With sincere apologies to our faithful PenguinPoop readers, due to the fact that I’ll be indisposed tomorrow, this recap will be brief.
- The heretofore smoking-hot Penguins jumped to a 2-0 lead over Islanders at PPG Paints Arena, then completely dissolved in the third period and lost 4-2.
- It was truly all my fault. With us still holding that two-goal edge entering the second intermission, Wright’s Gym member Dan Mazur opined, “We’ll find a way to blow it,” as he departed. “No way we lose this game,” I replied with confidence.
- Yep, I said it…and we lost it.
- As for the particulars, less than five minutes into his first game of the season with the big boys, even bigger winger Joona Koppanen—working on an emergency recall from the Baby Pens—scored his first goal of the season (and first of his NHL career for that matter).
- Although he didn’t receive an assist, Boko Imama figured in prominently on the goal. The heavyweight forward chased down a dump-in from Kevin Hayes and reversed the puck to Kris Letang at the right point. In the process, igniting a crisp, around-the-horn sequence which led to the goal.
- Sidney Crosby notched our second goal with 15 seconds left in the period. It was Sid’s 1670th point, which moved him past Wayne Gretzky and into sole possession of fourth place for most points scored with one team. Just ahead on the list at 1723, a fellow named Mario.
- Ryan Graves and Conor Timmins assisted.
- Then I opened my big mouth (unwittingly invoking the dreaded PenguinPoop curse) and the roof literally caved in or the sky fell, whichever you prefer.
- Kyle Palmieri struck for the Isles 17 seconds into the third period. Noah Dobson notched the equalizer five minutes later. Much-maligned Pierre Engvall blew past the equally maligned Graves to tally the game-winner at 13:08. And Simon Holmstrom tacked on an empty-netter at 18:28.
- BING, BANG, BOOM and BONG.
- And just like that, our nice, tidy four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt.
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Yep Rick, it was all your fault.
Letang’s mishandling of the puck at the right point while his D partner decided to go wondering deep into the attacking zone with a 2-0 lead (system not player error) had nothing to do with the NYI getting on the board, nor did butter fingers Jarry's inability to control Palmieri’s shot.
Just like Timmins ill advised belly flop that took him out of the play allowing three Isles to crash the net against 0 penguins defenders on the Dobson Goal have anything to with the loss. It was all you.
And let’s not forget that it was you, not the pylons masquerading as Malkin’s wings that couldn’t support his drive to the net, or Karlsson’s kicking the puck up ice away from any back pressure any Pens defender could provide. Nor was Jarry’s in ability to cover the angles and give up the short side Engvall have anything to do with the loss.
The “modest 4-game win streak” notwithstanding, this is not a good team. They are no tied for the most losses in a season during the Malkin era and second most losses in the Crosby era.
Well, I'm glad it wasn't ALL my fault...lol
Rick