WANTED. Bottom nine forwards. Must be able to skate, hit and…most important…put the puck in the net. Apply at PPG Paints Arena. Preferably before Game 3 on Saturday night.
I’m being facetious. Sort of. Once again, our secondary scoring has dried up, and at a most inopportune time.
One-line teams don’t go very far in the playoffs. Two games in, the Penguins are looking very much like a one-line team. The only goal not scored by the Sidney Crosby line was Evgeni Malkin’s Game 1 overtime winner, with assists going to Kasperi Kapanen and defenseman John Marino.
A far cry from 2016, when our third line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel led all black-and-gold lines in postseason scoring and helped power us to a Stanley Cup. But I digress.
Speaking of Kapanen, following months of uninspired play, he was dynamic and forceful in the series opener, firing off eight shots on goal…including an absolute bomb from the slot that forced Igor Shesterkin to make a game-saving stab with the glove.
I had high hopes the flying Finn would continue his resurgent play in Game 2. However, following a noticeable first period (two hits, two shots on goal), Kasperi faded as the game wore on.
He wasn’t alone. Although the Malkin line was fairly involved, our bottom six forwards registered only six of our 41 shots on goal. That’s not enough. To say nothing of the paucity of goals and points the group has put on the scoresheet.
As much as it pains me to write it, Brian Boyle and Jeff Carter in particular have had trouble keeping up with the speedy young Rangers.
Injuries certainly haven’t helped our secondary scoring woes. Second-liners Jason Zucker and Rickard Rakell sat out Game 2, forcing coach Mike Sullivan to press rookie Drew O’Connor into service and Kapanen and Danton Heinen into elevated roles.
You play the hand your dealt. Right now, fate is dealing from the bottom of the deck.
Zucker, who took the warmups prior to Game 2 and skated in practice on Friday, appears close to a return, which should help. Rakell skated on his own but did not participate in practice. Obviously, their combined presence would be a boon.
In the meantime?
We could sure use some production from the likes of Teddy Blueger, Brock McGinn and Evan Rodrigues. They’ve combined for only seven goals since February 1.
Kapanen, too.
Louie or Bust
Barring a miracle return by Tristan Jarry, it’s Louis Domingue or bust in goal for the foreseeable future. Backup Casey DeSmith underwent successful core muscle surgery Friday morning in Philadephia and is out for the rest of the postseason, however long or short.
It continues a run of rotten luck for the plucky DeSmith, who missed last season’s playoffs with a similar injury that required surgery this past June.
Following his spotless 17-save effort to earn the victory in Game 1, Domingue yielded five goals on 40 shots in a losing effort on Thursday night…three resulting directly from deflections.
Still, the unflappable 30-year-old from St.-Hyacinthe, Quebec, hardly seemed fazed. And he has the full support of his coach and teammates.
“I think he’s played well to this point,” said Sullivan. “He’s a confident kid, as you know. I think that really helps him in this circumstance. But I think he’s really excited about the opportunity in front of him.”
“I think he’s been great,” said Blueger. “I think he was great when he came in in the regular season in San Jose. I feel like he’s got experience. He’s a really good goalie. [Thursday] night, he was really good. Made some big saves for us, kept us in the game.
“Couple times there I think he handled the puck really well. Played with confidence. We’re all behind him. We know he can get the job done.”
Rick
We may have a miracle – Jarry is back on the ice which makes me think he’s not to far away from playing.
With his type of injury and being back on his skates this has to be a huge positive in terms of him hitting
the ice in the near future. Tonights game is a big one.
GO PENS
Great news Mike. Lets hope he can get back for Game 5 in New York.
Cheers
Jim
Hey Rick,
As always, your writing is great and I do understand why you feel the way you do.
However, I have to point out to you that 5 on 5, our Pens are playing even with NYR, 5 – 5
and although the first line is responsible for 4 of the 5 TGF, they are also responsible for the 4 of the 5 TGA
or at least their Center is. Therefore , the bottom 9 may not be scoring Goals by the droves, but they aren’t giving the up either. They are keeping the team in the game.
Where the team is losing ground is on Special Teams, Goaltending (Injuries), and their alleged top 2 Defensemen. Letang and Matheson have only been on the ice for 1 TGF each but 3 TGA.
I am not going to get into a long dissertation on the why s of the above realities, I have written on that many times and encounter more resistance than I have time to deal with right now. I will just say that without Simon or ZAR, I have no problems with most of the rest of the Forwards in this organization. There isn’t a whole lot of top 6 talent and can’t survive a lot of injury here,, but there is enough and there is decent bottom 6 with more than enough bottom 6 in the Organization to withstand a playoff run. The forwards are not the ones responsible for the team being tied 1 – 1 right now, nor are they responsible for my bleak outlook for the team’s playoff run.
Well said Coach.
At best given our Goalie situation and lack of quality depth players, we are a 20% chance if that, of defeating the Rangers. This situation was bound to happen with Louie, who will be blamed for the loss in the series by the uneducated faithful. Reality is this is the Former Ownership responsibility who allowed the team to get this low.
Last point, They all talk great things about Louie because we HAVE NO OTHER OPTION. He is an AHL level Goalie. His back up is an ECHL level goalie…Maybe…
I praying for some injuries to the Rangers because that is the only way we can win.
Cheers
JIM
Hey Jim,
Spot on about the Goaltending. A potential serious nightmare could come true if Domingue gets injured – D’Orio struggles in the ECHL. He has gotten chased in several games in Wheeling.