Penguins
Penguins Stink Again in Embarrassing Loss to Utah
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins (7-12-4) quit long before the game was over. The Utah Hockey Club (8-9-3) did not, and it was yet another embarrassing, lifeless loss on home ice as Utah won 6-1 at PPG Paints Arens Saturday.
On the plus side, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby added his name to another elite list when he scored his 600th career goal early in the second period.
However, the good vibes began and ended with that goal. The Penguins flatlined again. There was no fight, no pushback, not even a scrum in the third period as Utah snapped their three-game losing streak. In turn, the Penguins lost their third game in a row and sixth in the last seven (1-4-2), losing to Utah 5-1 at PPG Paints Arena.
The final 10 minutes were more like a funeral procession than a hockey game despite a fairly sizable crowd that braved downtown Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night traffic for the event.
Read More: Sidney Crosby Scores Goal No. 600!
The Penguins were given a full two-minute 5v3 power play early in the second period after a pair of Utah slashing penalties. Defenseman Erik Karlsson slipped a pass to a wide-open Crosby (8), who scored a vintage goal with a wrist shot along the goal line inside the far post.
The goal closed the Penguins to within 2-1 before Utah scored a few more goals, and the Penguins eventually quit.
The Penguins’ malaise from being controlled by the Winnipeg Jets in a 4-1 loss Friday continued into the first period Saturday. In the opening minutes, the team fired more shots at Utah goalie Karl Vejmelka. However, the team stumbled through the majority of the period and gave up a trio of goals, two of which counted.
The Penguins’ defensive zone coverage continues to be a wild adventure rather than a coordinated and structured team event. Utah didn’t score on their first shot (though the real first shot did rest behind goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was inexplicably not scored as a shot). Instead, Utah scored on their third shot when defenseman Ryan Graves was losing his pursuit of Dylan Guenther, so defense partner Matt Grzelcyk abandoned his net-front post to help, only to leave Jack McBain (6) wide open on the far post for an easy slam at 8:54 of the first period.
Coach Mike Sullivan juggled his defense pairs, moving Grzelcyk from the top pair left side to the third pairing right side, with Ryan Graves on the left.
The Penguins had a 6-0 shot advantage, but the first period ended tied 10-10, and Utah converted another chance later in the first period. Once again, the Penguins were disorganized, covering the Utah rush attack. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was open at the top of the slot and whipped a wrister past Nedeljkovic at 13:07.
It was a stoppable goal, and good teams get those saves, but teams in the weeds do not.
Referees overturned Utah’s third goal of the first period because of goaltender interference. It was an easy review (that should have been obvious from the beginning), but Nick Schmaltz was left untouched in the right circle; more defensive wizardry from the Penguins.
Former Penguins center Nick Bjugstad scored what became the clincher midway through the second period. After Jesse Puljujarvi’s tripping minor, Bujugstad deflected a point shot by Michael Kesserling past Nedeljkovic at 10:37.
Utah scored a pair in the third period as the Penguins struggled to care.
Dylan Guenther (8) fought for inside position on Marcus Pettersson and shoved a loose puck into the net at 6:38 of the third period. Less than a minute later, Alexander Kerfoot (3) deflected a shot past Nedeljkovic at 7:25.
The Penguins fell silent as the murmur of the crowd wondered what happened to the Penguins, and their hope this season was all that dulled the sound of skate blades cutting on the ice.
The Penguins quit long before the game ended. They stood flat-footed as Utah and Dylan Guenther (9) skated around them for the final tally to punctuate yet another pathetic loss.
Nedeljkovic stopped 23 of 29 shots. Vejmelka saved 28 of 29 for his second win of the season.
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Dan, say it. Ned stunk. Be consistent.
Really, of the 100 problems, you’re demanding I address that one?
That is what I was saying when it was all Jarry.
Whatever they do, I hope Sullivan doesn’t bring Blomqvist back and subject him to this team. It’s time to put Karlsson on extended time in the press box.
Keep it going. Get those high picks.
Worst team in hockey
What difference it made having Hayes in the lineup instead of Ponomarev. He should consider himself lucky he wasn’t here for this embarrassment
Enough already… fire Sullivan.
Teams are salivating at playing the Pens and Sullivan’s “defense.”
