Penguins/NHL
Overmatched, overwhelmed against a Top Stanley Cup Contender in the 
New York Rangers, maybe opening night was a reality check for why the General Manager had such a meh off-season and didn’t believe this group warranted legitimate improvements that would risk the future from the standpoint of draft picks or long-term cap space.
Wednesday’s 6-0 thrashing was as bad as it gets. A spoiled fan base, yes, but even in the building prior to puck drop it was the least enthusiastic vibe around this club in over twenty years. It felt like a Tuesday night in January for a meddling team. Last season the Penguins still had buzz of the Karlsson acquisition and the fact they tried to show an interest in still icing a winning club, they were able to withstand a 3-6 start from the standpoint of still keeping a buzz around the team that there was hope of a turnaround.
This season is much different. They don’t have that luxury and there is little to no buzz around this team. If the wheels fall off early, the interest in this team is going to see a major nose-dive and the Penguins could be entering a new reality on that front.
What the opening night dud is showed is little margin of error this team will have this season against the big boys.
“I think it’s probably premature at this point to overreact, but certainly, we’re disappointed with the result tonight,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan.
Seven of the Penguins next nine games are on the road. They have to find a way to split the next two games @ Detroit and @ Toronto or mentally there’s a chance many in the room will already be adopting the mindset they can’t compete before October is over.
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On the ice, where do you start?
Lack of finish and suspect goaltending doomed the Penguins before the first period was even over.
Tristan Jarry had a nightmare performance, New York scored 2:24 into the game and scored moments later that was overruled due to offsides. Jarry stopped 35 of 41 shots, allowing in total seven pucks get by him. In the building you could see, one goaltender was a step ahead and knew where every puck was going (few in his sight lines), while Jarry was off his angles from the get-go. He didn’t give the Penguins a prayer of hanging around as Pittsburgh trailed 3-0 after one. In felt like every Grade-A chance was going to get by him.
Mike Sullivan as expected opted not to bury him after the game.
“I thought he responded really well after the first,” Sullivan said. When Jarry gets his next start that’s going to be quite the pressure start for him with Alex Nedeljkovic inching closer to full health and if Joel Blomqvist gives the Penguins a strong outing in his debut it will only add to the pressure on Jarry. Does he crumble or bounce back?
Defensively, this was a bottom-10 group going in and it only gets heightened against a team like the Rangers. The Rangers created 20 High Danger Chances 5 vs 5 in this one…….
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LACK OF GIFTED FINISHERS IN THE LINEUP WILL BECOME A GAME-by-GAME PROBLEM
A couple Grade-A chances the Penguins couldn’t finish early is what happens when you don’t pay a Jake Guentzel and a Bryan Rust is sidelined.
Despite Pittsburgh’s + margin in possession #’s, as game progressed it was a struggle for the Penguins to create legitimate offense.
“We struggled making tape-to-tape passes. The passes that were tape to tape seemed to blow up on our stick. We had a couple of looks with some opportunities in that bumper position where guys had lots of time and space, and we didn’t execute on it,” Sullivan said. We’ve got to do a better job with some of our decision-making. We’ve got to execute better just as far as passing, receiving, moving the puck, things of that nature. When they’re going, those things seem to fall into place. And I just think it was symptomatic of our game.”
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Player Buzz & Line Reports
Anthony Beauvillier | Team-High six shots on goal, he had some good moments on creating space with the puck and backing up defenders but will it be a year long thing of where he just doesn’t finish enough to play in the Top-Six? That’s always the issue with him. Sidney Crosby impact? Over 60% of Pittsburgh high danger chances vs the Rangers came with Beauvillier on the ice…….
Rickard Rakell | In a blowout loss like this, I often downplay the driving play #’s, but whoever Rakell was on the ice with, the Penguins were spending more offensive zone time than not. Rakell was on the ice for 20 shot attempts and just 7 against. Rakell was moved to Crosby’s line in the second period and they were +5 in scoring chances together. Evgeni Malkin with Rakell; 4 shots attempts – 1 Against | Evgeni Malkin without Rakell (Stricly Center Role); 3 Shot Attempts – 13 Against (38 CF%). The downside with Rakell’s night was just one shot on goal. He has to get the total up.
Third Line | Lars Eller can still play at age and Pittsburgh will cross their fingers he can carry value throughout the year to land a second round pick. The third line had some good moments. They kept plays alive along the wall, Jesse Puljujarvi played big in tight.
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