Last night’s tilt between the Penguins and Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena was a lot like a gun fight from the old Wild West. The visitors drew first and fastest, pretty much leaving us for buzzard meat.
As for the Pens? To my eye, it was a classic case of old home week. In fact, the contest reminded me of any number of games from the last couple seasons under Mike Sullivan.
- Slow, mistake-pocked start. Check.
- Ineffective power play that featured little net-front presence and plenty of perimeter passing. Check.
- So-so goaltending from Tristan Jarry (not that I’m trying to pin the loss on him). Check.
- Plenty of vanilla play from guys who didn’t appear to be too enthusiastic about their jobs. Check.
Oh, and can’t forget making a rookie goalie (Jacob Fowler) look like a Vezina winner in his NHL debut.
Add it all up? You have a blah 4-2 loss to a Canadiens squad that was routed by the Lightning two nights prior.
We did wake up in the second period and attempt 66 shots over the final 40 minutes, 34 that made it through to the net. But to borrow from ‘80s pop icon Pat Benetar, it was a little too little, too late.
When Bryan Rust did finally beat Fowler 44 seconds into the final period thanks to an exquisite, eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head, backhand feed from Sidney Crosby to provide a trickle of juice? The Canadiens snapped the valve shut a mere 15 seconds later on a goal off the rush by Oliver Kapanen, Kasperi’s cousin.
To sum up? It was one of those games best taken out and buried in the backyard next to Rover’s bone.
Puckpourri
The Canadiens’ collective speed gave us fits. Unfortunately, we’ll be seeing them again, and soon. We have a home-and-home set with the Habs the weekend before Christmas.
Erik Karlsson got our other goal, his second of the season, on the power play with 4:53 remaining. Sid’s assist gives him 1719 points, just four shy of Mario Lemieux’s franchise record.
Tommy Novak (an assist) extended his points streak to five games. The ex-Pred has eight points (3+5) in his past seven games.
The game marked the first time Jarry allowed more than three goals since he yielded four to the Maple Leafs on November 3, a span of six starts.
Although they didn’t match their superb effort against the Ducks, the “Kid Line” of Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty once again did a good job of driving play and creating offense. McGroarty, in particular, had some glorious chances, including a shot that rang off the post. However, some production is needed.
Ryan Graves and Connor Clifton have emerged as a fairly solid third d-pairing. Always physical, Clifton dished out a game-high seven hits.
On the flip side, Kris Letang’s dead fish giveaway just 2:54 in teed up the Habs’ first goal, by journeyman Alexandre Texier no less. Tanger finished a well-deserved minus-two. I’ll say he’s not aging well and leave it at that. (Grrrr.)
I have nothing against Danton Heinen as a player. But, frankly, he’s just kind of there. Or JAG (just Another Guy) in today’s vernacular. I’d much rather see recent re-assignees Boko Imama or Sam Poulin in that fourth-line slot.
Despite the loss, the Pens (14-8-7, 35 points) and clinging to the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot by their fingernails.
Up next, the much-improved Sharks and scoring sensation Macklin Celebrini on Saturday afternoon. Old friends Ryan Reaves, Vincent Desharnais and Alex Nedeljkovic, too.
Just to balance the negative, the Pens visited the kids at Children’s Hospital on Wednesday. Heartwarming to say the least.