What would a first period goal against the Penguins be like if it didn't come in the first five minutes? Put it this way: the Penguins' last give games have been against the Flyers-Rangers-Flyers and Devils. All but the Rangers managed to get a goal in within the first five minutes, wit the Rangers doing it inside seven. First period goals are killing the Penguins, and it seems like they don't even care. Never mind the fact the Pens have gone in to the second period in the last three games down by at least two goals (three for the Rangers).
The play on ice reflects the same attitude for the division. Give up early, fight back later. Sometimes, you make it - more often, you fall short. That was the case tonight when the Pens rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at two, only to lose on a third period goal with the final being 3-2.
I'm sure if you ask Crosby, streaks mean nothing unless it's a win streak. Sure, he's gone on to score in the past 17 games, but the team has also lost four in a row and dropped to 1-6 on the month. Considering all of these division games, it hurts twice as much.
Not until later in the season, much, much later in the season, will the Pens have another opportunity at picking up points in the Atlantic standings. Perhaps by then it will be too late, but even then it's too soon to say. Here are the last 11 games for the Pens, 10 of which land in the division.
MARCH
March 16 - Pens vs Flyers
March 18 - Pens @ Rangers
March 20 - Pens vs Lightning
March 22 - Pens vs Devils
March 24 - Pens @ Islanders
March 25 - Pens @ Devils
March 27 - Pens vs Islanders
March 30 - Pens vs Rangers
March 31 - Pens @ Rangers
APRIL
April 2 - Pens vs Flyers
April 6 - Pens @ Flyers
Is it just me, or does the schedule seem a bit bizarre? We play each division team eight times a year, yet in the last month we play the Flyers and Rangers three times each and the Devils and Islanders twice.
On the bright side, at least Brodeur didn't get the win tonight. We can at least pretend something good came from this. Earlier in the season the Devils had hinted Weekes would be seeing a substantial amount of ice time, but who'd have thought they'd bench Brodeur in the heat of his hunt for 500? Perhaps Penguins fans can take this as an insult. "Oh, the Pens aren't good enough, so we can start our backup and still walk away with a win." Although I highly doubt that was the train of thought, I wouldn't be surprised if someone at least mentioned it.
And in front of the home crowd too...they're really putting their fans through the ringer.
User Steel Town from ArmchairGM recently stated in a comment, "I don't even know where the problems start anymore."
Valid point, but I'd love to hear your solutions.
Here is mine.
Kick Fleury back down or trade him up for a strong defenseman, preferably a right-handed shot on the blueline. Give the starting job to Sabourin and call up Ty Conklin from WBS. Send down Eaton and call up Letang for an additional balance on the blueline of both a powerplay threat and neutral zone trapper. Letang's only two NHL goals came on the powerplay in his seven game stint with the club last season. He'd be a great threat on the second PP line. Get Laraque, Roberts and Armstrong on that 4th line to send some energy and intimidation towards the other team. Scratch Kennedy, Nasreddine or Ruutu before you consider scratching Armstrong. He plays a more disciplined game then Ruutu, has a better shot than Nas (even if it IS only one goal on the season) and has more muscle than Kennedy.
Above all - HIT THEM. If you needed a further reason why, look at the penalty kill's performance Saturday night against the Flyers. Three powerplay goals...
Kudos to the Devils, seriously. They played a very disciplined game, giving the Pens only three attempts on the powerplay. Considering the Penguins' performance Saturday against the Flyers, I'm surprised they converted once on so few chances.
Pray tell loyal readers and/or Penguins fans, how do you solve this stifling problem?
Penguins Goals
1st Period
NONE
2nd Period
Crosby from Malone-Whitney
3rd Period
Malkin from Gonchar-Crosby
Sabourin - 18-21
Weekes - 23-25
