A Shot in the Dark: Penguins Blow Lead (Again), Lose to Lightning in OT

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.)