The Pittsburgh Penguins in the midst of a three game losing streak, have reverted back to their ways from December where defensively the play away from the puck has been as bad as it gets.
The 8-4 loss to the Boston Bruins Thursday night highlighted all of it where Pittsburgh constantly had 3-4 players caught on one side, a ton of puck watching that was followed by terrible goaltending.
Quite a few of the Penguins lower tier players were victimized in the loss.
Carter Rowney who is playing nowhere near an NHL level player, was on the ice for 5 goals against in 5:45 of ice time through two periods. On the ice for 5 goals against in under six minutes of ice is about as impossible as it gets but it happened against the Bruins for Rowney.
Jamie Oleksiak was also on the ice for 5 goals against in just 6:35 of ice time after two periods.
Oleksiak has hit a bit of wall the last couple games, on the ice for 10 goals against during the Penguins 3 game losing the streak, the same number (10 goals against) for partner Matt Hunwick.
The Penguins third pairing and 4th line wingers are a problem for Pittsburgh again, but at the end of the day the Penguins are not going to win or lose the Stanley Cup because Matt Hunwick is the Penguins No. 6 defenseman and Ian Cole is now in Columbus.
These last three games have also shown the Penguins look like the Penguins from November/December a bit where the opposition is coming off as the quicker team in winning puck races and excelling through the neutral zone with ease on zone entries.
It was key area in losses to the Devils, Bruins this week.
The Penguins through 65 games have 76 points, 16 points behind the conference leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
Are the Lightning really 16 points better than Pittsburgh?
Probably not, but 65 games in, a true barometer of the Penguins is that they’re somewhere in-between the inconsistent level of play from October – December and the great six week stretch they put on the ice prior to this three game losing streak.
Everything that comes back to the Penguins is that as vulnerable as they look at times, the Penguins are the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions and they’re so mentally strong that a Metropolitan Division team beating them four out of seven times is a believe it when I’ll see it situation.
Philadelphia would be an extremely dangerous series for the Penguins, an entertaining one for sure that needs to happen, but Brian Elliott beating a healthy Matt Murray four times isn’t likely happening.
Washington – Pittsburgh would be another pick’em series but we know how those have went recently and personnel wise, Pittsburgh is the quicker team and has some key favorable matchups.
Whether the Penguins finish first, second, third or the first wildcard spot, staying in the Metropolitan Division playoff bracket is all that matters for the Penguins.
More Buzz
A 5:00 p.m. puck drop today between the Penguins and Islanders, will the Derick Brassard/Phil Kessel line finally break out?
Give it time but issue for the Penguins might be finding the proper left winger with those two.
Penguin coaches always preach to play with pace but as one team source says, Conor Sheary is fighting the puck so bad it’s leading him to playing too fast and he’s constantly rushing passes, ect.
Brassard excels at letting plays develop and another thing the line doesn’t have is someone to hunt the puck in the tough areas.
Zach Aston-Reese would have been intriguing there but he’s dealing with a nagging injury that has him week to week.
Dominik Simon got the recall Friday and gives Pittsburgh a needed skill option with the bottom-level lines, though, that’s if he gets to dress over Carter Rowney.
However, a Daniel Sprong recall could have helped facilitate a trick-down effect with the lines that could put a better forechecking presence with Brassard/Kessel.
Sprong has at least shown some small glimpses of success with Sidney Crosby and the ideal move would have been playing Guentzel – Crosby – Sprong together and putting Bryan Rust on Brassard’s left wing To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
If I get -200, Sam has to delete his account.
Lol what’s going on?
I’ll be damned he always shows up 65th minute .
Wait a minute Crosby is here he is in charge of complaining.
Crosby sucks
It worked 🙂
He’s a “Professional”
Hi Sam’s mom. Will Sam be on to post soon?
Chris Gibson is the best ever.
Great strategy!
Not sure how that can be construed as a strategy.
Jinxing the the goalie is a good strategy.
Got ya. Well, at least we got one on him. That islanders goal was fluky, but if we keepthis pace up I think we tie it.
Dissapointing and boring game. Odd start time.
