Early in his rookie season, October 24, 2006, to be exact, Evgeni Malkin scored an absolutely dazzling goal against New Jersey. One aptly described as “shades of Mario.”
Thrusting into the Devils’ zone like a dagger, Geno turned a defenseman to mush, went forehand-to-backhand while turning his entire body around and beat Hall-of-Fame goalie Martin Brodeur like Mike Lange’s rented mule.
An electric goal. A harbinger, not only of Malkin’s own Hall-of-Fame career to follow, but the Penguins’ dramatic rise from doormats to Stanley Cup champions as well.
Remember?
Last night, early in the third period of a soul-crushing 5-2 loss to the Coyotes that can best be described as an atrocity on ice, Malkin scored a goal of a decidedly different ilk.
With a delayed penalty about to be called on old friend Jason Zucker, Kris Letang wisely ragged the puck in our end to kill off a penalty to Jansen Harkins and maximize our own power play time. With a Coyote checker applying pressure, Tanger elected to drop the puck off to Malkin, who was drifting toward our untended net (Tristan Jarry had long since fled the scene). Almost casually (languidly?) Geno reached for the puck with one hand on his stick and inadvertently steered it into our net.
How the mighty have fallen.
In my season preview, I opined that the Pens could challenge for a top three spot in the Metro. Or they could be a pack team hunting for a wild card spot. Or they could dissolve through age and attrition into a bottom feeder.
As recently as a couple of weeks ago, this team reminded me in some ways of the 2015-16 Cup winners. Now I’m writing their death knell.
How quickly things can change.
The hard truth is, we stopped being legit Cup contenders several years ago. The days of wine and roses arguably came to an end when Jim Rutherford abruptly stepped down because he was denied the opportunity to make meaningful changes. Most certainly after we blew a 3-1 series lead against the Rangers in ’22, followed in short order by Ron Hextall’s rapid deconstruction of what was still a pretty good hockey club.
Last night’s loss made it official. There’s no sugar coating it. This bunch isn’t going to make the playoffs.
With virtually no margin for error following our dismal 3-6 start, we can’t afford stretches, even brief ones, where we give games (and points) away. At this stage, we’re closer to the Metro cellar than we are the division lead. Five points out of a wild-card spot and fading fast.
I feel for Sidney Crosby, whose exasperated hands-and-stick-in-the-air reaction to Malkin’s ghastly flub was as telling as Geno’s chagrined shrug of the shoulders. At age 36, our captain’s playing a brand of hockey that almost defies description. He’s literally attempting to drag us into the playoffs through sheer will and brilliance. However, Jake Guentzel and a handful of others aside, there are too many passengers on the SS Sid and not enough real help.
Speaking of reactions, how about Zucker’s emotional display following his game-opening goal? Man, do we miss his fire.
In closing, there’s a song playing in my head, kind of a soundtrack to last night’s collapse. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” by The Band.
Seems somehow fitting, doesn’t it?
The night the Penguins’ dynasty officially died.
Puckpourri
According to Natural Stat Trick, it was a fairly even game. Shots on goal (27-27), scoring chances (30-30) and high-danger chances (12-12) were deadlocked. The ‘Yotes had the upper hand in shot attempts (59-50), due in part to an aggressive forecheck that gave our defense Grave(s) difficulty.
Pun intended.
Not that Jarry was totally to blame for the loss, but Mike Sullivan’s decision to start him in the wake of the Vegas loss was a bit of a head-scratcher. Probably Sully’s way of showing faith in his goalie, but still. As Other Rick has aptly noted on more than one occasion, Alex Nedeljkovic has a winning record (8-3-2) and Jarry, as well as he’s played at times, doesn’t (12-14-4).
Sid scored at 16:30 of the second period from a sharp angle, all-too-briefly tying the game at 2-2. The Coyotes retook the lead on a goal by Alex Kerfoot 91 seconds later.
Lars Eller scored our other goal at 4:50 of the second period, thanks in no small part to an aggressive play by Pierre-Olivier Joseph, who joined the rush.
Our pop-gun power play continues to misfire (0-for-3). We’re down to a horrid 13.29 percent conversion rate, the second worst in the league.
Although his defensive play has been shaky at times, Erik Karlsson has almost quietly strung together a nine-game points streak (a goal and nine assists). The quicksilver defenseman does seem to display good chemistry with Sid. Not so with Geno.
On Deck
The Pens (21-17-6, 48 points) limp home to face the Panthers (28-14-4, 60 points) and old friend Evan Rodrigues on Friday night, then host the Canadiens (19-20-7, 45 points) on Saturday night.
To have any chance at anything, we need to win ‘em both.
