Categories: PenguinPoop

Rangers Shred Punchless Penguins, 6-Zip, in Opener

Hey all. Just a reminder that, in keeping with my semi-retired status, I’m no longer doing game summaries. Seth Rorabaugh over on the Trib does an outstanding job of describing the gory details, and Pittsburgh Hockey Now and Pensburgh provide excellent coverage as well.

Still, I thought I’d chime in with a few Cap’n Obvious thoughts in the wake of last night’s 6-0 shellacking at the hands of the Rangers. On home ice no less.

The Penguins were competitive for about 15 minutes or so before coughing up two late first-period goals and flatlining the rest of the way. On a scale of a 60-minute game, that’s roughly a 25 percent return on sweat equity.

How bad was it?

  • Tristan Jarry yielded critical goals early before stiffening in the final two periods to actually keep the score down (!!!);
  • Every black-and-gold skater finished a minus-something, some worse than others (Drew O’Connor, Evgeni Malkin clocked in at minus-3 each);
  • We resembled a fire drill at times, especially in our own end, with blunders and botched plays galore;
  • Lots (and lots) of one-and-dones on “oh-ffense,” as Bob Errey used to say;
  • And drum roll please…the power play was outscored 1-0.

For our Penguies, the more things change the more they stay the same.

Oh well, it’s only one game. And, as fellow PPer Caleb DiNatale so aptly pointed out, we weren’t the only team to get our arses handed to us. The Oilers got slammed by the Jets by an identical 6-0 score, and the Golden Knights eviscerated the Avs, 8-4.

The only difference?

Those are good teams.

If there’s a silver lining poking through the shroud, it’s that we play tonight in Detroit. No time to wallow in our misery. Get right back on the horse that bucked us.

Things can only get better, right?

Rick Buker

View Comments

  • Hey Rick,

    How about this little tidbit to elucidate the pathos of last nights farce, our Penguins had 13 High Danger Chances but only managed to get 5 Shots on Goal. Conversely the Rangers had 22 High Danger Chances with 18 of those High Danger Chances getting on net.

    As for those serious negatives in the +/- Dept. look at the with or with out you data, When Bunting-Malkin-Rakell were on the ice they were even, when DOC was introduced to that line Malkin and Bunting were -2.When DOC was on a Line with Sid, the Captain's line was -1. When Crosby was paired with Rakell and Beauvillier he was even. When Sid - Geno - Bunting they were even.

    Jarry faced 12 Rebound attempts - the clown can't control them. I am sick to tears of that Sullivan apologist on PHN who keeps trying to defend staying with Jarry and accusing all of the other Pens Goalies of not being able to control the puck.

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