Penguins Update: To Pinch or Not to Pinch…

…that is the question.

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the goals against born of outrageous pinching, or to take defense against a sea of odd-man breaks, and by opposing, end them.

My crack at revisionist Shakespeare, shinny style.

So much has been written to date about the porous nature of the Penguins’ defense, with good reason. For starters, at the time of this post we’re dead last in the league in goals allowed (61) and 30^th in goals against/60 (3.63).

In 5v5 play, we’re also last in high-danger chances against (184) by a huge margin (22) over Montreal and tied for worst with 23 high-danger goals allowed.

But wait, I’m just getting warmed up. We’ve allowed the most 5v5 shot attempts against (797) as well as the most 5v5 shots on goal against (420). We’re last in 5v5 expected goals against (40).

To say we’re the worst defensive team in the league is stating fact, not fiction.

You might be tempted to point a finger at our goalies, recently recalled Tristan Jarry in particular, as the chief culprits. But that blame would be egregiously misplaced.

According to Kevin Woodley (@KevinisInGoal), Jarry’s expected save percentage is .832, by far the lowest in the league at the time it was published. Despite the obvious duress they’re under, our netminders are 12^th in 5v5 high danger save percentage (.828). Pretty fair, all chaos considered.

No, the problem would appear to be the Five Guys Not Named Moe they share the ice with, to say nothing of the ones in suits perched behind the bench.

In particular, the culprit would appear to be our pathological habit of pinching our defensemen, regardless it seems of the name and number on the back of the jersey and/or game situation.

I’ll call it the Chad Ruhwedel Syndrome in honor of the modestly skilled former black-and-gold defenseman. “Rudy” fell down while pinching a couple of years back in a fit of ill-fated clumsiness and judgment that led directly to an opposing breakaway and game-winning goal against.

What Ruhwedel, who has all of 13 goals to his credit in 365 NHL games, was doing pinching in the first place is a matter of question.

To digress, I certainly understand why Mike Sullivan encourages our ‘d’ to pinch. In theory, to support our forwards in transition and on the rush while helping to boost possession in the attacking zone, and with it, goal production.

Nor are we the only team to do it. Reminiscent of the old Soviet national teams, the Red Wings circa 2008-09 raised attacking as a five-man unit to an art form. The Hurricanes, in particular, pinch their defensemen at every opportunity, with a great deal of success. So do lots of other teams, especially in an era where speed and aggressive forechecking rule.

However, there are several mitigating factors that suggest the Pens’ defensemen shouldn’t pinch indiscriminately or by rote. Our terrible defensive metrics, for one. As group, we don’t seem to be able to cover both ends of the ice effectively.

As I stated in a recent article, when we go charging through the front door, we all-too-often leave the back door open.

Age may also be a contributing factor. The deeper we drive into the attacking zone and the longer we linger, the less likely our old legs are to carry us back into proper position on ‘d.’ An unfortunate dynamic that certainly matches the eye test.

Role confusion seems to play a big part in our defensive dysfunction as well. Or stated more simply, who’s supposed to do what.

As colleague Other Rick and long-time commenter Mike have so aptly pointed out, at least some of Erik Karlsson’s more recent defensive woes can be attributed to his partner, Marcus Pettersson, being trapped up ice. Exactly why the modestly talented Pettersson, who’s supposed to function as a defensive safety valve for the mercurial Karlsson and not vice versa, is pinching instead of laying back is a matter of both puzzlement and conjecture.

Is he being instructed to pinch by Sullivan and the coaching staff?

It brings to mind former Pens defenseman John Marino. Marino was smart, read the play well, had excellent mobility and gap control. Made a nice first pass, too. The former Harvard bulwark was at his best and most comfortable when he let the play come to him.

Similar in a lot of ways to Pettersson.

Yet, by his third season in the ‘Burgh, I noticed Marino pinching a lot more, and as a result, getting trapped a lot more. Trying to force the offense seemed to take him out of his natural rhythm and comfort zone and made him far less effective. Again, reminiscent of Pettersson.

Was Marino pushing the offense on his own or being encouraged to do so by Sullivan and the coaching staff?

I’m guessing the latter.

Then there’s the not-so-small matter of talent. All defensemen are not created equal. Not everyone is a budding Bobby Orr or Cale Makar. Some, like Pettersson and Jack St. Ivany and maybe even Ryan Graves, aren’t cut out to push the attack.

To sum up. Karlsson, Kris Letang and perhaps Matt Grzelcyk (good outlet passer, not so great skater) you send.

The others?

Pick your spots.

Wisely.