Not a great weekend for the Penguins as far as standings points are concerned. They had a real opportunity to close the gap on the Islanders and Capitals and only came away with one out of the four points possible. It was two bad results, but really only one poorly played game. The Penguins blew the game late against the Flyers much like how they did in the outdoor game. Pittsburgh did play really well for the majority of the contest last night
While frustrating it really doesn’t change their playoff odds or the Flyers for that matter. Pittsburgh remains at 95% while the Flyers victory bumps them all the way up to 5%. Although it does seem like a waste when Jack Johnson and Phil Kessel are lead the way on the possession front for the defense and forwards. I'd be curious if that has ever happened before.
The real loss for the Penguins came in an announcement after the game. Evgeni Malkin is week-to-week(!) with an upper body injury. This is just the latest chapter in which a Penguins player obviously gets hurt in a game and toughs it out to finish the game only to miss a bunch of games afterwards. The real frustrating part is Malkin was hurt due to a blatant crosscheck by Robert Bortuzzo. The play was clear as day and there was no infraction for it. There is obviously no supplemental discipline coming yet we have one of the game’s best players out for weeks because a player illegally used their stick, but nobody seems to care. Crosschecking is one of most easily observed penalties, but the NHL has been so lackadaisical about calling it that the players do it all the time. Every time there is a stationary puck battle on the boards it is an open invitation for players to crosscheck each other in the back. This time it cost the league one of its most interesting players. It’s stupid.
Sidney Crosby had a rough sequence to end the game. It isn’t often he makes blind passes to nobody, especially in a 3v3 situation. His missed pinch is also why Sean Couturier went in on goal with a 2v1. I’m going to let this one slide. Crosby seems to have a track record of making great plays.
The goaltending was great for both teams. Carter Hart stopped 41 out of 42 shots while Matt Murray stopped 36 out of 38 shots. For what started as a very dull game the goalies sure got a lot of work.
The Penguins lost the game in the second period when they out attempted the Flyers 30-11 at 5v5. They need to turn some of the potential into kinetic results. Hart was outstanding and allowed the Flyers to figure things out at intermission.
Bryan Rust’s return was noticeable. His speed is such a great asset for the team. I’m shocked he is already back in the lineup considering how his leg bent when he was injured. My favorite play was when he pushed the puck forward about 20-25 feet to himself from the neutral zone into the offensive zone to create a mini-breakaway. It was a great use of his speed and the space that was available.
It’s too bad Malkin is hurt because the team would have been able to push Teddy Blueger to the fourth line which isn’t meant to say Blueger has played poorly (he scored the Penguins only goal last night), but if he’s on the fourth line it means the rest of the lineup is strong.
Sid’s biggest mistake of the game might have been when the Flyers had their goalie pulled. He didn’t get the puck to the Wayne Gretzky of empty net goals, Jared McCann.
The road this week is going to be a difficult one without Evgeni Malkin (even with a likely Kris Letang return). They will be at the surging Carolina Hurricanes, at Nashville, and at Dallas who are fighting for their playoff lives.
Thanks for reading!
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