Pathetic!
That was the single adjective I used in my game notes to describe our galling 3-2 come-from-in-front overtime loss to Columbus last night. My reaction to watching Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang lollygag off the ice on as lazy a line change as you’d ever want to see, in the process virtually ceding the entire Nationwide Arena ice surface to Johnny Gaudreau and his teammates.
Taking full advantage of our largesse, “Johnny Hockey” crept up the ice like a thief in the night, snagged a home run pass from Adam Boqvist and beat Tristan Jarry for the OT winner. Plunging the final dagger into perhaps the most disappointing season (and team) in Penguins history.
I realize our guys had nothing to play for and were probably suffering from a king-sized letdown (of their own making), but talk about going through the motions. SHEESH! You’d think pride alone would’ve spurred our guys to a greater effort. After all, they are professionals. But no…
Make no mistake, this is a bad hockey team. I wrote in a comment the other day that our problems are pathological and they are. It’s the same pattern…the same mistakes…played out over and over and over again with metronomic precision. Like a never-ending nightmare.
Last night’s fiasco perfectly followed the script as surely as if it were etched in cement. We grabbed the early lead on Letang’s power-play goal at 4:28 of the first period. The Jackets countered early in the second period on an imminently stoppable long-range shot by defenseman Andrew Peete. The Pens retook the lead at 3:53 of the third period on Guentzel’s power-play goal.
And then we hit the self-destruct button.
Dmitry Kulikov (hooking), Mikael Granlund (holding) and Alex Nylander (high sticking) went to the sin bin in a virtual parade of careless penalties, handing the Blue Jackets chance after chance. Emil Bemstrom cashed in on a back-door play with Nylander in the box to knot the score at 2-2 with 3:25 left in regulation. Setting the stage for the overtime debacle.
Let’s review. Penguins take lead. Penguins blow lead. Penguins fritter away points.
Check. Check. Check.
That’s Penguins hockey, folks, vintage 2022-23. It’s enough to make your eyes bleed.
I couldn’t wait to change the channel and watch the Pirates game. At least those guys give a darn.
In closing, the Pens need more than a transfusion of new blood. They need a heart transplant.
Puckpourri
The Jackets had the edge in shot attempts (62-58), scoring chances (35-27) and high-danger chances (17-14). We somehow had the better of the shots on goal (36-34).
No fewer than four Blue Jackets made their pro debuts last night.
Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor returned to our lineup. Josh Archibald and Jan Rutta sat out. Bryan Rust exited after the second period.
Speaking of ailments, Jarry revealed afterward that he’s been playing through multiple injuries, which explains a lot.
Letang (1+1) reached the 40-point mark for the 10th time in his career. He finished with 41 points. Rickard Rakell tallied his 60th point of the campaign with an assist on Tanger’s goal. Guentzel finished with a team-leading 36 goals, including 20 in third periods.
Ryan Poehling flashed his world-class speed, but failed to score on two wraparound attempts, one with a wide-open net. Can you say clank? Shades of Rico Fata and Konstantin Koltsov. Until his hands catch up with his feet, he’ll remain a question mark in my book.
On the OT winner, you could see the shock register on Boqvist’s face as he looked up and saw nary a Penguin between him and Gaudreau.
According to an article by Dan Kingerski on Pittsburgh Hockey Now, both Letang and Jason Zucker were angry following the loss. Nice to know at least someone besides me was po’d.
On Tap
Nothing, thank the Lord. Yesterday I felt badly for our guys for missing the playoffs. But after last night’s dog of an effort?
We deserved what we got. Or in this case, didn’t get.
Hey all,
I wrote this at the end of my latest article on the Hextall-Burke firing, but it bears repeating here.
The fact that FSG affixed blame so quickly…and as you all pointed out…that Sullivan will be aiding in the transition (and is under contract through 2026-27) tells me he could have significant input into the way the team will be reshaped.
We could have (at least) three more seasons of Sully hockey … 🙁
Rick
Hey Rick,
Good read up until you talk about Jarry.
That just doesn’t fly! Injuries do not explain his ridiculously high Gv/60. Once again he was at the top (or should that be bottom) of the league. He self-destructs with hos puck management. Injuries do not explain his absolute obsession with scoring a Goal, an obsession so overwhelming that he risked losing a game. That doesn’t explain why on the dagger in the heart goal the other night scored by Athenasiou, he was over 5 feet wide of his own net, over committing and then instead of getting back to the net, turned and started to chase the puck behind the net, to the point his skate actually started to cross the goal line.
And none of this is new. Hearken back to the play off game where he threw the puck straight up the center of the ice, right on to his opponents stick, leading to a goal, just 1 day after the Capitals suffered the same type of Goalie gaffe.
Moreover, if Jarry was soooooo injured, what was he doing playing in last night’s absolutely meaningless game.
No, injuries explain nothing!
And PS the first Axe fell, Burke, Pryor, and Hextall were fired.
I pray this team fires Sullivan and all his staff next
The Other Rick
Jarry claims he couldn’t do any further damage to the injury and he didnt want to sit.
Regarding Sullivan it might be a bad sign that he’s assisting in the transition.
I hear what he is saying but
1) if he is playing because he can’t do anymore damage than he can’t use his injury as an excuse, it is who he is.
2) If he is injured, even if he can’t exacerbate the injury and the game was meaningless, he and as many other veterans as could be removed from the lineup should have sat.
3) Injuries still do not excuse poor decisions with the puck and I will add poor angles. He constantly gives the short side away.
I didn’t see that Sully was part of the transition team but 100% that thought scares me.
The Other Rick
I’m afraid with Sullivan we’re dealing with the “Good Old Boy” stuff and the Boston
connection. I hope I’m wrong.
I am not going to argue with you on that Mike. I have seen that stupidity playout way too many times. Like you I hope you are wrong. I hope that someone will have noticed that the Penguins descent from Contender to Pretender before Hextall got there
Penguins fired Burke, Hextal and Pryor.
Phil
That had to happen. Only problem I see is Sullivan is assisting with the transition.
Rick
I listened to the post game show when they interviewed Jarry. He said he’s played the
entire year with the injury – weird thing is when they asked him if it could be corrected
with surgery he said “no” which raised eyebrows and gave validity to the rumors he may
be dealing with a chronic injury. Personally I don’t see how the Penguins resign him . If
surgery can’t rectify the issue then Jarry will be dealling with this long term. Not a good
investment – to risky.