Penguins/NHL
NEW YORK 4 – PITTSBURGH 1
The Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-0, 6 pts) were dominated in every facet of the game and were thumped by the New York Islanders (3-2-1, 7 pts) 4-1 on Tuesday night at the Consol Energy Center.
In an embarrassing display of hockey, the Penguins collapsed in the second period, giving up three second period goals as Michael Grabner, John Tavares, and Matt Moulson all scored for the Islanders.
The Penguins have now been outscored 11-2 in the second period on the season.
Casey Cizikas also scored for the Islanders in the win.
Evgeni Nabokov was less than two minutes away from becoming the first Islanders goaltender since Kelly Hrudey on January 9, 1986 to post a shutout vs the Penguins, but Pascal Dupuis (2) broke the shutout, scoring with 1:09 left in the game. Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crosby assisted on the goal.
Marc Andre Fleury was pulled after the second period and made 13 saves on 17 shots to take the loss.
CONCERNS CONTINUE TO MOUNT
In the NHL several good teams will get off to slow starts in a particular season but the same concerns surrounding the Penguins go all the way back to the final quarter of last season. That’s what should have people concerned.
The Penguins continue to look like a flawed team and it really needs to be asked; Are they built the right way?.
As the Penguins like to push the tempo, what’s really become evident is that the Penguins are just way too easy to play against.
What they really lack is a big physical line that can establish zone time and just wear down teams when you need some of those shifts. Against these teams like the Islanders that can match them speed wise or are arguably quicker than the Penguins where they defend the Penguins well in the neutral zone, personnel wise Pittsburgh just doesn’t have it {Ability to wear down teams/ dump puck in} and it needs to be said again; The Penguins never replaced Jordan Staal, Steve Sullivan or Zbynek Michalek from last years roster.
SPECIAL TEAMS WOES
Pittsburgh started out of the gates with a quick tempo but we’re unable to take advantage of two early power plays. The Penguins went 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period and recorded just one shot on goal. Pittsburgh again struggled with their zone entries which is becoming a growing concern.
After killing off Matt Carkner’s penalty at 11:46 of the period, the Islanders started to get their game and really came hard at Pittsburgh on the forecheck.
The Islanders coming hard on the forecheck led to Paul Martin’s first glaring mistake of the season when Casey Cizikas created a Martin turnover with pressure on the forecheck and Cizikas beat Marc Andre Fleury with a wraparound goal to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
From there the Islanders dominated play and took over the game in the second period.
The Penguins penalty kill looked like the unit from their playoff debacle against the Flyers giving up two power play goals against in the second period and the Islanders moved the puck around on them like they were the 1980’s Edmonton Oilers. Pittsburgh looked like a stunned hockey club out there and on the PK were stationary and got caught watching the puck.
Trailing 4-0 the Penguins were awarded a 5 minute power play with a 1:06 left in the second period and Pittsburgh failed to score and managed just 2 shots on goal. The 1st power play unit was a mess and the Penguins best player on the power play was Dustin Jeffrey on the second unit.
The Penguins are 0 for their last 12 on the power play.
Quote of the Night: “I’m sure nobody gave us much of a chance against a really good hockey team, but you know what I thought systematically we were a little more structured,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st NYI 16:01 Casey Cizikas (1)
Unassisted
2nd NYI 6:46 Michael Grabner (4)
Assists: Mark Streit, Marty Reasoner
2nd NYI 15:22 John Tavares (2) (Power Play)
Assists: Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen
2nd NYI 15:22 John Tavares (2) (Power Play)
Assists: Matt Moulson, Frans Nielsen
3rd 18:51 Pascal Dupuis (2)
Assists: Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby
