Penguins No Show in 5-1 Loss to Islanders

“The Islanders have come ready to play this game.” So said Penguins color announcer Bob Errey while describing the action during last night’s Pens-Islanders game at UBS Arena.

The inference that our Pens didn’t was wholly accurate. With the exception of about a five-minute window of the first period after we tied the score and a mild pushback in the third period when the game had long since been decided, we invested little sweat equity in last night’s embarrassing 5-1 loss.

Numbers don’t always tell the story. They did last night. The Islanders owned us. They held a decisive edge in shot attempts (81-47), shots on goal (42-21), scoring chances (43-18), high danger chances (20-6) and faceoffs (54 percent).

While the Pens appeared to regard the game as a post-holiday reunion of sorts, play-by-play man Steve Mears said the Islanders viewed this game as a springboard for a playoff push and it showed. They opened the game as if shot from a cannon. Following a ghastly turnover in our zone by Evgeni Malkin’s line, big Anders Lee ripped a shot home from the right faceoff circle just 63 seconds in.

In case the Pens weren’t aware they were in for a fight, Oliver Wahlstrom reefed Chad Ruhwedel with a flying check moments later. Drew O’Connor tried to return the favor on another Islander and was knocked on his wallet. Then Lee plastered Pierre-Olivier Joseph into the end boards.

Message sent.

We finally began to display a pulse mid-period following a strong shift by our top line. Then we knotted the score with 4:47 left in the opening frame on a weird knuckling shot by Joseph that nosedived to the ice before bounding past Isles goalie Ilya Sorokin. Moments later Brock McGinn nearly struck for a go-ahead goal on a partial break, but his shot hit the crossbar. Still, the Pens seemed to have a little momentum.

Then the roof caved in.

Matt Barzal deflected a shot by ex-Coyote Hudson Fasching past Tristan Jarry just 50 seconds into the second period. While the Pens flatlined, the Isles proceeded to pound two more second-period markers past our beleaguered netminder while running up a 19-6 edge in shots on goal. The Islanders were so dominant and the Pens so languid, coach Mike Sullivan shoved his forward lines into a blender mid period, but nothing helped.

Lee struck for his second goal of the night at 3:33 of the final frame to make it 5-1. Had it not been for Jarry the final score could’ve been worse. Much worse.

Following the game, a grim Sullivan stated, “It might have been our worst game of the year.”

I concur.

If there’s a bright spot, the Pens should have plenty left in the tank when they play Detroit tonight at PPG Paints Arena.

Puckpourri

The Islanders nearly scored a sixth goal, but an apparent side-of-the-net tally by Casey Cizikas was waved off due to an offside play.

The Pens are missing the energy and physical play of fourth liners Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling, who sat out again last night.

Not that I’m ever happy to see a player get hurt, but Ruhwedel’s apparent injury (he left the game after skating just eight shifts) could open the door for Mark Friedman to make his black-and-gold debut against the Red Wings. I think the Pens could sorely use what he brings to the table.

The Sky is Falling (and so are we)

Don’t look now, but the red-hot Capitals leapfrogged past us and into third place in the Division of Doom (Metro). We’re presently tied with the Rangers for fourth place with 43 points, one point ahead of the Islanders.

Fortunately, we have three games in hand on the Caps and two apiece on the New York teams.