Penguins Shine in Colorado … Yet Still Lose

DENVER — The Pittsburgh Penguins (24-30-10) narrowly avoided history in the first minute of the game. Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was walked at the blue line by Colorado Avalanche (36-24-2) winger Valeri Nichuskin, who then beat Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic with a backhand deke, but the shot hit the outside of the post.

Had Nichuskin scored, the Penguins would have tied a dubious NHL record of allowing 14 goals on the first shot against. As it were, Nedeljkovic and the Penguins settled quickly and began to control the puck for the remainder of the first period, reaching a 13-5 shot advantage, though each team had a few high-quality scoring chances.

However, the Penguins failed to convert numerous scoring chances, instead making Colorado backup goalie Scott Wedgewood look like 1995’s version of Patrick Roy. A late Colorado power play goal by Casey Mittelstadt was the winner in Colorado’s 2-1 win at Ball Arena.

The Penguins pushed the superior Colorado roster further in the second period. Still, their lack of scoring touch was painfully evident as Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier, and Noel Acciari didn’t finish Grade-A chances.

Colorado finally put a mark on the scoreboard earlier in the second period. The Penguins’ soft defensive zone coverage allowed Nova Scotia native Nathan MacKinnon the time and space to make a perfect pass from behind the net to Arturi Lehkonen in the slot. Lehkonen (25) quickly snapped it past Nedeljkovic at 6:36 of the second.

The Penguins rallied after falling behind. Eventually, the Penguins’ top line flexed their skills on a pretty rush goal as Sidney Crosby snapped a cross-ice pass to Bryan Rust, and Rust immediately zipped a pass back across the slot to Rickard Rakell (29) near the back post for a tic-tac-toe score.

Rakell is closing in on his first 30-goal season since 2017-18.

The Penguins’ power play was 0-for-2 with four shots, and Nedeljkovic survived his own turnover by stopping the resulting two-on-none breakaway. The Penguins minded their manners and didn’t take a penalty in the first two periods but instead remained on the attack.

By the middle of the third period, the Penguins reached a 29-18 shot advantage and a 26-15 scoring chance advantage, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. However, after a great game, Beauvilier took a tripping penalty at 16:23 of the third period.

As if by script, Beauvillier’s penalty was the difference. Mittelstadt (11) netted the winner near the net at 15:51 of the third.

Lehkonen (26) scored his second goal of the game with the empty netter at 18:52, just moments after the Penguins pulled Nedeljkovic for the extra attacker. Jack Drury (7) added a second empty-netter with eight seconds remaining.

Nedeljkovic was stellar, stopping 21 of 23 shots. Wedgewood was fantastic, stopping 32 of 33 shots.

Penguins Notes

Boko Imama and Ryan Graves were healthy scratches.

Vladislav Kolyachonok made his Penguins debut.

Humboldt Broncos crash survivor Layne Matechuk dropped the ceremonial puck with his two favorite players–Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon–at center ice before the game.