The “offense” too!
I’m done. #FireSullivan
Image what our record would be if we didn’t have one of the top coaches in hockey
it was 5-1 and Rust was looking at the iPad. Talk about being over coached! NHL players with a coach that has watched way too much reruns
The team stinks but Sully is part of the problem. He needs to go. How long can u watch a PP do the same things and never shoot how long can you try a speed game when there old. As boring as it is they need to play some sort of trap and Sullivan refuses to do it . He is also responsible for not playing young talent. If you don’t shoot on PP then bench them . I mean try something. He does nothing. Maybe put Crosby on penalty kill and off PP everyone knows he won’t shoot.
I didn’t watch (thankfully), but by the score it almost seems like they are trying to lose in this badly of fashion to get Sullivan fired. They can’t really be that bad can they?
Yes, they are that bad !…the only reason they scored tonight was because Utah only had 3 players on the ice…they were gifted a 5-on-3…
Sad
Imagine the Ben Stiller voice and character as the teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. FSG… FSG… anyone seen FSG? Seriously – how long can this absentee corporate ownership allow Dubas et al to keep on going like this? It’s one thing to have a team short on talent in the obvious downswing of a cycle with all parties recognizing that reality and accepting it. This, however, is not that. This is a group of people on wildly different pages with varying levels of acceptance of the way things truly are. To make matters worse the front office is not… Read more »
Strange — did Mario get out when he could see the inevitable coming, or as a more hand on owner was he a somehow motivating force? This team has quit and I don’t get it
Really makes me wonder about what was really going on when Rutherford bailed so fast.
I’m guessing Mario was motivated by going to enjoy the rest of his life and an ROI that could not be refused.
Three days until next drubbing. What will happen roster wise and coaching staff before Wed?
Nothing
Probably time for the fans to vote with their feet. Maybe all of the milestones have been reached.
Are they waiting until after the Four Nations Tournament to let him go.
Maybe Bylsma can clue him in
Teflon Mike should be gone tomorrow. Gives the interim coach 3 days before the next game. O Dubas, where art thou?
David Quinn coached rangers, they got 1st overall pick, David Quinn coached the sharks they got first overall pick, David Quinn is assistant coach of penguins tbd overall pick
It was almost like, “hey, we got Sid #600….it’s take the rest of the night off!”
No heart, no pride, no guts! Said it before: “I don’t expect to go to the playoffs, but i do expect pride and a a hard, honest effort!” Friggin’ clown show
Young players are following the example of “the Core” and Sullivan.
Exception only for Crosby
They’re old and know they suck, so they’re just collecting paychecks until next season.
Some of the guys know they’ll be on a playoff team before the deadline.
I find the lack of pride and effort way beyond concerning. Honestly I’d rather see career AHL players than what has been on display. Fire sale!
Have no idea what Mike Sullivan was doing tonight…he put the whole team in a blender, mixed it up, and threw it out on the ice…his line combinations tonight made no sense…
Neto, Hayes, Accairi…what a line…ugh
Pretty much what every coach does when their team is on a losing streak.
he’s just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic
Dan, you’ve made a mistake in your very first sentence. They didn’t quit before the game was over, they quit long before it even began. I’m sorry that this will push Sully through the door, but I’ll be glad watching those that wanted him gone realize it wasn’t him.
No comment. I said too much.
Makes me wonder how Broz would react.
This roster was constructed to suck. I didn’t expect this team to finish better than bottom 10 with this roster….this isn’t a surprise to me…The defensemen constructed aren’t good…from Karlsson, Graves and Gryz, three players who can’t play in their end (even Graves if you look at his other years he played with a d partner that covered a lot of mistakes and in a structure that isolated him)….Dubas in Toronto couldn’t and wouldn’t get defensemen that played good D in the d zone. There are a bunch of other teams scraps on this teams, no first liners, aside from… Read more »
Dear Mike Sullivan
When a team is humiliating, embarrassing and beating you by 4 goals with about 4 minutes left in a game, then draws a power play and sends their top PP line out to further humiliate, embarrass etc…even more.
Maybe next time man up as a coach, stickup for your team and send a message to both teams by putting a line of your toughest players on the ice and pound the crap out of them. I understand by toughest you really have no such players but just wing it like your coaching has been.