The Penguins didn’t play a perfect hockey game during last night’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Devils at PPG Paints Arena. For that matter, neither did the victorious Devils. Shot activity for both sides was almost non-existent until the closing minutes of the first period. The Pens, in particular, had trouble breeching the high-danger areas between the dots.
It was, however, a highly entertaining hockey game, one packed with drama, especially during overtime and the shootout.
The Pens almost grabbed the lead near the end of a tight opening frame. However, Rickard Rakell’s would-be power-play goal off his left skate was waved off due to a debatable kicking motion. Moments later, Cody Glass missed a glorious opportunity at a mostly open net.
As so often happens in hockey, the Devils promptly countered and scored, with speedy Jack Hughes doing the honors 17 seconds before the period-ending horn.
Hughes made it 2-0 at 9:43 of the second, scoring on a one-timer from inside the right circle during 4-on-4 play.
Just as it appeared the game was slipping away, Sidney Crosby sliced down the right side five minutes later and unleashed a backhander on Nico Daws. Rakell pounced on the rebound, swung behind the net, and beat the Devils’ netminder at the far post for his 24th goal of the season.
The Pens pushed the pace in the third period to the tune of an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. However, catastrophe nearly struck when Crosby’s arm got pinned between Luke Hughes and Erik Haula on an innocent-looking play.
Bent over and clutching his arm, Sid made a bee-line for the dressing room in obvious pain. A sight that no doubt sickened his teammates and the entire Penguins Nation. (Sid mercifully returned later in the period.)
Yet despite the unfavorable turn, the black-and-gold soon knotted the score. Anthony Beauvillier, who played a terrific game, carried the puck in deep and wrapped it around the boards to Pierre-Olivier Joseph stationed on the left half-wall. POJ proceeded to spin away from his checker and drove to the net with a power move before slipping a short pass to Kevin Hayes in the slot. The big guy made no mistake and whipped the biscuit past Daws.
An absolute gem of a play by POJ.
Overtime was sheer chaos, with the Pens for the most part getting the better of it. Bryan Rust had arguably our best chance to pot the winner, but was stoned by Daws and ate a high stick for his troubles. Alex Nedeljkovic made a pair of game-saving stops on Jack Hughes, including a breakaway attempt in the waning seconds to force a shootout.
Rakell and Beauvillier staked us to a 2-1 edge, but Ned couldn’t stop Dougie Hamilton’s must-have snipe. After Hayes, Kris Letang and Glass failed to score, Timo Meier beat Ned in Round 7. Denying us, IMHO, a deserved second point.
Puckpourri
I really like our team’s moxie and ability to hang tough and battle back when the chips are down. Unfortunately, our Achilles heel (or one of ‘em), difficulty finishing, was on full display. Small wonder we’re 1-5 in shootouts.
I like the feel of the team with Boko Imama and Vincent Desharnais in the lineup. While the latter isn’t especially mobile, he gets in the way and displays some abrasiveness to boot. He and partner Ryan Graves allowed only one shot on goal against 5v5 and finished with sterling expected goals for percentages of 90.55 and 89.31, respectively.
Although Imama only skated six shifts, the Devils were keenly aware of his presence. On at least two occasions, Boko narrowly missed mashing Devils defenders into the end boards, in the process forcing them to hurry their passes.
I much prefer Boko to a benign type like Matt Nieto skating around in circles.
Ned continues to be mostly terrific in net (19 saves on 21 shots, .905 save percentage) since assuming the starting job. Hayes’ tally was our first 4-on-4 goal in two years!
The Pens (22-24-9, 53 points) wrap up their pre 4 Nations slate on the road with back-to-backers against the Rangers and Flyers on Friday and Saturday night.
We’re currently tied with Philly for last place in the Metro, a distant 13 points behind the third-place Devils and seven points out of the second Eastern Conference wild card slot.
Rick
Like you i think it’s a huge positive having Imama, and Desharnais in the lineup. It’s been a pleasant
surprise to see how steady the big guy is defensively – he know’s who he is as a player.
On another note why does Sullivan insist on sending out Letang in shootouts?? He’s 3-15 over the
last 5 years and 1 for 5 over the last 3 years. Give someone else a shot.