Penguins avenge poor start with some lucky breaks in second period to snap skid

POST-GAME BUZZ

Entering last night’s game with the Arizona Coyotes on a four game losing streak, the Penguins gave up a shorthanded goal 1:34 into the first period and were outshot by the Coyotes 13-3 in period one.

It was another concerning start, especially when you factor in the competition in what is just an awful Coyotes team.

The Penguins, though, would avenge the poor start with a couple lucky breaks in the second period on goals from Brandon Sutter and Daniel Winnik and snapped their skid with a 3-1 win over the Coyotes.

Sidney Crosby added an empty net goal and a two point night for Crosby moves him into the NHL points lead with 74 points. Lots of talk of whether this season’s Art Ross Trophy Winner will hit 90 points, there’s no guarantee of anyone hitting 85 points.

For the Penguins, they got a much needed win from the standpoint that losing to Arizona would have been an absolute embarrassment, but an Arizona team that’s tanking and filled with AHL type players, it’s hard to be impressed with the Penguins performance from the poor start to the glorious scoring chances the Penguins gave up late in the game when holding onto a 2-1 lead.

This was a game where the Penguins should have came out and smacked the Coyotes right in the mouth from the start and established the tone. Once again they failed to and one of the biggest challenges for this Penguins team going into the post-season is becoming a team that starts dictating the style of play. That’s a prominent area of inconsistency for them right now.