Game 5 What We Learned
The Pittsburgh had their most dominating performance of the postseason and quit possibly the best overall performance in tilting the ice for an entire game since maybe the 2016 postseason, yet, here they are on the brink of elimination after a 3-2 loss to the Islanders in double overtime.
The Penguins lost this game despite a 50-28 edge in shots, 36-17 edge in scoring chances through first 80 minutes of play and a 14-4 edge in high danger chances.
The Penguins afterwards sounded like a hockey club where they just suffered a Game 1 loss of the series not a Game 5 loss that now has them having to win two in a row to advance.
“I was really proud of the team,” Sullivan said in taking quite the positive approach to the Game 5 loss. “I thought we played a really solid hockey game. All four lines were going, all six defenseman. Tristan made a couple of big saves for us throughout the course of the game. We played with some swagger. There was a lot of like about this game…..There are a lot of positives that we can draw on moving forward.”
Kris Letang despite the loss even called it a “statement” game from the Penguins.
“I think we made a statement,” said Letang. That’s the way we need to play going into their arena. I’m pretty confident that if we play the same way, we’ll get the result.”
The Penguins certainly did their part in bouncing back and showed again for whatever reason, they’re wired differently at home. Expecting the same fast paced, methodical style of play to be on the same level as Game 5 is going to be wishful thinking with the series shifting back to the Island. That place is going to be rocking.
— Hard Questions are coming soon……….
Pittsburgh got another dreadful performance from Tristan Jarry as Ilya Sorokin was fantastic in making 48 saves and shutout the Penguins over the final 53 minutes of play. Some criticism is warranted that you play this well and have the type of gifted players the Penguins do, you gotta finish another chance or two.
At the end of the day, though, what Tristan Jarry has proved is that the moment is too big for him and that’s a major problem in the big picture for the Penguins. He isn’t some 21, 22 year old rookie.
It wasn’t the double overtime gaffe in turning the puck over that we most concerning. Players make mistakes.
It was how he reacted on breakdowns from the second goal against to the double OT winner where he looked like a 45 year old pickup goaltender in how he was flopping around. He gave the team no chance as the second layer of defense.
It’s night and day how cool and collected Sorokin is in goal compared to how Jarry has been for much of the series in high pressure moments.
And here’s the reality for the Penguins.
Tristan Jarry isn’t beating Tuukka Rask four times if the Penguins find a way to advance to the second round. The Penguins do not have a legitimate No. 1 type goaltender long-term to be in the best position to compete for Cups during Sidney Crosby’s final great years.
— No one close to the situation is ready to go there yet that if the Penguins go out with a whimper in Game 6 that Mike Sullivan’s job is in serious jeopardy but just like everyone else, his future has been under evaluation from the new regime. The desire of the new regime to get a little more heavier and bring in more power forward type wingers and more muscle on the backend has been the plan for months and that was always going to be a discussion the two sides were going to have to work through this summer and an early exit is only going to push those plans into the forefront and force Sullivan’s hand that small changes to the style play will need to be made to the front office’s liking. Where that goes is anyone’s guess and a reason some around the league with openings have had close eyes To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Sullivan has done a terrific job. The whole staff has, first place, guiding a team that was riddled with injuries, and they kept this team going…
Gallant please bro…
Wish pens got Gallant
Number of cups won by Sully… 2.
Number of cups won by Gallant… 0.
Anyone miss MAF
Just you. He was a mess in Pittsburgh and cost them more cups than he actually won.
Go watch the Vegas game and drool.
Sid’s line sucks. He’s a -3. Let me guess we will hear he’s hurt. Sully’s last period coming up.
Sully wants that Ranger’s job.
No I believe you want Sullivan to want the Rangers job….ain’t happening
Sully can’t stop the puck for jarry…
No, but he could have sat Jarry instead of starting him.
I understand that, but his last 3 playoff coaching performance have been bad.
This whole year he and his staff have been excellent. They have had to deal with so many changes, disruptions, and injuries. ( Dumoulin missed 17 games, Malkin missed 20, Tanev missed 12 , Zucker 14)
230 plus man games lost due to injuries
This year the Penguins out played the Islanders in games 1,2,3 and 5. This isn’t like 2019 where we got swept and dominated…coaching was fine.
we had a goalie that cost us game 1 two soft goals and game 5 double ot gift wrapped the game for them with the pass to an islander..
Turn off your TV and you won’t hear it
Dude are you serious… Sid is the best 200 foot player in the game. Sullivan and his staff took a team that had 230 man games lost due to injury and finished in first place. In the playoffs good players get shutdown look at Mc David he didn’t score the first couple games of their series and the dude doesn’t ply a lick of defense.
Hence the Oilers getting swept…Mcdavid is like Malkin doesn’t cross the red line on the way back…
McDavid may be the Mike Trout of hockey…
Jarry looks terrible. His mechanics are beyond off.
Im not sure what he has to do to get pulled. He’s a fucking mess.
Agreed…Man has he falling far .. He was an all star not long ago..
Columbus has two terrific goalies they are moving one of them ! They do need offense maybe Zucker for Korpisalo or Merzlikins.
Dallas has Bishop /Khoudobin
Florida has three goalies
we need to find one in the off season..
Letang caught up ice, again!
That’s a shocker…
Slow azz Jeff Carter strikes again
Yeah he does well done…
ass..you mean
The Penguins have outplayed the Islanders in every game but game 4 in New York…. It is deflating to lose a double OT game on a bonehead play like Jarry’s. Game # 1 we out played them lost in OT Jarry two soft goals Game # 2 we won Game # 3 we won Game # 4 All islanders Game # 5 we outplayed them, out shot them and lost in double OT on a bonehead play by our goalie it will be tough but it can be done. off season loss Pettersson / Zucker / figure out our goaltending.… Read more »
Give Crosby the year off like Tampa and make sure he is healthy for the playoffs. Use that money to fill holes. Problem solved lol.
