Penguins Postmortem

I apologize ahead of time for the loose-leaf ramble you’re about to read. It isn’t so much an in-depth analysis of our recent First Round defeat at the hands of the Rangers as a brain dump. Me trying to wrap my mind around things.

Bear with me.

First…some reasons why we could’ve won.

Even-Steven

Our Pens skated with the speedy Rangers and dictated play 5v5. For the most part, we played solid team defense, too. In particular, we did an excellent job of insulating our goalies and keeping high-danger chances against to a minimum. No easy feat against a talented team like New York.

Net Results

With eight goals and a team-high 10 points, Jake Guentzel enjoyed a phenomenal series. Sidney Crosby, who tallied 10 points as well, was equally superb, not to mention inspirational. Had Sid not been knocked out of action for a game and change, I think he would’ve willed us to victory.

Ice cold prior to the series, our bottom nine caught fire and erupted for 14 goals, including four by Jeff Carter and three apiece from Evgeni Malkin, Danton Heinen and Evan Rodrigues. Our blue line chipped in as well, with markers from Kris Letang, Mike Matheson and Mark Friedman.

We were especially dangerous in Games 3 and 4, when we attacked down the middle and swarmed the Rangers’ net to the tune of 14 goals. Chasing Hart Trophy candidate Igor Shesterkin twice in the process.

Heart ‘n’ Soul

The Pens displayed tons of grit and resilience throughout the series in the face of mounting adversity. Frankly, more than enough to win. And we showed a boatload of collective character by shrugging off what was at times withering physical assault by New York.

Like John Cameron Swayze’s Timex watch, we took a lickin’ and kept on tickin.’

Some reasons why we didn’t win.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

Mike Sullivan’s up-tempo style produces dazzling metrics, not to mention some of the most entertaining hockey around. We dominated the Rangers in virtually every meaningful category, including Corsi (52.57), shots on goal (310-270), scoring chances (274-222) and high-danger chances (a mind-blowing 143-77). Everywhere it seems but where it matters most…in wins and losses.

This is nothing new. In 2019 and again in 2021 we led the postseason in Corsi…and won a total of two out of 10 games.

One Step Up and Two Steps Back

Our inability to hold a lead was a key factor. We blew a three-goal lead in Game 3 and two-goal leads in Games 5 and 6 when the Rangers were sagging on the ropes and begging for a standing eight-count. And when we blow ‘em, we don’t mess around. Our Game 5 lead evaporated in 90 seconds. In Game 6…76 seconds.

Porous goaltending certainly didn’t help. Although he did his best, cult-hero Louis Domingue appeared to have trouble tracking pucks and was especially vulnerable on long-range shots. Virtually any time the Rangers mounted sustained pressure in our zone they scored.

Special Teams Were Far from Special

The Rangers’ power play eviscerated our remarkably passive penalty kill to the tune of six goals in 19 tries, for a ridiculous conversation rate of 31.6 percent. Although our power play also managed six goals, three came from our second unit, while the top group mostly stood around looking for the elusive perfect setup. To say nothing of misfiring on 5-on-3’s and yielding two-shorthanded goals.

If it Weren’t for Bad Luck, We’d Have No Luck at All…

We opened the playoffs with starting goalie Tristan Jarry on the shelf. Then Casey DeSmith went down during the second overtime of Game 1 with a core muscle injury that required surgery. Although he had his moments, especially in Games 1 and 4, third-string goalie Domingue for the most part played like the journeyman he is.

Counted on to be a difference-maker, high profile trade-deadline acquisition Rickard Rakell was knocked out…literally…in Game 1 by a high, hard hit from Rangers d-man Ryan Lindgren. He didn’t return until Game 7.

Defensive stalwart Brian Dumoulin was injured in Game 1…and didn’t return. And of course, the most egregious misfortune of all, captain and spiritual core Crosby being driven from Game 5 by a blatant Jacob Trouba elbow to the head, just when we’d pretty much choked the life out of the Rangers and had the series wrapped up.

Oh, and three pucks going in off Matheson, who otherwise had a dynamic series.

Suffice to say, the hockey gods weren’t kind.

No More Mr. Nice Guy

I’ll conclude with a final observation. On May 1, 2018, our two-time defending Cup champions were locked in a tight Game 3 battle with Washington. The series was tied, 1-1, and the score was tied at 2-2. At 13:15 of the second period, Capitals marauder Tom Wilson leveled Zach Aston-Reese with a seismic shoulder-first hit to the head, rendering ZAR bloodied and prone on the ice with a broken jaw.

Dirty and reprehensible as the check was, it proved to be the turning point of the series. The Caps won the pivotal Game 3 and two of the next three to take the series. They went on to win the Cup.

Fast-forward to the Trouba elbow on Crosby, which removed Sid from the proceedings at virtually the same juncture of the game. Again, a physical play against one of our players…never mind if it was legal…served as a turning point.

I’ve been harping on it for years, but our Pens need some guys who play a hard game. Brian Boyle provided a bit of that element this season, but we need more. At least one forward and one defenseman who embrace a physical, no-nonsense style. I’m not suggesting a no-talent knuckle dragger, although I’d take one of those as a short-term fix.

Rather a player like the Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere. Yes, I know he’s a former No. 1 overall pick, and we aren’t likely to get one of those any time soon. But he’s a perfect example of the type of player we need. One who combines skill with size and a bit of an edge.

In addition to scoring two big goals, Lafreniere delivered 20 hits during the series, including several bone-jarring checks on our defensemen. His deliberate de-helmeting of Marcus Pettersson at a critical juncture of the winner-take-all Game 7 led directly to the game-tying goal.

I don’t know about you. But I’m tired of our Pens being the victim.

In the NHL, nice guys finish last, especially in the postseason.

Time for us to stop being so nice.