Excuse the clunky take-off on a Reese’s Cup commercial. I couldn’t resist.
In a battle of the mustard-gold uni’s, our Penguins got a heaping (and perhaps unwelcome) helping of playoff-style hockey last night in the Music City. The results weren’t pretty.
Living up to their “Smashville” alias, the Predators played a smash-mouth game and gave our guys a pretty thorough going over, both physically and on the scoreboard. Flexing their muscles, the Preds pounded us to the tune of a 36-14 advantage in hits. Like running into the New York Islanders on steroids.
They were especially hard on our captain, Sidney Crosby, targeting him on numerous occasions. Especially after a retaliatory slash on big Mattias Ekholm. While Sid, no shrinking violet, gave as good as he got, I so wish we had someone in our lineup who could serve as a deterrent. Instead we got Dominik Simon. More on that later.
In an effort to revive Evgeni Malkin (pointless in four games going in), coach Mike Sullivan broke up our uber-productive top line, moving Bryan Rust to Geno’s right flank and elevating Evan Rodrigues to Sid’s wing. The results were mixed at best. Although both lines shone in terms of possession, I’m not sure if they passed the eye test.
Still, the Pens gave a reasonably good account of themselves through the first 20 minutes. However, in the waning seconds of the period the Preds ran a set play and our backside defense crumbled like a chocolate Bundt cake at a kid’s birthday party, resulting in a tally by Ekholm with a fraction of a second left.
The Pens never really recovered.
We did knot the score with six minutes remaining in the second period on a pretty play by the Crosby line. Sid won a faceoff in the left circle and drew it back to Kris Letang at the left point. Tanger slipped a gorgeous diagonal pass to Jake Guentzel, stationed in the right circle. Jake wired the puck over Juuse Saros’ right shoulder for the game-tying goal.
Our moment in the sun was all-too-brief. The Pens appeared to let up and the Preds took full advantage. A hundred ticks after we tied it up they retook the lead on a seeing eye center-point blast from backline stud Roman Josi that made its way through a maze of players and past Casey DeSmith, courtesy of a handsy deflection by rookie Tanner Jeannot.
Eighty-three seconds after that Letang and Mike Matheson converged on a loose puck at center point in Keystone Kops fashion, narrowly avoiding an ugly collision at the last millisecond. Unfortunately, they avoided the puck as well. Eeli Tolvanen sped in on a breakaway and beat DeSmith to make it 3-1 bad guys. Pretty much sealing our fate.
The Pens did put on an obligatory third-period push, outshooting the Preds 13-4. But all we had to show for our efforts was an empty-net goal yielded to Yakov Trenin to run the final score to 4-1.
Game, set and match to the Preds.
Puckpourri
In many ways this game was the Mr. Hyde to Sunday’s Dr. Jeykll victory over Carolina. Statistically, we controlled the tempo, enjoying an edge in shot attempts (62-48), shots on goal (36-25), scoring chances (30-18) and high-danger chances (12-7). But Saros was the difference. He was outstanding.
I don’t fault DeSmith on any of our goals. He was totally screened on the first two Nashville tallies and faced down a breakaway on the third. He also snuffed Jeannot on a breakaway attempt late in the second period to keep us in the game.
Following an extended hot steak, our power play is sputtering a bit. We’re oh for our last seven man advantages, including 0-for-4 last night. On the flip side, the penalty kill has improved with Teddy Blueger back in the fold.
Despite the loss, the Pens are 5-2-1 in their present run against playoff contenders. Overall, we’re 36-16-9, good for 81 points, and are tied with the Rangers for second place in the Metro, six behind Carolina. On deck…a visit to St. Louis on Thursday night.
Opinyinz
I know this is going to seem like a ‘hit’ piece and I sincerely don’t mean it to be. Bear in mind that my frustration is more with our coach than the player. But I’m done with Simon.
D-O-N-E.
