In a game that in many ways was a microcosm of our season, the Penguins started the second half on the wrong foot with a come-from-in-front 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Blue Jackets.
We slogged out of the starting gate and fell behind early before picking up the scent in the second period with a power-play goal by Michael Bunting to knot the score. Then we proceeded to snag a 3-1 third-period lead thanks to a pair of Rickard Rakell tallies.
A two-goal lead with less than 10 minutes to play. It’s in the bag, right?
WRONG.
The Blue Jackets’ Dmitri Voronkov scored his second of the night less than two minutes after Rakell put us up by two, at 12:05 to be exact, to pare our lead in half. Then Adam Fantilli tied it at 3-all on a power-play redirect with Blake Lizotte in the sin bin.
In overtime we did everything but score, with Bryan Rust coming the closest to converting. Unfortunately, close only counts in horse shoes.
On to the shootout, our den of horrors. Predictably, our shooters (Rust and Sidney Crosby) couldn’t score and the CBJ couldn’t miss, with kids Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko doing the honors. Completing yet another house-of-cards collapse.
Puckpourri
Since our resounding pre-holiday win over Philly, the Pens have gone 1-2-3, including four losses in a row. Yes, we’re still collecting points, but we’re leaving a lot on the table, too.
Speaking of microcosms, I thought this game perfectly framed who Tristan Jarry’s become. Yes, he made some key saves. But he also gave up goals you don’t want to allow, when you don’t want to allow them. And Tristan’s virtually helpless in shootouts.
Did I mention he allowed a goal on the first shot he faced for the sixth time this season?
Incredible…for all the wrong reasons.
On the plus side of the ledger, congrats to Rakell for reaching the 20-goal mark, and to Sid for becoming the NHL’s all-time leader in documented faceoff wins.
With six goals in his last seven games (four on the power play) Bunting is positively on fire. While I don’t want to part with him, the better to fetch a decent return at the trade deadline?
I was heartened to see recently waived Jesse Puljujärvi back in the lineup, never mind that it came at the expense of Evgeni Malkin’s surprise scratch due to an upper-body injury. Jesse was flying around the ice and seemed to mesh well with fellow big-‘n’-tallers Kevin Hayes and Drew O’Connor.
Is it just me, or is anyone else tired beyond tired of watching Noel Acciari and Matt Nieto thrash about? Yeah, I get that they’re both good penalty killers and defensive forwards and that Acciari provides some grit, yada, yada, yada…
Do you mean to tell me no one else in the organization can kill penalties? For goodness sake, waive those guys and call up Jonathan Gruden and Sam Poulin…heck, anyone…and plug ‘em into those spots.
We’re out and out bungling our chance to take hold of a wild-card spot. Some of our competition, most notably the Red Wings (five wins in a row) are heating up. Nearly all of those teams have games in hand.
If we miss the playoffs (and I predict we will) our sorry in-division record will be a factor. We’re a stinky 3-7-3 against our Metro brethren.
Speaking of, the CBJ are one of those talented young teams I’d gladly swap rosters with.
The load don’t get any lighter. Up next, the supercharged Oilers with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (and Kasperi Kapanen!).
Hey Rick
Regarding Malkin and without the risk of starting a nasty rumor I thought it was weird that during
the celebration for his 500th goal his wife wasn’t present. Just an observation on my part.
Also, listening to Craig Patrick after the game he kept making the point that the Pen’s have to
start shooting the puck – I think that definitely rung true when in OT instead of letting a shot go
Rust tried to get to the net to tuck one in. I also felt like he should of let it rip from 15′.
Rick & The Other Rick
This is more of a question and answer session:
1) Did anyone notice a difference in our play with Malkin out of the lineup?
2) Jarry – was anyone else besides me frustrated with Jarry’s demeanor during the shootout?
3) Why is Nieto taking up a roster spot?
4) Why aren’t the Pen’s pursuing College Free Agents to add depth to their prospect pool?
5) I found this interesting – Montreal has (1) D’Man with 90 blocks, and (2) D’Man with 82 & 81. The Pen’s
leading shot blocker is Pettersson with 59 followed by Karlsson 57 and Grzelcyk 54. Why?
6) How much would Zucker and Matheson help this team? We basically got nothing for either player.
Zucker left as a FA and replaced by Reilly Smith, and Matheson was traded for Petrie & Poehling.
Zucker currently has 15 goals and 16 assist – 31pts on a bad Buffalo team.
I look forward to your feedback – hope everyone is well and a belated Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year Mike,
* I con’t speak to the play without Malkin, I had to teach a class last night and missed a large portion of the game.
* As for Jarry, I am beyond frustrated with anything about Jarry – his SOs are systemic to his game. Ican’t wait for the day he is gone. That day’s celebration will only be eclipsed by the one when we get along pants coach.
* Nieto is an oxygen thief on this roster. The only reason that I can think of for Sullivan keeping him around is our Coaches aversion to youth. He thinks DOC is still a kid at 26 and 5 partial NHL seasons under his belt (with multiple interruptions due to his protracted disappearances from any tangible evidence of benefit to the team.
* Agreed, we should be going after College FAs. It is a numbers game. The more players we can sort through, the greater the odds we find a diamond in the rough.
* A friend of mine once talked about this, how older players give up the body far less than younger ones, trying to preserve themselves. Their focus shifts from hockey to their families (and I am not really blaming them – just commenting on nature).
* Matheson was one of the times I must admit I was wrong. He was one of the few D-men that seem to thrive in Sully’s inverted defensive system. I really do wish he was still here. Zucker, not so much. I would only weant him back if I could be sure he played like he did that final season – his UFA season, not the somnambulistic seasons before that.
Hey Rick,
Once again Sullivan and his boys snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Although there aren’t a whole lot of players that are on this roster that I would pick for a team I coached or GM ed, I hesitate to condemn anyone of them other than the clown masquerading as a goalie until such time as management brings in a real NHL level Coach, not a doorman from a super team that won a couple of Cups.
This team, due to a favorable schedule, has put up some numbers that it doesn’t deserve to create a dangerous illusion – as a team (not all the players) they stink!