Every once in a while life prevents me from doing a full recap of a Penguins game. This is one of those times.
Fortunately, from a retelling standpoint, there wasn’t much activity on the scoreboard. Erik Karlsson, who played a sensational game, staked us to the early lead 42 seconds in on a long-range wrister. However, by the six-minute mark, Bruins had snatched the lead and the momentum on a pair of tallies by Marat Khusnutdinov and Casey Mittlestadt fifty seconds apart.
Boston proceeded to dominate the first period while making zone entries and exits tough sledding for our Pens. After chasing the game, and the Bruins, for the opening 20 minutes, our guys began to find their stride in the second period and flipped the script in the third while outshooting our hosts 13-8.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t solve Jeremy Swayman.
Some random observations.
Even when we aren’t at our best, this bunch never gives up or gives in. Such was the case Tuesday night. The Pens were in it right up till the bitter end.
Centering for Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, rookie Ben Kindel played a whale of a game. He consistently drove play and created opportunities with his speed. Especially for a kid of modest dimensions (5’11” 182), Kindel’s absolutely fearless about venturing into the dirty areas. During one memorable sequence, he outworked (outmuscled?) Bruins behemoth Nikita Zadorov down low to create a scoring chance.
He’s like a mini-Sid out there.
Karlsson was brilliant, asserting himself all over the ice. When he’s in top form, the game just seems to flow from and through him. This was one of those nights.
Egor Chinakhov didn’t score, but is ever dangerous. His closing speed is dazzling.
When Stuart Skinner yielded those two goals in 50 seconds, I thought we were in for a long night. But Big Stu stiffened and made 26 saves while posting a .929 save percentage. More important, he kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win. That’s all you can ask of your goalie.
Speaking of, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Arturs Šilovs was named the NHL’s Second Star for the week ending March 1. The Latvian Olympian stopped 51 of 52 shots in victories over the Devils and Vegas, good for an incredible .981 percentage, to go with a microscopic 0.50 goals against average.
Faceoffs continue to be an enormous issue without Sidney Crosby (we lost 32 of 45 draws). It didn’t help that Blake Lizotte sat out as well. The Pens are now 2-6-3 sans the peppery pivot.
The Bruins, fast and physical, appear to have our number. Hope we don’t have to face them come the postseason.
That’s all for tonight, folks. Up next, the piping-hot Sabres on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.