I realize Simon was pressed into service due to an illness to Zach Aston-Reese. And, yes, he hustles and scrambles and helps drive possession. But possession doesn’t amount to a hill of beans if you can’t contribute on the score sheet. Ever. I’m in total agreement with Other Rick. Simon will be a total nonfactor come the postseason.
Count me among those who’d prefer a hammer in that spot. We could’ve sorely used some pushback against the Preds, especially with the way they came at Sid. It would be nice to make the opposition feel a little pain for a change.
It’s time to end this love affair once and for all and take Simon out of Sullivan’s tool kit (he can’t resist using him). Either send him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (he’s on a two-way contract) or release him outright.
If you’re looking for a warm body to have on hand in case of injury/illness, call up Anthony Angello, who I still think can play. If you’re looking for a player who can rotate into the lineup and contribute, Valtteri Puustinen’s your guy.
We know what Simon can do…and can’t do. Let’s give someone else a shot.
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Hey all,
Just read an interesting quote that seems to describe the playoffs. "Quick guys get tired...big guys don't shrink."
Amen.
Rick
Well said Rick. Fully agree.
I have a quote for you. " Anyone that says size does not matter has never played in a Stanley Cup Final Series" !
Cheers
Jim
Rick
Last night was a reality check .That was NHL Play off hockey. Go after the other teams best players and knock the crap out of them.Take away their space to operate. Get inside their heads and throw them off their game. It worked. Our power play went 0 for 5 last night. That does not usually happen. This is a reoccurring nightmare that happens every year come play off time. We are not built to win the Cup in this NEW NHL and the Core we have can not get it done . Period !!
The other thing Rick is local media up here say that Letang is sticking firm to his demands for a long term contract and no home town discount. If this is the case then trade him now . He will walk and we will get nothing.
Cheers
Jim
Hello my friend,
Always good to hear from you and read what you have to say.
You hit the nail on the head when you said time and space are taken away during the playoffs. Not to mention your best players get targeted for physical play.
Overall, I'm really impressed with the way we've battled through this recent stretch of tough games. But I'm still concerned about whether we can physically stand up to the rigors of playoff hockey...both in a seven-game set and over the long haul. Especially if we play a team like Carolina that requires you to bring everything you've got over a full 60 minutes.
While it's better to play on your toes than on your heels, I wonder if we'll be able to maintain our forechecking style, which requires a lot of energy.
Regarding Letang...man that's a tough one. You sure don't want him to walk away without getting something in return. Yet if we trade him, it takes a huge chunk from our transition game and overall defensive structure, not to mention effectiveness on the power play. We can pretty much kiss any chance of going anywhere in the postseason goodbye.
I really don't envy Ron Hextall. He's got a ton of things to consider over these next few days and he'll be making decisions that could dramatically affect the franchise for quite some time.
Rick
Thank you for the gracious reply to my post. Well said my friend. If I may add just one thing regarding Letang that we all should consider. Letang's long time agent, and good friend is now the GM of the Montreal Canadians. Local reports indicate that they are more than just a typical Agent-player relationship.That said we also need to be aware that since Mario no longer is in control of the Penguins team and his long term plans may include returning to live in his birth Province of Quebec someday soon. The allure of staying a Penguin may not be the same for Letang as it once was.
Therefore we MUST insure that if we can not sign Letang to a team friendly deal by the trade deadline then we trade him regardless what the fan base thinks.
Just my view point from afar Rick.
Cheers
Amen, Amen, Amen, Jim
100% spot on. If, as it appears, Letang is irreconcilable, then cut those strings now!!!!!!
Get something for him.
Anyone thinking this team can go the distance without more than what they can afford at this trade deadline, is on some serious hallucinogens. It is well past time to move on.
Furthermore, until they have a coach at the helm that is willing to send Simon to a league that he is better suited for, they may never again acquire the talent to go the distance - Sully will just sit the better players so Simon and ZAR have roster spots.
I said is before and I am saying it a gain, I want at least 1 more if not 2 more picks in this draft.
