That’s when Evgeni Malkin took a saucer pass from Kris Letang, drifted between the circles and roofed the puck over Grubauer for a power-play goal.
I’ll interrupt my summary at this stage to mention a conversation I had with Other Rick prior to the game. As we discussed the match-up, I casually mentioned two members of the Kraken who might do some damage, Jordan Eberle (who seems to own us) and ex-Pen Jared McCann, Seattle’s leading scorer.
Well, sure enough, with four minutes left in regulation Eberle swooped into our zone on a breakaway. The ex-Islander tried to go five-hole, but Jarry made a terrific save.
I admit, at this stage I’m feeling pretty good about our chances. I’m listening to color analyst Bob Errey rave about Jarry and agreeing with every word. Then the aforementioned McCann wins the ensuing faceoff, drives to the net and deflects home Vince Dunn’s long-range wrister.
Ouch.
We’re all tied at 1-apiece. I’ve neglected to mention that the Kraken dominated…and I mean dominated…play in the third period, racking up a staggering 18-4 edge in shots on goal.
That dominance carried into overtime. While the Pens were stumblin’ and bumblin’, to quote ESPN legend Chris Berman, the Kraken attacked. Jarry did his best to hold the fort, but Adam Larsson struck on a wide-open look from between the circles to snatch the extra point for the Kraken.
Perhaps coach Mike Sullivan summed it up best.
“I thought the first two periods, we were fine,” said the Pens’ skipper. “I thought we could’ve had a little bit more net traffic and we could’ve put the puck at the net more than we did playing against a team that defends hard and defends the inside… I thought, in the third period, we beat ourselves.”
Hey all,
Interesting article over on the Trib quoting Sullivan’s post-game comments about our puck management.
Not to fan the flames and risk poking the bear (TOR), but apparently a failed drop pass from Malkin to Letang led to Eberle’s breakaway. Which led to Seattle’s tying goal. (Carter was culpable on that one, losing the faceoff to McCann and then losing Jared altogether.)
The article also cited a cross-ice attempt by Geno with 13 minutes to play that was picked off, leading to another great scoring chance for the Kraken.
Hopefully, the message is being communicated directly to the player(s) involved. Don’t take undo risks with the puck.
Rick
Hey Rick,
You ain’t poking the bear. I have no respect for Sullivan’s opinion. Long, long ago he forfeited any level of objectivity when it comes to Malkin. Kapanen has to be sooooo happy that Geno is back so Pierre Culliford will climb off his back.
The game last night was lost long before it began. The Pens only scored ONE goal against a team that averages 3.51 Goals against per 60 minutes, AND THAT GOAL was a gift from the refs., else Smellivan would have been shut out. Sullivan is the clown that blamed everyone but himself for the playoff flame outs, going so far as to say that no one was listening to him against the Isles.
We no longer live in a world of truth but media hype. Sullivan is the most over rated coach in any sport. I wouldn’t trust his judgment if he told me water was wet and fire could burn. I would immediately begin to doubt what my senses told me,
Oh and the Question I would have asked the Pens glorified doorman, “And who again scored the only Goal for the Penguins? Oh yes that was Malkin. So, if not for Malkin, the team loses 1 – 0. Again Sullivan’s personal prejudices perpetuate. He needs to go.
Hey Rick,
Malkin’s Goal came courtesy of a very questionable penalty.given to Marcus Johansson for Goalie interference. Even our own homer, Bob Errey questioned that call. Don’t get me wrong, if I were playing for the Pens I would have chase Johansson down and beat the stew out of him to send a message that you don’t get near my Goalie, but from a rules standpoint that was a bad call. The scary thing is, if not for that bad call, probability says the boys in B&G lose in regulation or you get your wish a 0-0 tie going into OT.
Did you see your boy Matheson’s CF% , 25.93% 5-on-5