It seems Bob Errey has become quite the prophet of late. With about seven minutes remaining in regulation last night and our guys clinging to a 4-2 lead, the Penguins play-by-play man said something to the effect of “wishing the time on the clock would speed up.”
I’m sure because he sensed a game we should’ve had in our hip pocket was slipping through our collective grasp.
Which is exactly what happened.
As the Pens incredibly blew an early four-goal lead and lost in overtime to Detroit, I changed the title of my post three times. I started with “That’s More Like It” which was downgraded to “WHEW” in hopes we’d eke out a win to the mournful version above.
A shame, because the game began with so many positives. Drew O’Connor scored his first goal of the season just 2:36 in, sweeping a nifty feed from Kasperi Kapanen past Wings netminder Ville Husso from the right circle. Then big Jeff Carter struck on the power play at 10:15, again courtesy of a setup from Kapanen.
Next it was Jason Zucker’s turn. The fiery forward walked out of the corner and around defender Filip Hronek before banking one in off the far post from point-blank range. With 32 seconds to go in the period “Zucks” authored a gritty encore, jabbing the puck in from a net-front scramble.
Viola…we’re up 4-0 after 20 minutes.
In desperation, Wings coach Derek Lalonde pulled the beleaguered Husso in favor of 31-year-old journeyman Magnus Hellberg, who on this night would resemble the immortal Georges Vezina. Early in the period the big goalie stopped Sidney Crosby on a breakaway. We’re left to wonder what might have been had Sid scored. Instead of a glorious victory, the game degraded into a Nightmare on Center Avenue for the black and gold.
Wings captain Dylan Larkin struck on the power play at 7:17 of the period to make it 4-1. From there the visitors completely took over, outshooting the Pens by a 30-17 margin over the final 40 minutes of regulation.
While the Pens sagged, the Wings attacked in waves, pounding our fragile defense like high tide at the sea shore. Joe Veleno scored from the slot with 5:28 left in the period to pare our lead to 4-2.
We managed to stave off the Wings for the first half of the third period, but you could sense our boys were on their last legs. Jonatan Berggren scored with five minutes to go on an “assist” from Crosby, who conveniently poked the puck away from Elmer Soderblom and right to the Wings’ forward parked below the right circle.
Then we shot ourselves in the foot with a too-many-men penalty. Old friend (?) David Perron drove a shiv through our collective hearts with a power-play goal.
In overtime, the Wings took full-advantage of sloppy play by the Pens to cash in on a 2-on-1, with defenseman Jake Walman doing the honors.
Puckpourri
The Wings dominated the stats, holding an edge in shot attempts (74-59), shots on goal (46-31), scoring chances (45-33) and high-danger chances (19-17).
Casey DeSmith stopped 41 of 46 shots.
The Crosby line was a collective minus-8, with Sid and Jake Guentzel weighing in at minus-3 apiece.
Mark Friedman played his first game of the year for the black and gold. The feisty defender registered a team best plus-2 and four hits in 13:40 of ice time. His partner Pierre-Olivier Joseph finished a plus-1. The rest of the defense was a collective minus-4.
Kasperi Kapanen had two assists in only 7:20 of ice time. Kappy’s quietly registered 10 points (4+6) in his past dozen games. Zucker’s goals, his seventh and eight of the campaign, snapped a seven-game goalless skein.
Prior to the contest, the Pens recalled forward Drake Caggiula and defenseman Ty Smith from the Baby Pens. In corresponding moves, we placed Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling on IR, the former retroactive to Dec. 18 and the latter Dec. 20.
Chad Ruhwedel sat out with an upper-body injury, opening the door for Friedman’s debut.
On Tap
Despite the horrific collapse, the Pens (19-10-6, 44 points) moved into a tie for third place in the Metro with Washington.
The load doesn’t get any lighter. We host the Devils Friday night before facing the Bruins at Fenway Park on January 2 in the Winter Classic.
