Say this for our Penguins. They’ve managed to accomplish what virtually no other team in the NHL has this season.
Namely, make the faltering Maple Leafs look like world-beaters.
Indeed, the Leafs entered yesterday’s contest with the Pens at Scotiabank Arena having lost three straight by a combined score of 14-4.
No worries for embattled Toronto coach Craig Berube and his charges. Just send in our Pens to play the role of patsy.
Yesterday’s 6-3 loss to the Leafs was pretty much a continuation of what’s transpired since Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte went on IR roughly three weeks ago.
Namely, disconnected, error-laden play, especially in the neutral and defensive zones but also at the opposing blue line, where giveaways by Kevin Hayes and Erik Karlsson led directly to breakaway goals against.
Indeed, we’re finding new and inventive ways to blow games almost each and every night.
Add in a rookie coach who seems increasingly unable to affect positive results on the ice and the fact that we routinely get jobbed by the refs?
Small wonder we’re 1-5-4 in our last 10.
As for the specifics of yesterday’s loss?
After falling behind, 3-1, early in the second period, we rallied to knot the score on goals by Rutger McGroarty (a bright spot) and Anthony Mantha. However, midway through the final period, light-scoring Max Domi made like his dad’s pal, Mario Lemieux, and dashed the length of the ice virtually unimpeded to score the back-breaker.
Shades of Super Mario’s goal against poor Jon Casey and the Stars in the ’91 Cup Final.
The final score was fluffed by empty-netters from Bobby McMann and William Nylander.
Puckpourri
Bryan Rust scored the Pens’ first goal on a breakaway at 9:51 of the first period, 44 seconds after Nylander’s initial strike.
In what’s become an almost nightly occurrence, we had a goal disallowed, this one by Justin Brazeau, that would’ve staked us to an early lead.
It’s awfully hard to fault Stuart Skinner on three of the Leafs’ goals, including the blunder-fueled breakaway tallies by Nylander and Steven Lorentz. Also the “own” goal off a shanked clearing attempt by Parker Wotherspoon. But it also serves to underscore just how well Tristan Jarry was performing, especially during the 4-1-1 stretch that preceded his trade.
I know there’ll be many, including my PP colleagues, who’ll be clamoring for one (or both) of our kid goalies, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, to be summoned post haste from the Baby Pens. I, personally, would be cautious about throwing them into the odd-man-break threshing machine otherwise known as our d-zone.
Folks are beginning to compare Dan Muse to former black-and-gold skipper Mike Johnston. Knowledgeable hockey men, both. However, I’m seeing the same deer-in-the-headlights look from behind the bench that I saw during MJ’s brief run.
There’s an old adage that a coach can’t lace up the skates and do the job for the players and that’s true. But he has to somehow get buy-in, and I’m not sure that’s happening. It’s as if the vets have already tuned out Muse and his staff.
The question is, do we take the time to develop a coach the way we would a young player? That is, allowing him to get on-the-job training while working through his mistakes?
A random thought. Could the Hurricanes have been right to include Ville Koivunen in the Jake Guentzel trade? Yes, it’s early to pronounce judgment. But Ville seems a step slow at this level.
You may have noticed I’m not doing traditional game summaries any more. That’s by design. I simply don’t have the steam or energy to delve into all the details. Hope these recaps/commentaries will suffice.
They Are Who We Thought They Were
As the last vestiges of our hot start fade from memory, to quote the immortal Dennis Green, the Pens are morphing into the team many thought they would be heading into the season. One that could very well be in line for a lottery pick in a high-talent draft year before all is said and done. Perhaps even a shot at much ballyhooed talents like Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff.
May the joy of Christ fill your homes and hearts this holiday season.
I do wonder about the buy in. in the early part of the season, puck support was key, and everywhere. that seems to have disappeared mostly. I’m not sure if that’s because teams adjusted to what they were doing, or players just falling back into old habits….
but you cannot discount how bad it was to lose Malkin for so many games. he’s such an important piece to the team. not only just driving play, but also being the heartbeat.
Hey all.
At the risk of sounding like I’m writing with a forked keyboard, I was encouraged by a comment on another site to look up Koivunen’s advanced stats.
You know what? They’re almost uniformly terrific, much like those of fellow kids Ben Kindel and Rutger McGroarty. I just wish he could contribute on the score sheet, too. Perhaps in time…
Rick
Hey all.
Okay, so this has nothing to do with hockey. But our Pirates are making some MOVES this winter with an eye toward at long-last fielding a competitive team. Being a Buccos fan from way back, I’d thought I’d mention them.
In fairly rapid succession, the Bucs acquired slugging All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe (31 home runs last season) in a three-way deal with Tampa Bay and Houston, and signed free-agent infielder Ryan O’Hearn, another professional hitter with some pop. They’re rumored to be actively pursuing slugging Japanese third-sacker Kazuma Okamoto as well.
This on the heels of acquiring promising power-hitting outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia from the Red Sox and adding bullpen depth in high-leverage reliever Gregory Soto and lefty Mason Montgomery.
Hot shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin, the 2025 Minor League Player of the Year, who could make an appearance as soon as this summer.
Combined with what promises to be a good, young pitching staff anchored by Cy Young winner Paul Skenes?
This could be a fun summer, indeed.
Rick
Hey all.
Other Rick made an extremely astute point during a conversation this morning, one that completely eluded me and bears repeating.
He feels part of the reason the Pens have been playing so poorly is the murderous schedule they’ve been under since returning from Sweden. In a shade over a month (32 days to be exact), they’ve played 17 games! Basically every other night.
Especially when you’re an older team like our Pens, that’s gotta wear you down. And a worn-out team is prone to taking short cuts, which leads to mistakes and sloppy play and odd-man breaks against, etc. Which is what we’re seeing.
Small wonder we’re 5-7-5 during that span.
Rick
Add-on number two…since a shaky first game, Jack St. Ivany seems to be settling down (and settling in). Especially since he’s been paired with Ryan Shea.
I have absolutely nothing against Connor Clifton. In fact, I like him and the fact that he plays with a physical edge. Especially since so few of our players do.
However, it just makes sense to develop a younger player like St. Ivany in Connor’s stead if we can.
Rick