Penguins/NHL
In what continues to be a trend against upper echelon teams, the Pittsburgh Penguins were once again ran out of the building in a 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. This one was a bit different in the Penguins allowing a franchise worst SIX GOALS in the First Period. It was as bad as an implosion you will see as Joel Blomqvist couldn’t make a save in the Stars scoring three goals on their first eight shots and Alex Nedeljkovic came in a said let me top that young rookie.
Dallas would quickly put three goals past Nedeljkovic on just four shots as the Stars put together a 50% shooting percentage in the first period frame, scoring Six goals on 12 shots. It was an unbelievable sequence.
First Period Save Percentage: Joel Blomqvist 5 Saves, .625SV%; Alex Nedeljkovic 1 Save, .250 SV%
“I’m not going to say I’m frustrated because I’m not,” Mike Sullivan said. “I’m determined. I’m determined to move this team forward in the right direction more consistently. I know we are a way better hockey team than what we displayed out there today. I know we have a group of guys to get better every day.”
Does a loss like this and let’s also chalk it up as another blowout loss against a Stanley Cup level contender add any pressure to the room? If anything, it just plays into how Kyle Dubas viewed this group in the summer.
Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas sat on his hands all last season when the Penguins needed a jolt and were actually trying to win before pivoting to trading their second best forward at the deadline. After showing his hand this summer that he doesn’t believe this group can compete, the team can likely only look in the mirror to try to continue to tread water. Some of the young help in Wilkes Barre just isn’t totally ready yet such as Ville Koivunen, Owen Pickering, Rutger McGroarty or Tristan Broz who has been a pleasant surprise.
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MORE BUZZ
— It will be interesting how the coaching staff reacts to Joel Blomqvist’s first really poor start in goal. Strong indications are Alex Nedeljkovic was scheduled to start Wednesday barring a great performance from Blomqvist. If I was Tristan Jarry’s camp, though, I’d be livid if Jarry’s not in goal vs the Red Wings.
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— As much concern there has been with Erik Karlsson’s nonchalant attitude and questionable practice habits as written here last week, Kris Letang has looked cooked as a top-2 level pairing defenseman since the calendar hit 2024 last January and there continues to be a belief in the organization Letang has lost the drive to bring it every night. On pace for 31 points, Letang in year three of a six year deal, will have already been paid just north of 65% of his total $36.6 million contract by seasons end. Could Letang call it a career after this season? Think next season is more likely…….Some around the league have always felt Letang would finish his career in Montreal as a veteran presence to show a young team the ropes but even with his former agent Kent Hughes at the helm, multiple league executives have thrown cold water on the idea that it makes any sense for Montreal to explore this over the summer that a trade to his hometown is going to motivate a soon to be 38 year old who has won three Cups……………
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— League Buzz: Erik Karlsson to CTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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