One-Timers: ‘Snowballing,’ Pushback and Penguins Report Card | PHN+

Bryan Rust has become a leader in the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room. He summed up the second-consecutive Penguins losing effort against the Philadelphia Flyers as “snowballing” negatives and said his team needed the “pushback” for which it was once famous.

Though head coach Mike Sullivan disagreed that his team lacked resilience.

“I thought we had a lot of pushback. We got down 3-0 early in the game and fought back to a 3-2 game,” Sullivan said. “We controlled most of the game from that point on, but we just couldn’t find that third goal.”

Though faltering for three quick goals was specifically what Rust was referencing.

The Penguins dominated the second period. Actually, they dominated the 30 minutes after head coach Mike Sullivan mercifully pulled goalie Tristan Jarry for Casey DeSmith. The Penguins backup goalie had to make only seven saves in his first 28 minutes.

“We pushed down the stretch to try and get that tying goal. It didn’t happen,” Sullivan said. “I thought there was plenty of emotion and pushback.

“I thought we were the better team. We didn’t convert … They did.”

Pittsburgh Penguins One-Timers:

*The unbuckling scrambles of the Penguins team for concentrated stretches should absolutely be concerning to the Penguins. The lack of fundamental defensive coverages and a high total of silly mistakes unbuttoned the Penguins’ good work with the puck and offensive pressure.