A bad time to have regained our early-season form. I’m talking the 0-6-1 stretch.
I made the 6 plus hour drive from Southern Ontario to see that crap!!
I am so pissed, I won’t be be back to see a Penguins game for a while.
They quit playing in the 2nd, anyone in can say what they want but ..
Carter, Pettersen and Dumolin are useless, #28 was on the wrong side of the net on one of the goals, #8 had a chance to clear it on first PK instead tapped a pass to Mcginn, broken stick- goal.
But a lot of it goes on Sullivan, like most have mentioned here, it’s a old team, can’t play a speed game all game anymore.
The 2nd PP Unit scores because they just get the puck and shoot it, I know it looks beautiful when everyone passes it around but you can’t score if you don’t shoot it.
Happy Holidays, Penguin poopers..
Hey Pens4ever,
I would be pissed too if I had drive all that way just to watch that sorry excuse for a hockey game.
I am not sure if the players quit or if their apparent lack of effort is more a question of confusion as to where they are suppose to be. Some of it may be attributable to age and not being able to go 60 minutes, but they often looked more confused than lazy after other teams adjust to their plan A and our coaching staff never seems to give them a plan B. Furthermore, in their defensive zone, they look completely confused on coverage as if they never or rarely practice defense. And as I have written many times, I am beyond frustrated with their stick waving defensive coverage.
As you say though, anyone can argue if they want, but the proof is in the pudding Carter, Dumoulin, and Pettersson have been empty jerseys. Dumo was (past tense) a solid defenseman for our Pens but is an extreme liability now. Carter had a good first 20 or so games but has deteriorated rapidly. People complain about the Malkin and Letang signing but the Carter signing was the worst. Pettersson also has been a serious disappointment after his first season in Pgh and despite a media blitz at the beginning of the season to try and beguile fans into believing in the coaching staffs warped assessment of the “Dragons” talent, the lack thereof is showing in spades right now.
I am sorry, but in my opinion, this all falls on the coaching staff. All of the players we fans recognize as limited players were selected by the Coaching staff as players THEY wanted, so the Coaches have no beef with them without having a issues with themselves – they picked them. All anyone has to do is point so Sullivan’s love affair with Dominik Simon to show that he has no grasp of what hockey talent is.
Do I think this team is going to miss the Playoffs? It is possible but I wouldn’t bet money on it. Under a good coach, I do think these players could even get to the division finals with just a few personnel changes, particularly on D. But under the current stewardship, they will need the continual luck of playing teams with training rooms looking like the triage area of a M*A*S*H unit.
Dump the entire port side of the Defense, find a new 3rd line Center, sit Rust and Heinen for a couple of games, to see if that lights a fire at least under Rust. He usually comes back after a couple game lay-off and goes on a tear. But as for Heinen, last year may have been an anomaly.
As for the PP, yes, yes, yes, stop looking to make the final pretty play. get a big body like Rakell or some kid, throw him in front of the net, shoo the puck and start earning some garbage goals on the PP and even EV. Play some honest hockey for a change and that will slow opponents down a little as they too will have to start thinking again rather than just getting to where they know we are pushing the puck and getting there first because we are way too predictable.
First of all, Pens4ever, God bless you for driving six hours to see a hockey game. You truly deserve some sort of medal.
Sorry the game turned so sour. How a team can look as good as the Pens did in the first period and as bad as they did the rest of the way is hard to fathom. Dear Lord, the way the Wings just poured into our end (and through what passes for our team defense) just underscores the fact that…as you pointed out…we can’t get into a track meet with other teams any more…especially the young, fast ones. It just exposes all of our weaknesses.
Anyway, great to hear from you and read what you have to say. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!
Rick
PS–Is it just me, or is Jake Guentzel REALLY bad defensively?
Hey Jorenz and Rick,
Just going to stick my 2 cents in here.
