Penguins Report Card: Penguins Match NHL-Best Avalanche, Rough Day for Malkin (+)

Twice. The Pittsburgh Penguins scored a momentous tying goal twice against the Colorado Avalanche. Twice.

And twice Colorado buried the next chance on the next shift on the next shot. Once, Evgeni Malkin’s line was burned with a lax backcheck, and a sneaky defenseman (Devan Toews) burned Sidney Crosby’s line. Toews was uncovered near the net and knew where to stand for a big bounce off the back wall.

“Definitely, something to learn from. Those are important shifts coming off a goal,” said defenseman Mike Matheson, who also scored. “Whether it’s a goal against or a goal for, you want to follow it up with a strong shift, so something to think about and get better at…”

The Colorado Avalanche lead the President’s Trophy race, and it’s anything but a mirage. They are really…really good.

“Yeah, it’s tough. They got a good home team bounce, so it’s tough when they get a bounce like that, and it goes tape to tape. He got a good shot off. It’s obviously frustrating, and we just have to move past it–we have them again (Tuesday),” Trista Jarry said.

Jarry made 35 saves on 38 shots.

That game on Tuesday should be a blast.

The Penguins squeezed off 40 shots against Colorado and gave up 38. It was everything a hockey game should be, including good goaltending, scoring chances, and perhaps the best skating in any game this season.

However, a potential Penguins weak spot showed and delivered a pair of goals to Colorado.