Though the NHL season is barely 11 video games outdated, the Pittsburgh Penguins are already in one of many deepest funks of any crew with playoff aspirations.
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For the second consecutive recreation, they jumped out to a 2-0 lead solely to observe their opponents rally again and choose up two factors, this time the Minnesota Wild, led by Marc-Andre Fleury.
It is too early within the season to push the panic button, however with each further loss, the necessity to make drastic adjustments turns into extra urgent.
Let’s focus on what occurred final evening.
One other Recreation, One other Blown Lead
The Penguins have not gained a recreation in six contests, and one of many widespread takeaways from these video games is that Pittsburgh has had a lead sooner or later. Once they began the street journey, they jumped out to a 2-0 lead towards Winnipeg earlier than ending the journey with a cushty 2-0 lead in Vancouver, solely to lose every one.
On Tuesday evening, going through the oldest netminder within the NHL, the Penguins gave the followers false hope by increase a 2-0 lead. Nevertheless, earlier than the tip of the primary interval, it was gone. By the tip of the second, they trailed, and by the ultimate buzzer, they misplaced but once more.
Regardless of rating as a top-scoring crew, the Penguins can not seem to cease opponents from dominating them of their defensive zone and stay the crew with probably the most targets towards. The system is damaged, and since gamers cannot be simply changed, one other dominio has to fall.
Penguins Lack Motivation After Milestone Night time
On Oct. 16, Sidney Crosby (1,600 factors) and Evgeni Malkin (500 targets) reached private milestones, and the Penguins escaped the night’s contest with an extra time victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
At that time, the membership was 3-2-0 with 20 targets scored and 21 towards. As two legendary gamers chased historical past, many teammates rallied and tried to assist each superstars attain their targets.
Since that evening towards the Sabres, Pittsburgh has gone 0-5-1 with 13 targets scored and 27 towards for a objective differential of minus-14.
Different gamers like Rickard Rakell, Drew O’Connor, Kevin Hayes, and Lars Eller have stepped as much as present offense, but it surely’s clear that the crew is not taking part in passionate hockey now.
Regardless that many individuals need to level fingers on the crew’s management core, it isn’t like Crosby (ten factors) and Malkin (14 factors) will not be producing since they rank first and second in crew scoring.
Nevertheless, exterior of that magical evening, they aren’t performing like distinction makers, which is one purpose the Penguins can’t get well from blown leads.
Protection Is not the Solely Concern
When inspecting the field rating from Tuesday’s recreation, the six Penguins’ defensive skaters mixed to be minus-4, with Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson ending the evening even.
In the meantime, with the road shuffling among the many forwards, solely three had a constructive plus/minus ranking after the sport, with 9 ending the evening within the negatives.
Out of each participant to don a Penguins sweater this season, solely Rickard has a constructive plus/minus ranking at plus-3, whereas O’Connor (minus-9) and Kris Letang (minus-8) lead the pack.
After them, 4 gamers have minus-7 rankings, with the defenseman occupying 4 of the highest ten worst rankings on the crew.
Related: 5 Possible Replacements For Penguins’ Mike Sullivan
Though social media would have you ever imagine that the Penguins’ shortcomings are squarely on the shoulders of defenders, it is clear that the forwards are additionally lacking their assignments, which has led to this abysmal 3-7-1 file.
Penguins & Wild Trivia Solutions
How did you rating in our Game Day Trivia quiz? Listed here are the solutions.
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Detroit Purple Wings
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5
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Tom Barrasso
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2014-15
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Mark Reechi
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2011, 2015
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0-2-0
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Brooks Orpik
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5-4-0 (now 6-4-0)
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Ian Cole
Recreation Day Trivia is printed throughout the first interval of Penguins video games, so come again on Thursday, Oct. 31, after they host the Anaheim Geese.
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