Penguins Report Card: Unhappy Sullivan Benches Vets; Here Come the Kids

For a couple of periods, it was a welcome respite from the nattering nabobs of negativity, NHL trade rumors, and wonderment about their immediate future. The Pittsburgh Penguins were feasting on the sinking San Jose Sharks, whose gaps and tenacity were more goldfish than apex predators.

And then the Penguins do what they’ve done with most multi-goal leads this season.

They wrapped it up and gave it away. The Penguins ultimately survived in a shootout for a 4-3 win, but there were no joyous celebrations in the locker room. The Penguins gagged on a 3-0 lead.

It was the ninth time they’ve wasted what should have been a win and the fourth time they’ve overcome it for a win. The Penguins are 4-3-2 when an opponent rallies to tie the game after a multi-goal lead.

“I think that’s been a big point of emphasis lately: just staying with it–whether we were coming back from a couple of goal lead, or (like) tonight we gave up a lead late,” said goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. “We’re going through some adversity right now and trying to find ways to get out of it. And it was nice to get rewarded tonight.”

The Penguins have run the gamut of emotions in the past week as general manager Kyle Dubas’s youth movement officially got underway. However, to make room for the rookies and figurative kids, veterans have to be moved aside. On Tuesday, the team traded Lars Eller. By Saturday against San Jose, four rookies were in the lineup, including 2022 first-round pick Owen Pickering and valued prospect Vasily Ponomarev, were in the lineup.

“I was so scared (for my rookie lap). I was probably more nervous about that than I was (anything else). I was heading out there–‘ Just don’t fall’–So I ripped it off the glass twice, which was kind of embarrassing, but that was fun,” Pickering said of his rookie moment before the game.

Jack St. Ivany and Sam Poulin were the other two rookies. Two more players are 26 (Drew O’Connor and Jesse Puljujarvi). Geez, if only coach Mike Sullivan would play the kids, right?

Poulin, Pickering and O’Connor had an assist. Puljujarvi scored a goal.

However, it’s Sullivan’s call when the youngsters play. After witnessing one of the worst Penguins defensive performances of this century Friday in Columbus, the Penguins coach had enough of several veterans and probably a few more for whom there aren’t immediate replacements.

It was time for the newbies.

“No, it’s a decision that we made based on an accumulation of events over time. We felt it was time to make those changes and give guys opportunities to play,” Sullivan said. “And so we’re not satisfied with where we’re at. And performance matters.”

It’s as close as Sullivan has come to publicly tossing a few of the offenders under the bus. Defenseman Ryan Graves, who was a big part of the defensive meltdown Friday, was served a plate of press box nachos, as was winger Valtteri Puustinen in favor of 20-year-old d-man Owen Pickering and forward Vasily Ponomarev, respectively.

Read More: Finally. Pickering Pumped for Penguins Moment; “I Know What to Do” (+)

Pickering earned his first NHL point in the first period with a seriously sharp assist. At the blue line, he head-faked the San Jose forward, pulling him out of position and creating a passing lane. Pickering zipped a perfect pass to Sam Poulin—another rookie—in the right circle. Jesse Puljujarvi buried Poulin’s rebound. The goal scorer is 26, the shooter is 22, and the second assist was to a 20-year-old.

Make way.

Whether Dubas will publicly admit it or not, every action screams rebuild and youth movement. Now.

Penguins Analysis

San Jose did not present the most physical or difficult challenge, but a win–any win–is a big deal. And it should have been a stroll through the aquarium until Mikael Granlund, who is notoriously not a fast skater, outskated the entire Penguins team (the top line and top defensive pairing) back to the defensive zone and was unabated to the goal for a momentum-building second goal in the third period.

Then, Tyler Toffoli was untouched between three Penguins in the slot for the tying goal.

Inexplicable. And it would be unforgivable if it were not a routine occurrence. At some point, it becomes normalized, and we’re almost there.

Watch this breakdown on the tying goal. Pee Wee Hockey.

Defensive failure in pictures. A thread:

It’s a 2 on 3. St. Ivany, Grzelcyk and Bunting should have it covered… SHOULD. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/mBs3Ufnud1

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) November 17, 2024

But then, Ty Dellandrea skirts past St. Ivany. Ok, no problem. it’s still covered. Right? Yeah you see Toffoli trailing. But wait… pic.twitter.com/s18pw9ckrx

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) November 17, 2024

Grzelcyk AND Bunting also see Toffoli, so they both sag to cover him, but neither actually covers him. Nope. Toffoli actually gets the puck and has time and space to rip an uncontested wrister.
Jaw dropping. pic.twitter.com/dGtEgqGxTS

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) November 17, 2024

And with that, it was a tie game.

Simply, this team needs a reset of heart and spirit. They couldn’t put away a soft team at the end of a road trip that already ceded the win. EIGHT blown two-goal leads. EIGHT.

Edit: The story was amended to reflect the correct total of eight blown two-goal leads.

Penguins Report Card

Owen Pickering: B

A solid performance from the big defenseman. His assist was slick. He made one mistake that almost wound up in his net because he held the puck just a moment too long at the offensive blue line. That’s a forgivable mistake because he probably won’t make it again. Sullivan used him in sheltered minutes, but it was a solid first outing for a 20-year-old who had played just 12 professional games before Saturday, and the consensus was he needed plenty of time to mature into a serious contender for NHL duty until his rapid and continued improvement in the preseason.

Ryan Shea: D

He’s having a world of struggle on the right side. His mistakes are not small.

Vasily Ponomarev: B

You saw exactly what Ponomarev is–a gritty, hard-charging, swift skater who will pounce on a loose puck and will play on the walls as if he enjoys it. He doesn’t have flashy hands or much offensive creativity, but he’ll be just fine.

Mike Sullivan: B+

He put the young players into the lineup, and he managed them well Saturday. Pickering played about 14 minutes. Ponomarev missed the second half of the first period and played just under nine minutes. Sullivan also kept Drew O’Connor at center—it seems that’s going to continue—and it’s overdue. The line has produced.

It’s not like a coach instructs his players to avoid covering Tyler Toffoli.

Jack St. Ivany: C

The defenseman hasn’t yet found his best footing this season. He’s a step behind in crucial situations or getting beat at the blue line. He needs to find that rough and simple game that he employed so well last season. He had two giveaways and three hits Saturday.

Matt Grzelcyk: D

Since a good start to the season, his game has fallen fast and far. His skating is not eluding forecheckers, even the Sharks and his breakouts vary from precise to intercepted.