A Scathing Penguins Recap; Lifeless Pens Stomped Again

BUFFALO, NY. — And the bottom dropped out.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ run of wins and hot goaltending withered in the Florida sun this week. It was officially buried Thursday when the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres, destroyed the Penguins 7-3 at Key Bank Center.

Or rather, the Penguins destroyed the Penguins. And maybe Buffalo isn’t the worst team in the East.

First, the tidbit of good news. Penguins center Sidney Crosby set the NHL mark with his 20th season of at least a point per game, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 19 set in 1998.  Crosby (26) snapped a wrist shot over Buffalo goalie James Reimer at 11:11 of the first period to pull the Penguins to within 2-1.

Read More: 20 Years Greatness: Crosby Takes Gretzky Record!

That was the first and last bit of good vibes for the Penguins, who otherwise looked like a moping, sad bunch unhappy that the NHL’s regular season still has nine, now eight, more games to go.

The Penguins’ troubles began immediately. Just 27 seconds into the game, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk misplayed a puck at the offensive blue line, and defense partner Kris Letang jumped forward in an attempt to stifle the odd-man rush, but his missed attempt only exacerbated the situation.

Tage Thompson (36) was uncontested in the left circle and whistled a wrister past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. The goal also marked the 14th time this season the Penguins have given up a goal on the first shot against.

The NHL record is 16, set by the 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche. One can only hope for more history this season, eh?

Not long afterward, the Penguins’ defensive zone coverage again showed the care and attention of High School seniors watching movies on their last day of school. Peyton Krebs (7) had space between four … FOUR … Penguins near the net and was able to snap a quick forehand past Jarry at 4:44 for a 2-0 lead.

Should we keep going?

Hey, if I have to drive to Buffalo to cover this, you’re going to read every darned word that I have to write.

After Crosby broke Gretzky’s record, the Penguins stabilized the game for a little while. It was a false oasis of safety.

At 3:36 of the second period, the Penguins suffered no less than three breakdowns, from Noel Acciari and Blake Lizotte failing to switch coverage at the top of the zone, Letang’s far too soft defense on Bo Byram cutting through the slot, and Joona Koppanen getting beat by Kulich to the slot. Kulich (14) whipped another point-blank chance past Jarry for goal No. 3.

Less than two minutes later, Mattias Samuelsson was uncovered in the right circle. Hey, why break the no-show now? Samuellson (4) beat Jarry on the short side at 5:20 of the second for the 4-1 lead.

The Penguins’ bodies remained on the ice, but their interest clearly did not. The fourth goal signaled the end of Jarry’s game, the second game in a row coach Mike Sullivan pulled him after the defense abandoned him and the opponents hung four on him.

Alex Nedeljkovic wasn’t treated much better by the team in front of him. Buffalo needed a moment to catch their breath but regrouped for a few more goals in the second period.

Moments after a Buffalo power play ended, but before Blake Lizotte could rejoin the play, Kulich scored his second goal of the game at 11:33 of the second period. With plenty of space at the top of the zone, Kulich (14) unleashed a heavy wrister from the top of the left circle past Nedeljkovic for a 5-1 Buffalo lead.

A few other Buffalo players needed to pad their stats at the expense of the helpless Penguins goalies and disinterested skaters. Later in the second period, as the teams generated the drama of a PBS telethon, Buffalo scored twice more.

They did not get a free tote bag. Nor any chili for their seventh goal.

Just 28 seconds after Kulich’s marker, and moments after a Sidney Crosby turnover at center ice Buffalo scored No. 6. A chaotic chase into the defensive zone followed the turnover, and Tyler Kozak (3) was alone to fan on a loose puck in the crease, but the wind and momentum carried the puck across the line at 12:02 of the second.

The Penguins were not so rude as to impede Buffalo forward Alex Tuch (28), allowing him to race toward the net from the right wall and snap another glorious scoring chance past a Penguins goalie. 7-1.

The Penguins did get a little love from the hockey gods. At 2:16 of the third, Rasmus Dahlin kicked a loose puck into his own net. Blake Lizotte (10) got credit for the goal.

Buffalo defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker crumpled Connor Dewar with a heavy hit along the right-wing wall. After a quick moment, Dewar popped up and fought Bernard-Docker.

In garbage time, Kevin Hayes scored on a little chip shot near the net at 13:54 of the third. Hayes led the Penguins with six shots on goal.

Jarry allowed four goals on 12 shots. Nedeljkovic allowed three goals on 18 shots. Reimer barely broke a sweat, stopping 22 of 25.

Penguins Notes

Penguins forward Boko Imama was out with an upper-body injury. The Penguins opted for an 11 forwards and seven defensemen lineup. Ryan Shea returned to the lineup, but Ryan Graves and Vladislav Kolyachonok also remained in the lineup.

Evgeni Malkin did not play. He is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Penguins’ tragic number is down to 11.