Penguins Grades: Fallout from Big Changes, Big Mistakes, & Big Loss
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — What happens if you throw a party and no one comes? The same is true for the Pittsburgh Penguins when the inventors of hockey, as well as the NHL and arena ice crews, go to the trouble to draw a defensive zone, but the Penguins don’t show up.
The Penguins have become the arsonists burning down their own hopes and chances.
Their best players were decidedly their worst on Sunday, and no Herculean effort from third-line center Lars Eller could save the Penguins from themselves in a 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.
The Penguins weren’t lifeless as they were Friday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, but the result was similar. The Penguins’ defensive disorganization has become a catastrophic flaw and is exacerbating an already tenuous situation. For the Penguins to make the playoffs and end a two-year postseason drought, they needed a good start.
Thus far, they’re happily retreating to the defensive zone, but from there, it’s a panicked fire drill as the Penguins chase the puck, watch the play, and seem to forget their prime directives.
“(We made it) a little bit too easy and a little bit too many Grade A’s. There were a lot of pucks laying around the net instead of us clearing it away, said Erik Karlsson. “They get to tap it in. As a goalie there’s nothing you can do about those … I think we played better. But again, a couple of easy ones go their way and we couldn’t find a way to get them for us today.”
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby–an all-time great, of course–was the culprit in the third period. He lost a defensive zone faceoff cleanly, but he and Bryan Rust chased the puck to the point, leaving multiple Jets a clear path to the net. Defenseman Kris Letang trailed a pair of opponents toward the cage as Adam Lowry easily buried a rebound.
If Lowry didn’t bury it, there were two other Jets anxiously awaiting their dinner.
Penguins Analysis
What the Penguins did right:
The forecheck was pretty good for much of the game, at least from certain players. Drew O’Connor, the fourth line with Valtteri Puustinen and Kevin Hayes, got after the Winnipeg defensemen.
When the Penguins finally got into the game later in the first period, sparks from the bottom six ignited the fire.
The Penguins also played a strong game down low. They forced Winnipeg to defend low and were able to control the territory. When they did that, they were a competitive team. Eller’s goals were prime examples of what the Penguins can do well–he won a wall battle and took the puck to the net, and he also buried a rebound.
The little small-area plays create offensive chances with quick shots near the net.
What the Penguins Did Wrong:
You know, NOT COVER THEIR MAN.
“Well, we’ve got to work at it. You know, I think it starts with just the right mindset. We’re quick to try to jump on the offense (but) we don’t have the puck, said Sullivan. “And we end up putting ourselves and our teammates in a tough spot. So I think we’ve got to have more of a mindset of playing defense first.”
It’s nearly inexplicable to watch NHL players befuddled by simple assignments. The best players in the world are missing their assignments. The Penguins’ top two defensemen are AWOL in the zone, and stay-home defenseman Marcus Pettersson had another rough day, too.
The number of open shots on goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was inexcusable.
There’s little reason to belabor it further. The Penguins were a disaster in their own zone, and it’s their best players and top defensemen who are exasperatingly failing.
“I think we’ve got to do a better job in not beating ourselves. In certain instances where we implode—that’s the biggest takeaway is for a lot of the night, we did a lot of really good things. I think our effort was where it needs to be, from an effort standpoint. I thought our team player really hard. We need to play a little smarter.”
Penguins Grades
Alex Nedeljkovic: A-
He wanted Kyle Connor’s one-timer back because it sneaked through the five-hole, but Nedeljkovic made plenty of good saves.
Drew O’Connor: A
O’Connor was clearly one of the Penguins’ best forwards. He made an impact. His forecheck was good, and he hustled in the defensive zone and pushed hard in the offensive zone.
Lars Eller: A+
The best Penguins forward by a large distance, scoring two strong goals. He’s playing some of the best hockey of his life, and he’s doing it because his teammates are playing defense as if they’re starring in a Mr. Bean episode.
Sidney Crosby: D
Sparse scoring chances and a couple of defensive mistakes, including one that led directly to a goal (Adam Lowry was his man on the fourth goal). This is something to watch. If the pillar that supports the Penguins is wobbling, everything else is going to fall. Crosby was a minus-3.
Erik Karlsson: F
His defensive zone wandering has been more noticeable as the team has followed suit. He’s not producing enough offense to counteract the D-zone decisions.
Kris Letang: D
He’s not been as bad as Karlsson, but Letang’s mistakes are also piling up. He, too, isn’t helping enough to offset the mistakes. He, too, was a minus-3 Sunday.
Mike Sullivan: D
Big points for trying a lot of things. Trying them all at once was perhaps the wrong move. The Penguins spent the first period just trying to settle in to new linemates.
He took a big swing with line changes. Inserting Valtteri Puustinen was probably a good move–the kid was pretty good–but the team was playing like individuals, and a few of the lines were clearly not working. Jesse Puljujarvi with Evgeni Malkin was rough. Also, moving Noel Acciari to the middle completely nullified the version of Acciari, who has been very good.
It also reeked of a coach who knows his team is dangerously close to slipping away and rang the bell, hoping to wake up his slumbering crew. It was the first time in a few years that Sullivan didn’t look in control.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Analysis Penguins Postgame
Sullivan only a D? How about F-!!! Those line combinations were horrible. He is not putting his players in the right position to succeed.