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Hey Rick,
This team needs consistency. It is obvious we can not out score our opponents most nights any more. We play our best when we play tight and let the game come to us. Age has a lot to do with this.Malkin and Letang are struggling. So are many others. But the same thing happened with other great Hockey dynasty's of the past. ( Islanders,Oilers, Habs,Black Hawks.)
This team need a major over haul starting with the Coach.!!! ( OTR thanks for your comments.)
All the best to you Rick.... Lets Go Pens.
JIM
Malkin was a huge part of the successes that the Penguins have had since his arrival. But please let's face it. His play this season has been detrimental to the team. Forget about the own goal last night. He has been an issue for a while now. With he and Karlson manning the blue line on the power play, it is an accident waiting to happen. How Sully can continue to use this configuration is beyond me. I would ask the both of them if they want to continue to play for the Penguins this season. If yes, then prove it. If not, we need to find out if they have any value on the open market.
It's time for a new coach, or at least to see what Dubas is willing to do when he's at the helm of a team that's not a lock for playoffs. But realistically we need a bench boss that's willing to ride the hot hands and take away ice time when it's not earned, especially from future Hall of Famers. And the Power Play, where do we start? He finally gives a kid a chance (Puustinen) who almost single handedly revives the struggling unit, then promptly removes him. If you keep rewarding subpar performers with ice time you will keep reaping subpar results. This team will never win another playoff round with Sully.
Amen Nick
Ah Rick, STOP IT already with the Malkin hate!
1) You never, repeat never throw a blind drop pass toward your own empty net. That is absolutely stupid!
2) The pass was behind Geno. He was crossing in behind Letang. He had already committed to going toward his natural wing. His momentum was going away from the play. He had to reach back across his body to try and take a bad, ill-conceived pass on his back-hand.
3) Malkin had 2 Hands on the stick initially, when he first touched the puck, but it was too far behind him to get control, and as his momentum kept him drifting away from the play, he reached with one hand.
4) and no it wasn't a great idea to drag the puck back into his own zone when he had forwards driving toward the Az end with their D back-pedaling. It would have been far better to dump the puck to an area where a Penguin fore-checker was racing toward to set up in the attacking zone, with a worst case scenario a FO in the attacking zone from a low danger shot. However, the team's system protocol is always to retreat and play cute, stupid drop passes. So it isn't even Letang's fault for doing what he was told to do.
So, again, STOP IT with Malkin Hate!
Furthermore, the real killers to the game were the 1st 3 GAs not the insurance GA - get over it.
If Pettersson hadn't whiffed with his purse when he channeled his best Ruth Buzzi against Zucker on the 1st GA putting the team behind the 8-ball out of the gate, then, maybe you could bolster your argument. However, with Pettersson looking stupid at the blue line and Carter simply spectating as Zucker raced down the slot to beat Jarry and put the Pens down 1 - 0.
Now let's talk about how Crosby and Rust both pinched in on the same point man, leaving Guentzel to try and defend against 2 yotes ceding a lane to the net to one of them while the other two yotes were hanging out behind Graves and Karlsson, screening Jarry, Pens down again 2-1.
Now let's talk about the game winner, when 2 Az Fwds beat 4, count them 4 Penguin defenders and their Goalie to make the game 3 - 2.
Again, STOP with the Malkin hatred. It is so old and WRONG.
This teams defensive, PP, and pretty much every system is beyond flawed. The supporting cast is weak. I feel for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang.
I apologize if I bluster here but as I have said, I really feel bad for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang as this organization has wasted the last 6 years of their careers, particularly the last 2 when Crosby and Malkin have been the the healthiest of their careers, yet poor decision after poor decision has been made
I apologize for my heated words at the gym, too, my friend. And I fully understand your passion and defense of Malkin. It's just that the play seemed to symbolize what we've become as a team. A once-great and aging champion that can't quite put it back together again...or get out of our own way (or in the way) as was the case last night.
I, too, feel badly for our guys, especially Sid, Geno and Tanger. Such great champions all. Each indispensable in his own way. I just hate to see it degenerate like this.
Sadly, as the old expression goes, time waits for no man. Or team.
Rick Buker
Rick
I struggle with both Letang and Malkin. Malkin refuses to adjust his game to coincide
with his age and Letang has reverted back to his old ways of turning the puck over.
Last night IMO it was like watching the Malkin & Letang circus. Letang's been in the
league how long????, and he throws the puck back blindly towards his own net and
Malkin in his typical lackidaisical demeanor tries to sweep the puck to himself when all
he has to do is "STOP". I couldn't believe what I was watching but this type of catastrophe
has been brewing for sometime. It was Letang's turnover in Vegas that led to the Knights
1st goal and swung the momentum their way.
On another note when is Sullivan going to be held accountable? How many games do
we have to watch where we come out not ready to play? Change behind the bench is
long overdue.