Penguins/NHL
Penguins lose second straight game; fall to Sharks 5-0
The Penguins three game west coast swing started out with a win Tuesday night but ended with disappointment as the Penguins lost their second straight game Saturday night, losing to the San Jose Sharks 5-0.
The Penguins now return back to the east coast for a meeting with the Boston Bruins to end their four game road trip.
The Penguins didn’t come to play as the game had the look of being a rout 8-10 minutes after the drop of the puck. Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury was pulled in the second period and Pittsburgh couldn’t get anything past Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov who made 27 saves to earn his 49th career shutout .
“We just weren’t ready to play the type of game that they came ready to play,” Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said, regarding the Penguins lackluster performance.
Pittsburgh was without the services of Evgeni Malkin (shoulder strain), Tyler Kennedy (groin), Sergei Gonchar (wrist) and could have another key member of their team on the shelf.
Defenseman Kris Letang left the game in the first period due to an upper body injury and did not return. Early indications on Letang is that he has an upper arm injury, with speculation centering on his right elbow and right shoulder. I’m told Letang will be evaluated Monday morning by Dr. Charles Burke as he is expected to return to Pittsburgh for evaluation.
One concern for Letang
could be his right elbow. He played through an elbow injury last spring and even considered surgery during the off-season.
Will try to gather some more today.
Injury Report
*Tyler Kennedy has not been on the ice since Thursday and was held out of another game. Kennedy has now missed 5 out of the last 6 games.
*Evgeni Malkin returned to practice on Saturday. He remains on target to return on November 12th against the New Jersey Devils.
*Alex Goligoski has been battling a flu and as of Friday night was ruled out to play against the Sharks. He felt better on Saturday. Deryk Engelland will remain with the Penguins for the time being.
If Kris Letang were to be sidelined for a significant period of time, Ben Lovejoy would be called up in place of Deryk Engelland.
