In 1979 the police had a great success with it Message in a bottle. The refrain…’Sending an SOS’…seems to sum up where our Penguins are mentally in the wake of yet another come-from-in-front overtime loss. This with a 5-4 count against Utah this afternoon at PPG Paints Arena.
Once again we took a multiple goal lead in the third period. Once again we collapsed like a real house of cards when an enemy pushed back. Indeed, the Mammoth scored twice in the span of 15 seconds, three times in 4:28 and four times in 5:59.
The victim this time? Critically acclaimed rookie netminder Sergei Murashovrather than a reclamation project Arthur Silov. So much for our goalkeeper with the goat horns.
Unlike yesterday, when the Pens pretty much had their way with the Sharks until they didn’t, the black and gold managed just sixteen shots on target, ten of them in forty minutes.
Still, to squander another multi-goal lead?
Unforgivable.
The Pens are undoubtedly a vulnerable bunch at the moment. You can almost feel an audible shift the moment the other team finds the back of our net.
How to work our way through this, especially with a lack of practice time, is anyone’s guess. It was suggested by both Paul Steigerwald or Brian Metzer the postgame radio show shows the Pens approaching the third period with the same mentality as the first.
Great idea. Perhaps easier said than done.
Meanwhile, the series of heartbreaking losses continues.
Puckpourri
Not to be pollyanna, but once again there were some positives amid the gloom. Justin Brazeau scored two goals, including the tying goal with 5:54 left, during play around the Mammoth net. His second two-goal game of the campaign.
Man, if this guy can even score 20 goals for us? Found money.
Ben Kindel assisted on both of Brazeau’s goals and struck on a breakaway early in the second period thanks to a beautiful lead pass from Ryan Shea to put us at three. The first three-point game of Kid Kindie’s career.
Unfortunately, he also turned the puck over in OT, which led directly to Dylan Guenther’s game-winner.
He will learn.
Despite yielding five goals, Murashov was able to free himself well between the pipes, especially on a pair of power-play opportunities in the second period. While it may not be the best for his development at this stage, I wouldn’t mind seeing the young prodigy stay with the big club and rotate with newcomers. Stuart Skinner. Which would leave Silovs as the odd one out.
Anything else I wouldn’t mind? To see Kris Letang spend a game or two (or three) in the press box Jack St Ivany gets a look. Or, to take it a step further, see Kyle Dubas Tangier deal with the Canadiens Josh Anderson in an exchange of problem contracts.
Of course it will never happen.
I would also consider shipping Ville Koivunen back to the Baby Pens while promoting pepperpot Avery Hayes. The speed of the NHL game appears to be an issue for Ville.
Mocker if you want, but I think so too Boko Imam should be promoted. We desperately lack the controlled aggression, spirit and jam he offers, undervalued commodities in these parts. After going 2-0 with Boko in the lineup, we are 0-1-4 since he was reassigned to the Baby Pens.
Once Brett Ear arrives, Ryan Graven would be my odd man out on the left side of the defense.
Next, Tristan Jarry and the Oilers on Tuesday night. He helped the Oil to a 6-3 victory over Toronto on Saturday. It sounds like he’s happy to be back in Edmonton, where he played his junior hockey.
In the useless trivia department, the Mammoth Defense Corps includes former pens Ian Cole, Johannes Marino And Olli Määtä.
Despite our recent setbacks, we have somehow fallen back to the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot. Since our October 8-2-2, we’ve gone a deceptive 6-6-7.
Thank goodness for loser points.
Lord, we miss Evgeni Malkin And Blake Lizotte. I can’t get those two back fast enough.
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