With top wingers Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust parked on LTIR, you had to figure scoring goals would become an issue for our Penguins sooner or later.
Such was the case last night in Seattle. Although not for a lack of try, our guys just couldn’t crack the tentacle-like Kraken defense…or find the back of the net against Philipp Grubauer en route to a 2-0 defeat. In the process, snapping our modest three-game winning streak.
Indeed, fueled by a classic Mike Sullivan forecheck, the Pens unleashed a whopping 60 shot attempts during the first 40 minutes, including 28 that found their way to the net. But Grubauer, only recently back from injury, was airtight.
Our lone glaring shortcoming? Failing to get bodies to the net, which led to a lack of second-chance opportunities. As a general rule, if a goalie sees the puck he’ll stop it. Such was the case with Grubauer.
Such wasn’t the case for Tristan Jarry on the first Kraken goal at 12:25 of the opening period. Will Borgen cut loose a long-range slapper that dinged off teammate Alex Wennberg in the slot and popped high in the air. Every one lost sight of the rubber except for Oliver Bjorkstrand. Timing his swing perfectly, the ex-Blue Jacket swatted the biscuit between the unsuspecting Jarry’s pads.
Seventeen of those aforementioned black-and-gold shot attempts came during our three power plays, including seven actual shots on goal. Sounds impressive, right? Except precious few of those shots came from the dirty areas. Leaving us to snipe away from three-point range. (Sorry…wrong sport.)
The few Grade-A chances we had were thwarted by Grubauer and his house-packing mates. He stopped a breaking Jeff Carter midway through the opening frame and stoned Jansen Harkins on a deflection try at 13:20 of the second.
Mounting one final charge in the closing minute of the period, the Pens unleashed a five-shot flurry, including a couple of glorious chances by Evgeni Malkin. All but one were blocked.
Like a spent bullet, our guys faded in the final period. With key penalty-killer Lars Eller in the box for high-sticking Jared McCann, the Kraken tacked on an insurance power-play goal by Wennberg.
As he is wont to do, Geno doused our admittedly flickering comeback hopes with a late tripping penalty. But by that time, the horse had pretty much bolted the corral and galloped to open pastures.
It just wasn’t our night to shine. Or earn a point or two.
Puckpourri
In a classic case of winning the battle and losing the war, the Pens dominated the shot metrics according to Natural Stat Trick but fell short on the scoreboard. We had the edge in shot attempts (72-51), shots on goal (33-28), scoring chances (29-22) and high-danger chances (16-6). Only five of those shots on goal came during the third period.
Hard to fault Jarry, who had little help from his defense on the second Kraken goal.
Although they didn’t score, the Emil Bemström-Eller-Jesse Puljujärvi combo dominated, possession-wise, with a Corsi of 80 and an xGF% of 93.42 in 5v5 play. Love Puljujärvi’s size (man, is he a horse) and play in the dirty areas. Just wish he could find his hands.
Speaking of, Geno and the Kids (Drew O’Connor and Valtteri Puustinen) had several good chances but couldn’t finish. Sure wish No. 71 could rediscover his scoring touch as well. He’s on a 12-game goalless jag, with only two goals in his past 23 games to boot.
While I hate to even suggest this, Geno’s sudden drop-off is eerily reminiscent of Carter’s second-half plunge last season. And he is 37 years old.
In personnel news, the Pens placed Rust on LTIR and recalled forward Jonathan Gruden. (FYI: Sam Poulin is hurt.) Call me silly, but I’d like to see this kid get an honest-to-goodness shot. He’s got more than a little sand in his game (he’ll actually drop the gloves…gasp) and has developed a bit of a greasy-goal scoring touch with the Baby Pens.
I’m not a betting man. But if I were, I’d lay money down that Reilly Smith is gone by the trade deadline if not before. Reilly simply hasn’t worked out here.
On Deck
The Penguins (27-22-8, 62 points) have little time to regroup or recoup. We take on the Flames (29-25-5, 63 points), winners of four-straight, on Saturday night. Then the Oil (35-20-2, 72 points) and Connor McDavid on Sunday night.
Not feeling real good about our chances for the weekend.
We’re seven points out of third in the Metro and eight out of the second wild-card spot with 25 games to play.
