WOW! Penguins Rally But Fall Short in Shootout

Before I launch into my recap of last night’s Metro set-to with Carolina, I must state what an incredibly entertaining game it was. Replete with more plot twists than a knife-edge, Alfred Hitchcock thriller.

And I absolutely couldn’t be more proud of our Penguins and the effort they gave, even if they ultimately wound up on the short-end of a 5-4 shootout loss.

Just an incredibly gritty, gutsy, resilient performance by our guys.

The game didn’t start so well for the boys in black ‘n’ gold. Indeed, the swarming, forecheck happy ‘Canes poured out of the starting gate. By the midpoint of the opening period they’d piled up an 11-1 edge in shots on goal and a 1-0 lead on a tally by Logan Stankhoven.

Then the Pens found the on-switch. The result? The ice totally tilted in the opposite direction, culminating in a tying goal by Anthony Mantha from the slot with just 56 ticks left in the period.

Aided by three early penalties to the ‘Canes that had their coach Rod Brind’Amour…uh…impugning the officials’ heritage among other things…the Pens continued to control play in the second period. After squandering the first two opportunities, Bryan Rust cashed in on the third, courtesy of a gorgeous seam-pass by budding star Egor Chinakhov.

With the Pens dictating play through an increasingly heated second period and Stuart Skinner keeping things buttoned down in goal, I felt good about our chances of emerging with two points.

Then came the third period and plot twist number one. Don’t know if Brind’Amour applied some of that pent-up vitriol to the ‘Canes collective breeches between periods, but the home team came out for third like a house afire while the Pens sagged.

The next time I looked up from my front-desk duties at Wright’s Gym, the score was 3-2 in favor of the ‘Canes. Four-two by the time I looked up again.

Discouraged that we’d let this one slip away, I once again returned to my duties. I did glance up at the TV in time to see Skinner rob Eric Robinson with a superb glove save. Great save, but too little too late. Or so I thought.

Then came plot twist number two. Something caught my eye on one of the TVs in front of our treadmills. Were the Pens celebrating? I turned to the big-screen TV behind the front desk and noted the score.

Four-four! What the…?

Just then a gym member happened by and blurted, “Last time I looked up it was 4-2. What happened?” All I could do was shrug. Upon review I learned that Noel Acciari and Rust had netted the comeback goals, both with Skinner pulled and both within the last 2:08.

Mesmerized, I set my gym duties aside, my attention now riveted to the TV in overtime. My hopes rose and sagged and rose again when Jaccob Slavin was whistled for slashing halfway through the extra stanza. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t put the clincher past Frederik Andersen.

Mantha made an incredible, diving play to break up a 2-on-0 in the waning seconds. For better or worse, the game went to a shootout.

Coach Dan Muse mercifully shook things up and went with Ben Kindel in the lead-off spot. Kid Kinde scored to stake us to a lead, but Andrei Svechnikov tied it for the ‘Canes.

In round two, Chinakhov had Andersen down and at his mercy, but sent his backhander wide right. My heart sank, knowing full-well what was in store. But, my word, I couldn’t be prouder of our guys.

Puckpourri

The ‘Canes loosed 85 shot attempts (to our 66) at Skinner and outshot us, 43-28, per Natural Stat Trick.

If the Pens remind me of the Vegas Misfits, the ‘Canes could be labelled “the Castoffs.” Previous washouts like Robinson, Jalen Chatfield, Jordan Martinook, Mike Reilly and ex-Pen Mark Jankowski, who scored their second goal, invariably find a home under Brind’Amour.

Skinner turned in a heroic effort in goal, stopping 39 of 43 shots. He shouldered the blame for yielding the winning goal in the shootout. In stark contrast to former Pen Tristan Jarry, who’s calling out his Oilers ‘mates.

Rust paced our attack with two goals and three points. Mantha’s goal was his 24^th, one shy of his career-best. Ville Koivunen set up his latest tally with a slick pass. The youngster has two assists in three games since his return.

Chinakhov picked up two helpers. He now has five points in three games without Evgeni Malkin, dispelling any notion that his productivity might depend on Geno. (Which may not bode well for No. 71’s future.)

With nine points (2+7) in eight games since the Olympics, Erik Karlsson’s been downright masterful. Oh, and Kris Letang made several nice defensive plays.

I like what I’ve seen of newcomer Elmer Söderblom (four shots on goal). He skates well for such a large human being and seems to possess decent hockey sense as well.

Standings-wise, the Pens (32-17-15, 79 points) maintain their hold on second in the Metro, although the Islanders have moved into a virtual tie with 79 points as well. Meanwhile, the piping-hot CBJ are gunning up our tail pipe with 76 points.

As it’s shaping up, a very good team is going to miss out on the playoffs in the East. Pray it’s not us.

An extra win, or two or three in shootouts, and we’re not in this pickle.

Next up, the Golden Knights in Vegas on Thursday.