Penguins/NHL
Post-Game Notebook
***Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik is frustrated by the Penguins lack of focus and blowing third period leads; Malkin injury more than a short-term concern?***
Orpik expresses frustrations
—- The Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals is viewed as a momentum builder for the Penguins moving forward but don’t tell that to defenseman Brooks Orpik.
Orpik who become very outspoken of late and a leader in the locker room, saw the loss as just another frustrating loss for the defending Stanley Cup champs.
Following a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings Monday night, Orpik said some players in the locker room are not on the same page and Orpik’s frustrations continued tonight after the Penguins blew a 2-1 third period lead to the Washington Capitals.
“We get a power play in the third period, we’re up by a goal even before the Semin goal, it was as sloppy there,” Orpik said. “It looked like we lost our focus there for whatever reason. It’s frustrating, ” the veteran defenseman said.
“The frustrating part is you make the same mistakes over and over again and you don’t learn from them,” Orpik add. “That’s the frustrating part and It’s not like we’re getting behind, we’re blowing leads!”
Malkin injury update
*Evgeni Malkin missed his second straight game and has now missed four of five games.
Malkin flew back to Pittsburgh on Tuesday for treatment and did not accompany the team tonight.
Dan Bylsma claimed today that the injury is not a long-term concern but with it now being a lower ankle/foot injury, the Penguins are going to be more cautious than they first were when Malkin played Saturday afternoon not at 100% and re-aggravated the injury.
A team official told me there is some concern that this injury could turn into a day-to-day injury to a 2-3 week injury.
