Say this for our Penguins. They’ve managed to accomplish what virtually no other team in the NHL has this season.
Namely, make the faltering Maple Leafs look like world-beaters.
Indeed, the Leafs entered yesterday’s contest with the Pens at Scotiabank Arena having lost three straight by a combined score of 14-4.
No worries for embattled Toronto coach Craig Berube and his charges. Just send in our Pens to play the role of patsy.
Yesterday’s 6-3 loss to the Leafs was pretty much a continuation of what’s transpired since Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte went on IR roughly three weeks ago.
Namely, disconnected, error-laden play, especially in the neutral and defensive zones but also at the opposing blue line, where giveaways by Kevin Hayes and Erik Karlsson led directly to breakaway goals against.
Indeed, we’re finding new and inventive ways to blow games almost each and every night.
Add in a rookie coach who seems increasingly unable to affect positive results on the ice and the fact that we routinely get jobbed by the refs?
Small wonder we’re 1-5-4 in our last 10.
As for the specifics of yesterday’s loss?
After falling behind, 3-1, early in the second period, we rallied to knot the score on goals by Rutger McGroarty (a bright spot) and Anthony Mantha. However, midway through the final period, light-scoring Max Domi made like his dad’s pal, Mario Lemieux, and dashed the length of the ice virtually unimpeded to score the back-breaker.
Shades of Super Mario’s goal against poor Jon Casey and the Stars in the ’91 Cup Final.
The final score was fluffed by empty-netters from Bobby McMann and William Nylander.
Puckpourri
Bryan Rust scored the Pens’ first goal on a breakaway at 9:51 of the first period, 44 seconds after Nylander’s initial strike.
It’s awfully hard to fault Stuart Skinner on three of the Leafs’ goals, including the blunder-fueled breakaway tallies by Nylander and Steven Lorentz. Also the “own” goal off a shanked clearing attempt by Parker Wotherspoon. But it also serves to underscore just how well Tristan Jarry was performing, especially during the 4-1-1 stretch that preceded his trade.
I know there’ll be many, including my PP colleagues, who’ll be clamoring for one (or both) of our kid goalies, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, to be summoned post haste from the Baby Pens. I, personally, would be cautious about throwing them into the odd-man-break threshing machine otherwise known as our d-zone.
Folks are beginning to compare Dan Muse to former black-and-gold skipper Mike Johnston. Knowledgeable hockey men, both. However, I’m seeing the same deer-in-the-headlights look from behind the bench that I saw during MJ’s brief run.
There’s an old adage that a coach can’t lace up the skates and do the job for the players and that’s true. But he has to somehow get buy-in, and I’m not sure that’s happening. It’s as if the vets have already tuned out Muse and his staff.
The question is, do we take the time to develop a coach the way we would a young player? That is, allowing him to get on-the-job training while working through his mistakes?
A random thought. Could the Hurricanes have been right to include Ville Koivunen in the Jake Guentzel trade? Yes, it’s early to pronounce judgment. But Ville seems a step slow at this level.
You may have noticed I’m not doing traditional game summaries any more. That’s by design. I simply don’t have the steam or energy to delve into all the details. Hope these recaps/commentaries will suffice.
They Are Who We Thought They Were
As the last vestiges of our hot start fade from memory, to quote the immortal Dennis Green, the Pens are morphing into the team many thought they would be heading into the season. One that could very well be in line for a lottery pick in a high-talent draft year before all is said and done. Perhaps even a shot at much ballyhooed talents like Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff.
May the joy of Christ fill your homes and hearts this holiday season.