Pittsburgh Penguins: What's Wrong?
What exactly is wrong with the Pittsburgh Penguins? It seems that no one, even themselves, can answer that question.
The Penguins blew a 3-0 lead in Game 4 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets and lost in overtime 4-3 by way of a Nick Foligno wrist shot from the blueline. The events leading up to the demise were hard to believe, yet if you are a Penguins fan, these are not the first time they have happened.
First, Columbus was on a four minute double minor power play, trailing 3-1 at the time in the second period. Penguins' center Brandon Sutter shot the puck straight up into the net with 2:18 remaining on the initial penalty. This created a full two minute 5-on-3 power play for the Jackets, which Ryan Johnasen capitalized on to bring the home team within one goal.
With 22 seconds remaining in the final frame, a harmless dump in by Columbus was retrieved by Penguins' netminder Marc-Andre Fleury...scratch that, was attempted to be met by Fleury. A bouncing puck found its way to a Jacket stick, which then was passed to Brandon Dubinsky who ripped the puck home into a yawning net.
A rush by Nick Foligno and quick wrist shot knotted the series up at 2-2 when Fleury just plain whiffed on the save.
So, I ask again: What is wrong with the Penguins?
One may point to the fact that the "Two Headed Monster" does not have any goals in this series. Those players would be Sidney Crosby, the 2013-14 Art Ross Trophy Winner and Evgeni Malkin, a former two-time Art Ross Trophy winner and playoff MVP. One may also point to the lackluster, for a lack of a better term, penalty kill the Penguins have rolled out. Or, you can look at their power play and how they've allowed two shorthanded goals.
One may point to their defense who has consistently allowed three goals per game in the last several playoff series.
However, one should not look directly at Marc-Andre Fleury. Without the Flower playing at the top of his game, this series is wrapped up as a sweep for the Blue Jackets and they would be waiting for either the New York Rangers or Philadelphia Flyers. Fleury has been lights out for most of four games, keeping the Penguins in the games that they deserved to lose, especially Game 3.
Whatever ails this Pittsburgh team, it needs a remedy and needs one fast. Game 5 is set for Saturday night at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh and is the beginning of now a best of three between the adjacent state rivals. The Penguins need production from their top stars and there is no better time for them to get hot than in an absolutely critical, pivotal game in front of a, should we say, "hostile" crowd.
The Penguins blew a 3-0 lead in Game 4 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets and lost in overtime 4-3 by way of a Nick Foligno wrist shot from the blueline. The events leading up to the demise were hard to believe, yet if you are a Penguins fan, these are not the first time they have happened.
First, Columbus was on a four minute double minor power play, trailing 3-1 at the time in the second period. Penguins' center Brandon Sutter shot the puck straight up into the net with 2:18 remaining on the initial penalty. This created a full two minute 5-on-3 power play for the Jackets, which Ryan Johnasen capitalized on to bring the home team within one goal.
With 22 seconds remaining in the final frame, a harmless dump in by Columbus was retrieved by Penguins' netminder Marc-Andre Fleury...scratch that, was attempted to be met by Fleury. A bouncing puck found its way to a Jacket stick, which then was passed to Brandon Dubinsky who ripped the puck home into a yawning net.
A rush by Nick Foligno and quick wrist shot knotted the series up at 2-2 when Fleury just plain whiffed on the save.
So, I ask again: What is wrong with the Penguins?
One may point to the fact that the "Two Headed Monster" does not have any goals in this series. Those players would be Sidney Crosby, the 2013-14 Art Ross Trophy Winner and Evgeni Malkin, a former two-time Art Ross Trophy winner and playoff MVP. One may also point to the lackluster, for a lack of a better term, penalty kill the Penguins have rolled out. Or, you can look at their power play and how they've allowed two shorthanded goals.
One may point to their defense who has consistently allowed three goals per game in the last several playoff series.
However, one should not look directly at Marc-Andre Fleury. Without the Flower playing at the top of his game, this series is wrapped up as a sweep for the Blue Jackets and they would be waiting for either the New York Rangers or Philadelphia Flyers. Fleury has been lights out for most of four games, keeping the Penguins in the games that they deserved to lose, especially Game 3.
Whatever ails this Pittsburgh team, it needs a remedy and needs one fast. Game 5 is set for Saturday night at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh and is the beginning of now a best of three between the adjacent state rivals. The Penguins need production from their top stars and there is no better time for them to get hot than in an absolutely critical, pivotal game in front of a, should we say, "hostile" crowd.