Interesting idea but (stamkos/Kucherov was injured) and I can’t see the Penguins doing that…LOL
Yeah, Kucherov was injured all year and he was conveniently ready to play once the playoffs started and there was no salary cap. How odd! No one was sure when the playoffs would start but that was the day he was ready to return. The NHL needs to fix this loop hole. If you are injured that long and you are not ready by the trade deadline you should not be eligible for the post season. That was some serious salary circumventing.
100 % agree. Tampa obvious but sneaky about it….doesn’t seem fair does it..
Does anyone know how much Sully makes a year? I know he has 3 years left on his deal, just not sure at how much.
$4 million per…
I’m curious to see how much freedom the new management has this off-season if they lose this series. I’m not saying they will (admittedly, it’s not looking good, but they’ve dictated the play and they have the horses). I’ve read everywhere else that ownership is married to 58 and 71. Regardless of all that, it’s hard for me to see them gutting the team with 87 still here. As mentioned below, the also need to be proactive about their goaltending. If they plan on being contenders next year, go for it. If they don’t, go for it. I don’t want… Read more »
Where is Ron Klatt
I wonder if he is busy washing mcdavids jock strap or changing Trudeau’s purple socks to pink socks
Remember you used to cry like a little girl about people not posting about hockey?
I posted about hockey but you bandwagons were too busy drooling over washed up players.
GREAT ARTICLE! If they lose this series and I believe they will then Sullivan should be gone as per his performance the last 4 years. Malkin and Letang should both go as this is our last chance to get something in return. We need someone to challange Jarry in goal. We also need a couple real DMEN and not all puck movers. I am counting on you Burkie and Hexy.
They should just send Jarry back down to the AHL. If someone claims him, oh well. DeSmith needs to go as well.
Ownership will not move Malkin or Letang (as much as one of them needs to go) it wont happen. There is a reason Rutherford suddenly left……And that is it ! Sully has done a good job this year.. – First place – Team riddle with injuries 230 man games missed due to injuries – He has kept this team going. This isn’t like 2019 when we got swept by the islanders nd scored only 3 goals.. We have out played the islanders in every game but game # 4 We have had shitty goaltending and you cant blame that on… Read more »
Malkin will be gone if they don’t win this series.
I really hope. He should’ve been gone few years ago
You do realize, in the last three playoff years Geno has 7 points in 11 games and Crosby has 6 points in 13 games.
In other words, there is plenty of playoff blame to go around. You just single out the ones who are not Canadian.
Also, how about that MAF performance against the Wild the other night. 3 goals on 14 shots!
Troll!
Your right there is blame to go around and it is in goal..
Jarry gift wrapped game # 1 two soft goals and game # 5 for the Islanders
also power play has been uuugghh awful
Carramrod148….. I can’t say I disagree with you on Malkin’s stats. But Geno’s inability to stay healthy, commit to a 20o foot game, and not take dumb penalties doesn’t work in his favor.
We are probably going to keep him…… He can be great at times….management seems married to him
Penguins Playoffs Performers All Time
Crosby 191 points 173 GP
Lemieux 172 points 107 GP
Malkin 172 points 169 GP
Jagr 140 points 147 GP
The Penguins pushed hard last night and where the better team 50 shots on goal, and they hit with the Islanders, and they aren’t done yet…
Sorry but even if they make it passed the Isles, Jarry is not equipped enough to handle the Bruins. I hope he proves me wrong or Legacey suddenly becomes a playoff monster.
I don’t know this match up is a home series look at their history. Boston wins in Boston Pittsburgh wins in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh would have home ice too…
Jarry just hasn’t had it s far so in that aspect your right…
Why not give Legace a start nothing to lose…
I agree with you..lets hope for a miracle.
Pitt and the Isle’s were both fantastic at home, that stuff means nothing in the post season.
Yeah it does matter and if we didn’t have Helen Keller/Dumb and dumber in goal form would have held..at home in the playoffs
Penguins have outplayed the Islanders in every game but game 4 on Long Island. We have had average goaltending that gave them game 1 and game 5. They have had good goaltending. Look in 2019 we got swept, scored 3 goals and were badly out played. we are down 3 – 2, we have scored 13 goals, and out played them in almost every game but game 4… Penguins look fast, engaged, we just need some grit and sandpaper in the off season, and possibly a new goalie….Columbus has two good ones… You look at Washington they look sow and… Read more »
Slow and Old Capitals..
who choked more last night? st.bleury or jarry?
Jarry looked like playoff MAF, flopping around, terrible rebound control and out of position. Must be a Penguins goalie thing.
They must’ve missed fraud murray
oh no they suck again! sullivan fired yet? malkin retire yet? letang traded yet? sid go to colorado yet? did vegas yank st.bleury yet?
Happy Saint George Floyd day npl
Family is at the White House
They can move Malkin? When did that change? Ownership is ok with this now?
Nice. Now you can have your tv off for good
Your boy looked good last night, 3 goals on 14 shots. Of course, you will just keep avoiding that.
I was just about to say the same thing.
Maybe Seattle will take Matheson? Pettersson?? one of them both? LOL
What ? Malkin isn’t going anywhere unless he agrees RANGERS…
Well D seems to thing Hexy and Burke will try to move him and ownership won’t stop it.
Agreed if we could lose Petersson/Matheson/Rudwhedel that would be great.
Let Pierre Oliver Joseph come up, learn, and play 3rd pair defense….find someone for second pairing