Penguins Playoff Update: Bottoms Up

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.”