Hey Rick,
With the game not starting until 8pm and me needing to be up by 3:30am, I couldn't watch any of it. I am glad I missed it.
Re Simple Simon, like you I don't really blame him. He can't help that he doesn't have the skill set to play in the NHL. Calgary, in the midst of their dreadful season last year, sent him down to their farm club, but the Sully - Simon love - affair knows no bounds. If someone told me that there was nothing wrong with ZAR, Sullivan just made an excuse to put Simon in the lineup, I would believe them.
I agree that I would have rather seen Angello out there rather than the Penguins pathetic Pylon. But then again with Poulin coming off a Hat Trick, I would have thrown him a bone. I would also rather see O'Connor, Bjorkqvist, Bellerive, Puustenin, Hallander, even Gruden get some NHL experience. (I haven't seen Nylander's name in the WBS score sheets in a couple games, don't know if he is hurt or I would throw his name in there too)
Also, I am fed up with Sully's ignoring Zohorna-Malkin-Carter line. They were dominant for the brief 6 or 7 minutes he had them together. They weren't Stevens-Lemieux-Jagr but there isn't a whole lot of teams that could handle that much size and skill on one line - even at Carter's and Malkin's age. There was no need to break up Guentzel -Crosby-Rust.
This certainly wasn't the way to start the road trip off.
Hey Other Rick,
My issue isn't even so much about Simon (he does try hard and give his all) as what he represents. With few exceptions, the Penguins have had an annoying history of trying to pack a last little morsel of skill into the lineup (and in many cases that's exactly what it is...a morsel) at the expense of other needed commodities.
While the Flyers were drafting guys like Rick Tocchet, Scott Mellanby and Tim Kerr back in the '80s, we fleshing out our lineup with the likes of Tom O'Regan, Lee Giffin and Steve Gotaas. All about 5-10, 180. Oh, and trading heavyweights Marty McSorley and Kevin McClelland to Edmonton to ride shotgun for Wayne Gretzky while Mario basically got assaulted by the rest of the league on a nightly basis.
Sorry for the rant. The cumulative effect of watching us undervalue toughness and physicality for the better part of 50-plus seasons.
Okay, I feel better now ... :)
Rick
Hey Rick,
For the record,
First , my issue isn't with Simon either. My issue is with the (less than flattering descriptor) who keeps trying to pound a square peg into a round hole.
Second, I don't deny, for those readers that remember way back circa 2018, I was fed up with Simon's, predecessor coaches pet, Conor Sheary, getting tossed around like a rag doll and not being able to contribute in big situations; I beat the drum for Sullivan to see what Simon and Sprong could do. (for those that don't believe me go back into the archives.).
I just wanted Sheary out of Sullivan's tool box. I couldn't imagine anything worse than Sheary. I wanted anyone but Sheary, so give Simon and Sprong a chance.
The problem ended up being, Simon is worse than Sheary. At least Sheary could find the back of the net, Simon couldn't, even with a GPS. But Sullivan had his new useless player/pet that he would find any excuse to play.
So instead of constantly looking to trade up, he settled on a pathetic pylon.
Who knows why? Maybe to spite me? or do I flatter myself?
Third, Unfortunately, Simon doesn't even have a morsel of skill. When you start teasing out with - or -without you and situational stats, his numbers are pathetic and reflect his lack of NHL level talent.
When he was signed, this passed off-season, everyone said he was supposed to be a WBS depth player. He was outplayed by many WBS players. With-or-Without You stats showed that it was Puustenin that drove Simon's line in preseason but all of the more deserving kids went to WBS and Simon has stuck here ever since.
Many whine about Kapanen and his lack of urgency at times on the ice. I will not agree nor disagree but simply state that I don't blame him if doesn't put forth effort on more than 1 occasion when Sullivan has proven over and over again, with Simon, that you don't earn TOI with hard work under Sullivan. All you have to do is be his coaches pet and he will put you in.
I have no respect for a coach that plays favorites, particularly when his pet is a glaring mistake.