For our bumbling Penguins, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
In keeping with that grim reality, I’ll once again use a “just the facts” approach in my game recap, albeit with a different twist.
In the 1964 comedy classic, A Shot in the Dark, famed French Sûreté Inspector Jacques Clouseau (brilliantly played by Peter Sellers) was lecturing detective Hercule LaJoy about a series of murders implicating a beautiful chambermaid and Clouseau love interest, Maria Gambrelli.
I’ve adapted the scene for my game summary.
To help you visualize, here’s a video clip along with a photo from the movie. I’ll play the role of Hercule.
- Fact—The Penguins lost to the Lightning, 3-2, in overtime last night at PPG Paints Arena.
- Fact—The Penguins held a 2-0 lead after two periods on goals by Jesse Puljujärvi and Rickard Rakell.
- Fact—Sam Poulin assisted on Puljujarvi’s goal.
- Fact—Sidney Crosby registered career assist No. 1017 on Rakell’s power-play goal, passing Joe Sakic on the all-time NHL list.
- Fact—The Lightning rallied on third-period goals by Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli to force overtime.
- Fact—Point scored the game-winner at 3:58 of OT.
- Fact—The Lightning had 85 shot attempts to our 38, and outshot us 35-19.
- Fact—The Lightning had a 39-18 edge in scoring chances and a 16-7 advantage in high-danger chances.
- Fact—Crosby’s line had one scoring chance for and 10 against in 5v5 play.
- Fact—Evgeni Malkin’s line had two scoring chances for and six against, 5v5.
- Fact—Tristan Jarry made 32 saves and acquitted himself well, but was fooled on the OT winner.
- Fact—Rookie forwards Poulin (9:49) and Vasily Ponomarev (8:36) received the least amount of ice time.
- Fact—Puljujarvi (goals in two straight games) received the third lowest amount of ice time (10:13).
- Fact—Through four games, Poulin has a 5v5 Corsi of 60.87 and expected goals for percentage (xGF%) of 60.13.
- Fact—Through three games, the Poulin-Puljujarvi-Drew O’Connor line has a 5v5 Corsi of 58.97 and an xGF% of 63.32.
- Fact—Ryan Shea (75.31), Owen Pickering (71.95) and Puljujarvi (50.89) were the only Penguins to register a positive 5v5 xGF%.
- Fact—Erik Karlsson was on the ice for 37 shot attempts against and 14 for 5v5.
Clouseau: Now then, what is the inescapable conclusion?
Hercule/Buker: The Penguins are a really good hockey team and play really good team defense. They’re really good at protecting leads. And Mike Sullivan is a great coach who allocates ice time fairly and equitably, based purely on performance and not on any personal bias or dislike for kids.
Clouseau: What? You idiot! Impossible! (Snaps his pointer on Hercule/Buker in disgust.)
Rick
This one was on Jarry – he played a decent game but he transformed back to his usual stuff on
the Lightning’s last two goals. Also, I thought the Pen’s actually did a pretty decent job of keeping
quality scoring chances to a minimum. I know the Lightning put up a lot of shots but they were
throwing the puck to the net at every opportunity “Now I know why” – Like most Pen’s fans they
figured it was just a matter of time before Jarry let in a bad goal – make that two bad goals.
They’re finding creative new ways to lose. What was Jarry thinking when he kept shuffling further away from the net with Point on the attack in OT? He actually played an otherwise good game, but what a time to make a critical mistake. That’s the story of the Pens this season, they just refuse to win.
Hey Rick,
I love the Pink Panther movies. There is a level of fun innocence in that slap stick comedy. There is nothing fun about the death roll in which our favorite flightless fowl are locked – Nor is there any level of innocence in the arrogant insistence of letting Pittsburgh’s own Captain Edward Smith (Mike Sullivan) remain at the helm of the SS Penguins. FSG and Kyle Dubas are getting what they deserve. Unfortunately, many of us fans don’t deserve this.
I will say this though, the line-ups and Ice Times Sullivan doles out to the players Dubas assembled to populate this team do remind me of the assassins trying trying to kill Clouseau at the Octoberfest in the 4th movie of that franchise.
Where was Jarry on that game winner?
Why was Graves (-7) shown a press box seat while Greczyk (-11) continues to drag down everyone around him?
Why is Bryan Rust not at least being demoted if not getting Press Box Duty (-11)?
Why hasn’t DOC been called to task (-13)?
Sullivan’s clown show makes Abbot and Costello, the Three Stooges, and Inspector Clouseau look like Academy Award winning Dramatic Actors. No doubt Barnum and Bailey would have loved to squeeze this team into one little VW to roll out under the big top.
PS.
And why was Montgomery given the pink slip while Sullivan keeps sinking this team ever lower?
The Other Rick
I agree with you regarding certain players not being held accountable. It seems as though Sullivan
plays favorites. Rust has played in 14 games and is a ( – 11 ), Shea has played in 7 games and is a
( – 4 ). Shea’s not a rookie and IMO theirs no way he should play ahead of Pickering.