1) Was it last season or the season before, our Penguins were having trouble in their own zone and there came to the forefront a discussion that Sully was not practicing defensive zone coverage. That is what it looks like to me, When a Forward (Malkin) is standing around trying to decide which of 3 open guys to cover (a passive Mistake) prior to a 5th GA being scored, it can be excused as a Forward simply not knowing the position of Defense. However, when a Defenseman (POJ) does the same thing the next night in an OT situation, standing by as a spectator, it makes me wonder about the Coaching staff and their either their blind faith in a system that only trains their Defense to move move the puck and not what to do when that fails (no plan B) or a Coaching staff that doesn’t understand the nature of the term Defense.
2) I heard some interesting comments coming from Detroit fans; their take on the game is that their Coach out coached our Coach. That the reason the Wings were able to come back was their Coach’s adjustments to the Penguins between the 1st and 2nd but Sully didn’t adjust to the Wings’ Adjustments in the 3rd, he stubbornly kept trying to force his plan A. This is not the first time someone has advanced that idea, but here in Pgh, too many fans want to blame the players for not executing what the Coach wants rather than ever entertain the notion that the players were trying to execute the plan, but it was the plan that failed the players. Outside of Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Rust, the names of the rest of the players have changed.
3) Is anyone here really surprised that the oldest team in the league doesn’t have any gas left in the tank in OT, Particularly when the Coach puts the oldest fossil on the ice to start the OT?
4) The Red Wings had 6 or 7 players on IR or out of last nights game, but some people would try and make excuses over Petry, Archibald, and Poehling being out.
5) O’Connor, Caguilli, and Smith were the wrong call-ups. If we sit Carter or Heinen, then O’Connor could be the right man but Hallander is the player who fits 4th line more and he is the Kid who has been the most consistent. Caguilli has been miserable even in WBS, but Sully loves him, so of course he doesn’t have to earn a spot, Sully will just give it to him. Smith has been the best offensive Defenseman in WBS but his 14 points only ties him for 180th in the AHL. Add that to his +/ of zero is extremely un impressive. On a team where the Defensemen stand around not knowing who to cover, Ouellet was the far more logical call up (+19). Actually, with what is in this organization, it would have been far wiser to consult the waiver wire.
6) The team’s aversion to youth extends into WBS. Cleaning house, all of the way down through the AHL is the most important thing to do. As I have noted in my Prospects reports, DeForrest is not playing the kids either or burying them on the 4th line, giving them 5 minutes a game. I still feel Legare is a prospect worth keeping and developing. If he is struggling it would seem to be most likely due to the coaching staff trying to force him to change his game to their Milquetoast, Smurf personality. Poulin may make it as a bottom 6 Center but he just doesn’t seem to do much in game situations.
7) Jorenz, I actually would have been okay either way with regard to Malkin and Letang. The problem is in what the team did or would have done outside of 71 and 58. The problem with what they did do was surround an old core with an old supporting cast. Had GMRH surrounded the core with young guns, I think they would be in a better position for this season and for the future. However, judging by what they did do in assembling our Penguins’ extras, I don’t have much faith in them making the right decision had/when they have to move on from our veteran stars.
Hey all,
I just wanted to point out a really great article by Gretz over on Pensburgh titled “Some of the Penguins player usage decisions are baffling.” Just outstanding.
Jorenz and Other Rick, I think you’d especially appreciate it because he calls Sullivan out on the carpet for some of his decisions.
Rick
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the suggestion! Gretz delivered a spot-on analysis. At least, I’m not the only one to think that the coaching staff should be more accountable.
Hi Rick!
First of all, I would like to wish you Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!
Well, what can I say about last night’s debacle?
Rick, I swear to you, when it was 4-3 for the Pens, I had this gut feeling that the Wings would win the game. The Pens, at this stage, looked tired and old. Yes, there was the B2B trip but in my book, it is absolutely inexcusable to blow up a 4-0 lead, especially with a young team like the Wings.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Jeff Carter starting the OT. Why on earth the coaching staff has sent Jeff “the turtle over the hill” Carter in OT? He obviously have lost this much needed extra speed over the last few years. And what about this too many men penalty with less than 3 minutes to go in the 3rd period? Drew O’Connor only played 5:45 and despite that, he scored a goal. How can you develop young players when they barely get TOI lower than 5 minutes? It looks like Sully doesn’t trust the team’s prospects.