Simply Dusty good thing you are working today and didn’t see Jarry’s goal he let in. It’s the worst goal given up by a goalie this year. I hope that nerd crew you are in charge of don’t listen to your useless information that comes out of your mouth. Your keen eye on situations is always wrong. #deleteyouraccountmoron
#keephisaccount we need the customers to keep your mstartari and tbj therapy sessions going.
7/10 posts on this thread directed towards me. Nope, you’re not obsessed with me. Hahahahahahaha loser.
Yep dumb people fascinate me on here. Good to see your buddy gray balls chimed in. You, Sam and Cbauer clueless when it comes to hockey.
9/12
Here’s number 10….. How’s work? You’re so busy but you are counting my posts. Make sure you ask if they want to make that a combo kid.
When you gonna get back to being a crosby ball washer? You actually made partial sense back then. Now all you do is hang from my nuts and zero’s nutz and you seem rather weak and pathetic.
Yeah I never say that Sid’s been bad when it’s happened. You truly are Simple. Yeah I’m pathetic. I guess I should just root for the players and not the team. Remember that gem from you? That was as pathetic and weak as it gets Fcukface.
Do you get depressed when you look in the mirror? Do you come here for therapy?
I’m sure you get depressed when you look at your paycheck. I bet you still live at home. You and Sam are very similar.
A doctor would have a field day reading your posts and would love to talk to you about obsession. Give it a shot.
Zzzzzzz
Forgotten more hockey than you will ever know mstartari but keep up your fantasy its helps you through the day.
Just because you are old and watched more hockey, it doesn’t make you more knowledgeable old man river. The posts you make on here prove that.
Prove any of my post wrong yet NOPE. All you do is try to insult. My experience wasn’t just watching more to it than that.
What you type proves you wrong. You know nobody listens to senior citizen rants. I’m amazed you know how to post at your advanced age.
As long as no shots go against Jarry he will be fine.
A concussed Murray is way better than Jarry.
Jarry has a higher ceiling than Murray. Recchi said it as well…..Simply Dusty
So an inured (constantly) Murray helps us how?
Good point. It’s hard to see how a goalie who played incredible during two Cup runs “helps”.
I think Murray must have banged his granddaughter and Simply Dusty’s Mom.
He isn’t here he doesn’t help. Cant figure that out can you. FI
You’d probably be better off staying in your lane and conversing with Sam.
Good to see Simply Dusty’s grandpa woke up from is nap. Watch Matlock instead. Either way you can’t follow what you are watching.
Where is Murray he’s not in line up then that means he isn’t helping. How many injuries has he had so far? Think about it his games played to injury ratio is very concerning if you don’t have at least a 1B goalie to back him up.
btw Saturday if i am not going to sporting event is Sci Fi day get it right.
Or agreeing with your retard son Simply Dusty on your tablet.
I think they were talkng about their houses, not their skill.
Must have been.
Jarry definitely looks better than Murray.
That asshat Simply Dusty thinks so. After that goal, whatever Simply Dusty posts take with a grain of salt. That dude isn’t much smarter than Sam when it comes to hockey.
The Wedel is in.
Sam and Simply Dusty suck.
Effing charity bag link isn’t working.
Thanks Russia.
It’s working now.
Yep. Just scooped mine up. Never got one before and this year looks awesome. Not that I’m looking to sell it, but they route fetch a nice premium on the secondary market. The pens probably should have made more, especially considering it’s for charity.
Now, to be fair, Rowdy Rowdy Rowney does kill penalties and 3 of the 5 were power play goals for the Bruins.
Now:
Guentzel Crosby Sprong
Hagelin Malkin Hornqvist
Sheahan Brassard Kessel
Shear/Simon Jooris Kuhnhackl
When Healthy:
Guentzel Crosby Sprong
Hagelin Malkin Hornqvist
Aston-Reese Brassard Kessel
Sheary/Simon Sheahan Rust
D- one of your more thoughtful columns of the year.
Rowney sucks
Kuhnackl isn’t far behind. There are certainly better options in the organization for that 4th line. 4 combined goals in 92 games for them this season.