Penguins Room: What’s Keeping Pens Motivated?! Sorry, No Tanking Allowed

NEWARK — A bad start by the Pittsburgh Penguins. A goal against just 15 seconds into the game and the 15th time this season they’ve allowed a goal on the first shot of the game, followed by a barrage of New Jersey Devils shots and chances, which led to an early 2-0 New Jersey lead.

However, the Penguins shrugged off the start, capitalized on some lucky bounces, like an own goal by New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes that was credited to Evgeni Malkin, and kept charging for a 4-2 win.

After the first 10 minutes, the Penguins were the better team. They attacked well and tilted the ice. Their forecheck created pressure and some turnovers. They also defended much better.

That’s not supposed to happen, at least not for ordinary teams.

The Penguins have now won nine of their last 15 games and have points in 11 of those. They overcame an abysmal start and rallied to score four unanswered goals Friday. Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Malkin each had a goal and an assist. Tristan Jarry stopped pucks with the desperation of chasing a playoff spot.

He made 26 saves on 28 shots Friday, but as with most Penguins games, the defensemen certainly abandoned him too many times. Jarry made the big stops on a few one-times and pokes within the scoring zones.

“I think after those two goals–the second goal is kind of unfortunate. It just kind of went off the (Ondrej Palat’s) legs–but after that, I thought the team settled in really well, and I think I did so myself,” Jarry said. “And I think when we kind of settle in like that and play our game and possess the puck more, it makes it easier for me, and I think we play a better game, a full 60 when we do that.”

By all rights, the game should have been over at 6:17 when New Jersey scored their second goal. Game, set, match. After all, the Penguins have nothing to play for. They have just a few games left before a bright and early locker clean-out day that poor results had preordained for a couple of weeks.

There should be nothing to play for, yet, here they are.

“Let me just say that it says a lot about the group and the leadership that we have. You know, let’s face it, under not the easiest circumstances, I know that these guys play with a lot of pride,” coach Mike Sullivan said Friday morning. “They want to make sure that when you put the Penguins jersey over your head, there’s a certain expectation and a responsibility that we all have to live up to. And I know that means a lot to our leadership group. So, they’re leading the charge. We’ll continue to bring that mindset to the table.”

In other words, no tanking.

Friday night, Crosby and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk spoke eloquently of fighting to the end, if for no other reason than they are Pittsburgh Penguins, and that still matters.

In a very subtle moment, Grzelcyk caught himself. He began speaking of building a foundation for next season, only to realize that he very well will not be part of it. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and recent PHN reports indicate there have not been any substantive contract talks for next season.

Yet, Grzelcyk, like Crosby, is still rowing the boat even if it’s back to the dock.

“Obviously, we’re not in the playoffs, but we have a lot of pride on the line. We’re going to build something for years to come,” Grzelcyk said. “There are so many good players who have played for a long time, and we owe it to them to keep battling and not give up on the season. So, I think we’ve done a good job of that ever since we’ve been eliminated.”

Of course, Crosby is the leader. The group, from the rookies to the established veterans, still take their cues from the captain. Friday, Crosby continued his torrid run with a goal and an assist, including the game-winner when he dropped to one knee to deflect the puck into the net, and he made a spinning pass at center ice to assist on the game-clincing empty-netter.

Since the Four Nations Face-Off break, which ended on Feb. 22, Crosby has been held scoreless in just four of 24 games. In that span, he’s registered 29 points, including 14 goals.

He needs just a couple of points to tie Mario Lemieux’s franchise record (90) for points by a player 37 or older. But age is merely a number. Crosby looks every bit the player he was five years ago.

We asked Crosby how he has kept motivation under what Sullivan admitted were tough circumstances.

“It’s accountability to one another. It’s making sure we stick together through a tough time. That’s what it comes down to,” Crosby said. “It’s not an easy situation. It’s not one we want to be in. Some days, it’s not so fun when you’re dropping games and you’re not making the playoffs. It’s up to us to help one another in handling that, and I think we’ve done as good a job as we possibly could, given the situation.

“You know, we’ve gotten some new people in the lineup. We grind out a win tonight on the road, and that’s good we (that we) find ways to win.”

And that’s why the Penguins “improved” to the eighth overall pick from the seventh. Another win could put them in the ninth overall spot.