I have already expressed my ideas about what kind of changes the team needs to make regarding players. The new owners, FSG, must assess the coaching staff and the hockey operations as well. GMRH put the emphasis on keeping the core intact by signing Malkin and Letang, which is not a good idea on a long-term scale. The bottom six needs to undergo a serious makeover. Too many passengers in my opinion.
When you look at the WSB’s roster, there is nothing to be ecstatic about and it scares me. I wonder if Sam Poulin and Nate Legare will ever play for the Pens. Developing young players doesn’t seem to be their forte anymore. The Pens need fresh legs but the lack of it put them into a precarious situation.
I am a wee bit pissed off, Rick, by the way the Pens lose their games. If the Pens lose against a top-5 team and give their best shot, I am fine with that. But when they blow up a 4-0 lead without even making sustained efforts to preserve that lead, I just can’t take it.
Sorry, but the Pens are not cup contenders. Not with the current roster. I just feel like an orphan. Where has my team gone?
Hello Jorenz,
How good to hear from you (although I wish the circumstances were better)!
Other Rick and I read your comment together (we work at the same gym) and couldn’t agree more. Very eloquently and passionately expressed. Wish our Pens had shown that kind of fire while trying (or not as the case was) to protect last night’s lead.
I really thought we’d made strides in playing with some structure and protecting a lead during our hot streak, although that began to wane when Jeff Petry went out (Archibald, too). I personally think Petry’s the glue guy on our defense and the one we can least afford to lose because he brings a bit of everything, including physicality. Without him (and with our present version of Brian Dumoulin) our defense in shaky to say the least.
We’re God-awful at times in our own end, too. Teams seem to pin us down almost at will.
Agree absolutely 1000 percent about Sullivan not doing a very good job with the kids. A 180-degree turn from the way he was when he first became coach. Remember? Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary and to a lesser extent Tom Kuhnhackl, Scott Wilson and Archibald all developed under his watch. Some even played key roles on the Cup winners. Guys like Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz, too.
Now, unless a kid’s almost guaranteed to develop (John Marino) Sullivan doesn’t seem to have any use for him. Other Rick and I have both written about this…there’s a tipping point in a player’s career when he needs to be given a legit shot and not just five minutes a game on the fourth line.
As you noted, O’Connor seems to be a prime example. He’s scored 27 goals and 73 points in 73 games with the Baby Pens. Obviously, he’s mastered the AHL. He’s got size, skates well enough for a big kid and has at least some talent. Yeah, he’ll make some mistakes (like our stars don’t?) but he just might turn out if you give him a chance. A chance he doesn’t seem likely to get. At least not here.
Perhaps a by-product of trying to maximize a Cup window that probably closed in 2019 if not 2021.
Not that he’s an all-star, but Friedman’s another one. I personally like him over Ruhwedel…he’s more versatile and he brings more to the table. But Sully seems to loathe guys who play with an edge. At least ones not named Jason Zucker (who I love).
Agree about our prospects…or lack of. I, too, wonder if Poulin and Legare will ever make it and they looked like pretty sure bets coming out of junior.
Also empathize about starting Carter in 3-on-3 overtime, when speed is at a premium. A head-scratcher. Needless to say, our decision making on the ice leaves something to be desired, too.
I’m not as down on Hextall for keeping the old gang together. Can’t imagine where we’d be without them. But I agree that…as constructed…we’re not close to a Cup contender. At the very least, we need a competent physical forward and a solid all-around defenseman with some physicality. Maybe a backup goalie, too, although I don’t fault DeSmith for last night’s loss.
Anyway, my friend, I feel your pain. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! Again, great to hear from you.
Rick