Penguins Report Card: Balloon Gets Popped

For the first couple of minutes, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked similar to the team that skated the Columbus Blue Jackets out of the barn in their final preseason game last Friday. However, it didn’t take long for the Penguins’ mistakes to pile up, leading to six New York Rangers goals, including a shortie in a 6-0 loss Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena.

The mistakes began from unexpected sources and one player who could ill-afford a poor start but eventually permeated nearly every part of the lineup.

Read More: Penguins Report Card: Balloon Gets Popped

“I thought the start of the game, we played pretty well the first whatever, 13 minutes,” said coach Mike Sullivan. “I feel like when we gave up–it was a two- or three-minute span there in the first–when we gave up a couple of goals- we just didn’t seem to grab hold of it from there.”

That is true. Also, New York goalie Igor Shesterkin was impenetrable. Had the Penguins buried one of their chances in the first 15 minutes, it would have been a different game. But that’s why Shesterkin wants more than $11 million.

The Rangers have an elite goalie, and they rely on him.

The Penguins’ confidence and optimism, coming from an ebullient preseason of competitive roster battles, youthful infusions, and hope, crashed to the ice like a helicopter in a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie.

“We got down and tried to take chances to get back in the game–they’re a team that if you take chances, give them looks, they’re going to put them in,” said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. “We got behind and chased the game.”

The Penguins didn’t even give themselves one full day to feel like that limitless optimism that can only come from a good start to the season.

Things might not get any better Thursday when the Penguins may turn to rookie goalie Joel Blomqvist, who was sketchy in the preseason, against the Detroit Red Wings.

Jesse Puljujarvi hung Ryan Graves out to dry on the second goal less later in the first period. Despite a few puck wins and good offensive pressure throughout the first 20 minutes, Puljujarvi inexplicably peeled off his backchecking coverage, exposing Graves and a wide-open Sam Carrick for the first New York goal.

Puljujarvi was also a culprit in the Rangers’ goal, which would have been the second goal, that was overturned early in the first period.

Puljujarvi personified the Penguins’ game. He was very good for much of the first period and made a significant impact in the offensive zone and puck possession, but little breakdowns were fatal.

The mistakes gathered momentum until the Penguins were a listless, lifeless bunch waiting for the executioner, known as the final horn.

Point of No Return: Drew O’Connor takes a baseball swing at the fluttering puck, creating an icing play in the final minute of the first period. The Penguins were changing. There was no danger or reason to play the puck that was six feet above the ice. But his icing call gifted the Rangers nearly a full minute in the offensive zone against a tired group. They scored. 3-0. Game. Set and Match.

Perhaps the crashing confidence is the wrong analogy. It was more like watching an angry clown pop the balloon of hope and optimism. New York defenseman Jacob Trouba set up the first Rangers goal. Pennywise would have been proud.

Penguins Report Card

Tristan Jarry: D

Jarry was actually quite good in the second and third periods. However, he was beaten cleanly through the five-hole on the second goal of the game, scored by Lafreniere, and was overly affected by the Penguins scrambling on the third goal.

“I thought he responded really well after the first and made some big saves in the second and third periods,” said Sullivan. “You know, the reality is that’s just that’s the world we all live in, you know? And so (he’s) got to find a way to focus on the game and focus on the details of your own respective game. I’m confident Jarry will do that (in the future).”

The third goal was mistake-filled as Drew O’Connor foolishly swatted the puck out of the air in frustration–creating an icing. His exhausted line had little energy to defend, and the team scrambled. Jarry flopped and dived, once without a shot with his team rather than calmly holding the net. It was a six-player mess, but Jarry could have held his ground—he might have made one more save and kept the Penguins in the game.

Rutger McGroarty: A

None of the goals were on his back. He dug for pucks, distributed well in the offensive zone, and kept up nicely. He made a difference until the team was no longer competitive.

“I thought Rutger played well. He made some wall plays. You could see his hockey sense,” Sullivan agreed. “He’s pretty good–I think he has poise with the puck. He doesn’t just throw it away. I thought he handled the pace of play really well.”

Jesse Puljujarvi: Beauty in the eye of the beholder

He was going to get an A. His nose was over the puck in the offensive zone; he sprung loose for a couple of good chances and set up others. The line with Lars Eller and McGroarty had more buzz than any of the Penguins lines, but they couldn’t beat Igor Shesterkin.

However, they also put their own goalie in harm’s way, and Puljujarvi needed to be more structured in the trackbacks.

Anthony Beauvillier: B

Great first shift. Beauvillier sprung Crosby on a zone entry, then kept with the play for a clean shot at Shesterkin. If he buries that, it’s a different game. He was around the net, scrappy in the battle areas, and on the pucks.

Again, he was all of those things until the team deflated.

Penguins Power Play: D

Even before the shorthanded goal, the Penguins’ power play looked like it was caught between a dream and reality. PP1 knew what it wanted to do but looked like a band that had no rehearsals trying to execute a choreographed dance number. Passes were behind and off target, and the movement was chasing the puck, not pressuring the Rangers.

The obvious difference between the regular season premiere and the preseason is the inclusion of Erik Karlsson. It’s too easy to blame him, but if they don’t look better against Detroit on Thursday, Sullivan might have a quick hook for someone on PP1.

The power play was 0-for-3 with only three shots on goal. They were outscored 1-0.

Kind note to assistant coach David Quinn and head coach Mike Sullivan: Put Erik Karlsson on PP2 and put Michael Bunting back on PP1.

Mike Sullivan: Ball is in his court

It would seem a team cannot get slapped in the opening game as the Penguins did without some changes, however small.

Surely, someone has to pay a small price, right?

Sullivan said it was probably premature to make changes, but he said so without anger and perhaps without conviction.