Penguins Room: Zucker Fight, and What Penguins Didn’t Do vs. Jets (+)

The Pittsburgh Penguins were never really in sync, nor did they especially pressure the Winnipeg Jets. The Penguins were sans their top three defensemen, and coach Mike Sullivan started third-goalie Dustin Tokarski after backup Casey DeSmith was pulled following three quick goals against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Drew O’Connor scored the lone Penguins goal. With the less-than-optimal lineup, the Penguins didn’t lack effort but probably lacked anything resembling cohesive play and lacked results. Winnipeg controlled the game in a 4-1 win at PPG Paints Arena.

However, coach Mike Sullivan wouldn’t bite on excuses that the Penguins were missing top defensemen Kris Letang, Jeff Petry, and Marcus Pettersson.

“No, I don’t think it’s the standard that’s been set here by our group,” said Sullivan. “I know we’re capable of a lot more regardless of who’s in our lineup. It just wasn’t our best.”

The Penguins were outshot 40-23. They never really seized momentum or put Winnipeg on its heels.

In the locker room, there were multiple opinions on what the team didn’t do or didn’t do very well. And those opinions all fit the game pretty well.