Penguins Squander Third Interval Leads, Fall to Flames In Shootout, 4-3

The Pittsburgh Penguins have, sadly, develop into synonymous with a troubling pattern.

For the third season in a row, they simply can not seem to maintain onto leads.

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The Penguins dropped their second game of their Western road trip, 4-3, to the Calgary Flames in a shootout. Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Noel Acciari scored for the Penguins, and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 22 of 25 Calgary pictures in regulation.

The shootout went to 6 rounds, with Rakell and Rust potting shootout tallies for the Penguins. Calgary’s Justin Kirkland beat Nedeljkovic within the sixth spherical, and Penguins middle Evgeni Malkin failed to attain in response.

Regardless of the powerful loss, the Penguins had been clearly the higher workforce for a lot of the evening towards a Calgary squad that has but to lose in regulation. It is a arduous further level to lose, however the workforce was principally pleased with their effort.

“Clearly, there’s alternative to get higher, however I feel we had been a heck of quite a bit higher than we now have been,” Rust mentioned. “We did not have enormous, large breakdowns like we did within the final three or 4 video games, or no matter it was. So, I feel that we’re positively making strides.”

Listed here are a couple of ideas and observations from the Penguins’ loss to the Flames:

– This might need been the perfect hockey sport I’ve seen Acciari play in a Penguins’ uniform.

He was doing the whole lot proper all evening lengthy. He was very, superb on the penalty kill. He was successful puck battles, getting in passing and capturing lanes, and serving to the fourth line cycle on the forecheck within the offensive zone.

Acciari’s go-ahead aim within the third interval was a direct results of arduous work and tenacity from him and the fourth line. He was rewarded when he put dwelling a unfastened puck across the internet entrance:

I’ve mentioned it earlier than, and I am going to say it once more: This fourth line is basically good for the Penguins. All three guys are contributing, and so they’re a real vitality line.

However Acciari stood out tonight.

– On the opposite aspect of the “line coin,” Sidney Crosby’s line is nothing wanting a catastrophe proper now.

I wrote at length about Crosby’s start this morning. They had been a bit of higher within the sport towards Calgary, however the reality of the matter is that they seem to be a full mess in their very own zone, they cannot get a lot sustained strain within the offensive zone, and so they’re making poor choices with the puck left and proper.

Crosby has solely three five-on-five factors by eight video games. It is good that he is producing on the facility play, however he must up his sport at even energy.

I feel it is high-time to place Rakell with Crosby. Evgeni Malkin has gone pointless in his final three video games, and Rakell is a person possessed out of the gate. Crosby wants a jolt proper now, as does Rust.

I might put Rakell, Crosby, and Rust on the identical line, and I might have Michael Bunting or Drew O’Connor play with Malkin and Jesse Puljujarvi proper now. However I would not be towards Rust getting some reps with Malkin, as a result of as unhealthy as it has been for Crosby, Rust has been far worse.

Related: We Need To Talk About Sidney Crosby

– Matt Grzelcyk certain had a sport to neglect for the Penguins. However I do not blame that completely on him.

For some cause, head coach Mike Sullivan determined to modify up the defensive pairings on this sport. He swapped Marcus Pettersson and Grzelcyk, that means Grzelcyk ended up subsequent to Erik Karlsson having gotten, principally, zero reps with him prior.

It was an utter catastrophe. Grzelcyk seemed misplaced on the market, with an ill-advised pinch main on to Calgary’s first aim, a foul penalty that led to a very good energy play alternative on the finish of the primary, and several other sloppy giveaways all through the sport.

If the Penguins wish to bump Grzelcyk down, nice. However simply transfer Pettersson and Karlsson as much as the primary pairing, bump Grzelcyk to the third pairing, and let Ryan Graves see some well-earned minutes with Kris Letang.

Sure. I do know. A nasty concept? Most likely. However you have to reward a man for his good work in some unspecified time in the future, and Graves has earned a little bit of a chance, even when his newfound kind is due to sheltered minutes. Grzelcyk is enjoying his approach down the depth chart, Graves is enjoying his approach up.

However on no account, form, or kind ought to Graves slot with Karlsson. Letang hasn’t been any higher, but it surely’s price a shot.

– Nedeljkovic was superb on this sport, and I feel he is earned the online for now. I think about that Joel Blomqvist might be getting a begin in one of many Penguins’ back-to-back matchups on Friday and Saturday, however Nedeljkovic has been benefiting from his begins.

I feel the Penguins want to begin Nedeljkovic towards Edmonton and Blomqvist towards Vancouver. Undecided throwing Blomqvist to the wolves towards Edmonton is the perfect plan.

Related: 5 Teams That Should Consider Trading For Penguins Goaltender Tristan Jarry

– General, I like what I’ve seen from the Penguins in these previous two video games. It looks like their construction is coming round a bit extra, and we’re beginning to see them make much less and fewer obtrusive errors, like Rust talked about.

Nevertheless, they simply must discover a option to shut out video games. Merely put, they don’t seem to be doing that towards good groups. Perhaps it is simply an indicator of the place this workforce is at, and possibly they’re succesful of a better degree.

Adaptability has not been a powerful swimsuit for this Penguins’ workforce. They should discover a option to be tougher to play towards when holding leads. We have seen flashes, and I imagine they’re succesful, however these are the video games and missed factors that add up on the finish of the season.

They should get at least two points between Edmonton and Vancouver so this street journey is not rendered a complete catastrophe. They’ve executed some good issues, so they simply want a win there they hunker down and get the job executed.

Related: 3 Takeaways From Penguins Heartbreaking 4-3 Shootout Loss To Flames

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