Disagree with your goalie grade, if that was 35 he would have been hung over the fire. Ned will NEVER steal a game for this team, EVER. EK 65 needs to go, he is just a terrible defenseman. 11 million for that is just stupid.
I’ve never excoriated Jarry, or piled on. I was accused of being too nice. Sorry, I must reject your criticism.
My apologies, as I reread my post it may have inadvertently came off as you said that about Jarry, that was not my intention. I meant majority of the posting by non writers. 99% of Jarry problems this season to me has been lack of defense in front of him, in fact all of the goalies have the same issue.
All good!
Ned wasn’t the problem. The defensive coverage was.
And I am neutral on Ned (I think we over paid him this offseason), he has won us some games in the past. He is not the goalie of the future though, but will be fine being the backup to Bloom or one of those guys.
The addition of Erik Karlsson shows we do not truly understand the state of this team. We need an overhaul. Let’s find Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson new homes.(I know, they’d have to agree with it). We needed an overhaul 5 years ago. When I suggested we move on from Malkin and Letang after the Islander series in 2019, I was reminded how brutal a true rebuild can be. Are we having fun now??? Is this really any better? I would argue it’s far worse.
No, not worse than rebuilding. A rebuilding team would most likely be 0-7. At least we all have been treated to a few exciting wins! It is just way more confusing than a rebuild. I agree that Kyle does need to make another big shakeup move, at the very least.
You make more sense than anyone on here.
League Leading Scorer Malkin, get him a new home! The bum!
I can’t believe I’m going to pose this as a serious question – but here it is – a public poll of sorts.
Total points for the 2024-2025 Pens:
Over or Under 80?
They way they are looking right now I’m inclined to go under.
What does everyone else think?
84 and that’s generous.
I would have to look at the schedule and see how many teams are playoff teams and how many are not. They probably win 20-30% of the time against playoff teams and 75% of the time against non playoff teams. Won’t beat the Rangers, Canes, Boston, FL, TB, Col, EDM, NJ, and Dal type of teams. Of course this is based on no changes to the roster. If they don’t make the playoffs that is fine, but they better trade players like Eller (good player but UFA and shouldn’t be resigned), Hayes (doing well now but it might be good… Read more »
33-40-9=75pts, Final Answer
There isn’t a goalie in the history of hockey that could make up for the defensive zone problems. Ned might have let one I that he could have saved but he played good. I wonder if Jarry had the same performance what people would be saying about it….
At this point start Jarry, trade Neds to the Avs for a 1st or something good, and tank brutally for the 2025 draft
How’s about a grade for Dubas based on what you’ve seen so far?
I wrote Sullivan gone by March BTW I’m the only one who said that and I’ll double be le down. FSG owns this mess , they waited 16 months to fire Hextall and elevated Sullivan to Diety. Gonna be a big self own for FSG
Those writers who cheered on the Karlsson trade , actually has a Karlsson watch (Josh Yohe) Should be reminded every giveaway and turnover. I said not to re sign Letang. He’s horrible , sorry. How’s that Jarry Contract looking FSG?
See you in March
Sully has been running the show for years, that is why Rutherford left, Sully had too much power, we have done ZIP since GMJR and assistant coach Rick Tocchet left, notice the big improvement in Vancouver!
For the record, no one including Jim Rutherford has ever tied Mike Sullivan to JR’s decision.
his no comment when asked why he left speaks volumes
He’s since addressed it a couple of times. Again, Sullivan was no part of the situation.
They look totally lost in the defensive zone. After every goal you see guys looking around at each other. It’s early but so far David Quinn is looking like a poor hire. The defenseman have been bad, even Petterson has looked awful. Sorry but Sullivan has to go. You can’t keep saying “we have to play the right way” when’s there clearly no structure or template for them to play the right way
The flip side is if your a fan of 80’s hockey(which I totally was)then this team is for you
Sully’s “we have to play the right way” is like Bylsma’s “we have to get to our game”
Time to go Sully!
They replace Jarry yet the team is still ass, leading to another embarrassing loss. At some point the blame has to be put solely on the coaching and the vets. Malkin is the only one who gets a pass. Sid looks lost out there, Letang should’ve been shipped off 3 years ago, the EK65 experiment is turning the Pens into the Sharks, Graves is nothing short of a liability. Now Bunting is a healthy scratch, Rutger got demoted… so many players come and go yet the common denominator remains – Mike Sullivan
This team cannot beat the top teams in the league such as Winnipeg, Rangers, Hurricanes….they will be middle of the pack at best and above the Blue Jackets, Sabres, Senators, Flyers and maybe Red Wings….just like last year trying to get that last wildcard spot for the playoffs…at best.
I fear that we’ve already seen the highlight of the 2024-25 season — the milestone game for Crosby and Malkin.
Watch Sullivan destroy another hockey players confidence. He’s got a problem with Jesse Puljujarvi and slowly will mess with his head then either release him or send him down because he has a 5’7″ forward who skates really fast in the AHL to replace him.
4th line next game Jesse, count on it.
Sully is single-handedly responsible for this mess; his lack of allowing younger players to emerge and play significant roles is a huge reason Pens are where they are at this point. Prime example again is 18 … he was one of best if not best stories of the pre-season, now Sully has him on the 4th line and had scratched him in 2nd game of this season! There are other players much more at fault and they get zero demotion. The lack of accountability in Sully’s coaching has lead to this truly undisciplined team … too much entitlement!