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Talent Shortage Catching Penguins, Report Card vs. Florida

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Penguins Trade, Matt Murray Pittsburgh Penguins

Adrenaline eventually wears off. Water eventually finds its level and the Pittsburgh Penguins are experiencing some of that as they’re struggling to score goals and have lost two in a row. The Penguins struggled to score goals and create space, the paid the price with a 4-2 loss to the new-look Florida Panthers at the BB&T arena.

The Penguins were not able to break free from the now Joel Quenneville-lead Florida team. Each team was mostly in the face of the other. However, three Penguins’ mistakes led to three Florida goals. Penguins goalie Matt Murray spotted Florida a goal on a long-range wrist shot and Brandon Tanev kicking the puck past Teddy Blueger who was streaking out of the zone.

“The chances were even on both teams, based on our calculations. We had some quality chances,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. “Both teams defended really hard, so there wasn’t a lot of ice out there.”

Imagine. The Florida Panthers becoming a good defensive team. With Sergei Bobrovsky who signed a seven-year, $70 million contract in July and Quenneville behind the bench, Florida will be a new team in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

That should concern the Penguins, too.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are playing shorthanded even with 12 forwards. It should be generally accepted by now that Jared McCann is a much better winger than a center but the Penguins injuries are essentially costing them two players for the price of one, as McCann is pressed into center duty.

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