The Pittsburgh Penguins were able to lean on Tristan Jarry to get them through a couple of bad periods and outlasted the Buffalo Sabres for in a 4-3 overtime victory. The first two periods the Sabres speed bagged the Penguins at 5v5 and without Jarry’s 22 saves in those two periods things could have been a lot worse.
Through two periods the Penguins only had an xGF% of 30.28 and it looked that way on the ice. They outattempted Pittsburgh 34-17. Pittsburgh looked slow and could not generate anything anywhere on the ice. It was all stuff off the glass and high in the air to relieve pressure. Very few plays were with control or speed. I had a good look at the entire ice as I made a last-minute decision to bring my middle daughter to her first Penguins game.
She has good taste, at least in my opinion.
The game was scoreless for a good chunk of time until the later stages of the second period when Pittsburgh was finally able to break the seal with a power play goal, yes a power play goal. After struggling for much of the year the Penguins are six for their last 18 on the power play. Including two for five this evening.
Jake Guentzel was able to sneak one by Craig Anderson on the power play on his blocker side. Earlier in the first period the Penguins had a very dangerous sequence on the power play with Sabres sticks exploding left and right that they weren’t able to capitalize on. It was one of the few times the Penguins looked dangerous through 40 minutes.
Things turned in the third period. For whatever reason the Sabres looked like they stepped off the gas pedal. Instances where the defense would have stepped up to keep the zone in the first two periods saw Buffalo defenders backing off in the third. Pittsburgh looked more engaged and as a result the Penguins pushed back in a big way. The won the shot attempt battle 15-4 in the third.
Sidney Crosby, in a very rare occurrence, did not register a point while visiting Buffalo. This has been as close to an automatic thing since he came into the league. He doesn’t always have to find his way onto the scoresheet to leave you impressed. I had a great view of his double pad stack to hold the blue line and then his patience waiting for help coming from the neutral zone. It was really awesome. Sid of course loves playing in net recreationally, probably to the Penguins chagrin. He was able to put those skills to work on this play.
Only Sid
The teams then traded late third period goals with a Brock McGinn bad angle snipe and then Kyle Okposo’s late power play goal. Then things got interesting. Jake Guentzel did a fly by tap on Craig Anderson which angered Jeff Skinner. The two exchanged some slashes and that’s when Skinner’s temper got the best of him. He crosschecked Guentzel right in the face.
As you can see it was a clear match penalty. He earned a five minute major and the Penguins would cash in on a Jeff Carter goal in overtime as a result. I get being upset and wanting to defend your goalie. I understand not liking being slashed. Crosscheck him in the chest, wrestle with him, fight him, whatever. You can’t do what Skinner did. It was so bad the league has already announced a hearing. Something that is usually done the next day.
Some other observations:
The Penguins defense looks really slow with Kris Letang out of the lineup. Pierre-Olivier Joseph was the only one who looked like they could break away from other players out there. Marcus Pettersson plays a sharp game so he’s fine. The other players can get exposed by teams who skate as well as the Sabres.
I don’t know if it is a coincidence that Dumoulin plays some of his worst games when I see him in Buffalo or not but he looked wretched. He does not look like a player who belongs in the league. Petry might not be quick, but he at least moves his foot. Dumoulin looks like a statue. The Sabres forwards ate him up. He had a CF 3 CA 18 through two periods and finished a team worst CF 9 CA 19 and looked every bit as bad as the stats. Find someone to take that 4M and get Ty Smith up there. It couldn’t possibly be worse.
Rasmus Dahlin is a real treat to watch. He’s so good with the puck and facilitating things from the back end. His forwards must love him. Ralph Krueger really did a number on him during those years. It is great to see him being used how you think a #1 overall defenseman should be used.
For all their faults in this game I thought the Penguins did a decent enough job taking away Tage Thompson’s ability to be a game breaker. I remember him having a really dangerous shot that missed the net, but the Penguins were very aware of his presence on the ice and tried not to give him any clean looks. Make no mistake, the Sabres had the better of the play with Thompson on the ice. He led all Sabres CF 17 CA 9. I just think it could have been a lot worse than it was. He’s been that good this year.
Sabres need royal blue pants to go with those jerseys. Too much white going on. I think they’d be sharp with the different pants.
While there may have been too much white with the pants it was great to see the proper jersey matchup with the home team in white and road team in dark. The league really needs to go back to this.
These two teams are going to go right back at it tomorrow in Pittsburgh. Should be in for another good one.
Thanks for reading!
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