There have been lots of developments for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past week. Unfortunately for the team, most of them weren’t the type of developments the team would have wanted. They say a lengthy road trip can help a team bond and find its game. It has not worked that way on the current trek through western Canada, with just a game Saturday at Vancouver remaining.
One of the biggest stories has been the continuing drama with the goaltenders. In particular, Tristan Jarry is taking some time away from the rest of the team, while Alex Nedeljkovic and rookie Joel Blomqvist have managed about as well as possible given that the Penguins’ defensive play has been far from solid.
Coach Mike Sullivan has been left to try to explain things while righting the ship, but even he got fed up during one of the week’s practices.
At least there was a little bit of a respite with an upbeat conversation about Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid in relation to the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
With Halloween approaching, you might need to muster your courage to catch up on the past week. Click the links.
Saturday: Before the team left for its trip, PHN took a stab at some of the Penguins’ biggest issues. These were not nit picky things. They not only described what had been happening, but also foreshadowed what would follow out west. Check out the the three biggest problems.
Alex Nedeljkovic, the Penguins’ backup and sometime No. 1 goalie last season, was deemed ready to go from a preseason injury after a win in a short conditioning stint in the AHL. So where did that leave the team’s goalie situation? Curiously, they planned to leave for their trip with all three goalies.
The trip apparently seemed like a good time to make some changes to the lineup. Chief among them was the fact that the odd man out, at least in the short term, was winger Michael Bunting.
Given all the aforementioned situations, the Penguins headed west on a trip that shaped up as something that could help define the season.
Sunday: With the Penguins’ big road trip kicking off in Winnipeg, it remained a big question what would happen with Jarry and how the team would deal with a three-goalie situation.
In perhaps a sign of how tense or difficult things might be with the goaltending situation, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan broke with his norm and, a couple hours before the game in Winnipeg, declined to name the starter.
That starter was Alex Nedeljkovic, but that wasn’t the main story. The Penguins, with scrambled lines, blew a two-goal lead in the second period, continued to make mistakes and lost to the Jets.
The Penguins’ effort against Winnipeg was an improvement from their game two days earlier against Carolina, but that wasn’t nearly enough. Defensive lapses continued to be a problem. Check out the Penguins grades.
Monday: Penguins coach Mike Sullivan had a lot to say — during and after practice — in Calgary. He angrily stopped at least two drills to coax better execution from his team, and afterward he not only addressed that, but also further discussed the Tristan Jarry situation. All that and more.
Tuesday: It’s always great to have boots on the ground and eyes on the team during a road trip. PHN’s Dan Kingerski has been watching Sullivan, the star players and Jarry, as he outlines in 3 Thoughts.
Well, this wasn’t a regulation loss, at least. The Penguins still fell back into some of their stubborn bad habits. They blew two one-goal, third-period leads and fell to Calgary in a shootout.
If you dare, you can see those same stubborn bad habits outlined. But you can also check out a few new and emerging faces in the Penguins grades.
Bryan Rust was just being honest when he said the Penguins’ power play was at least better than last season’s “trainwreck.” Overall, though, the Penguins were understandably not in a great mood after the loss in the locker room.
Wednesday: The Penguins got a day off from games or practices on their trip, but the analysis of the disappointing early season continues. Calling it like it is, stars Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson need to be better. That includes production from the top line. Check out the Penguins blog.
Thursday: Wow. On that day off the team had, it turns out that goaltender Tristan Jarry headed back to Pittsburgh to work with a goalie coach on his own. It’s just the latest chapter in the Jarry saga.
In a respite from the gloom and doom, there was Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid. They were getting ready to face each other Friday night, but they took some time in their respective locker rooms to talk about their roles with Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
With so many areas of concern with the Penguins over the first few weeks of the season, it’s almost hard to know where to begin. Never fear. PHN breaks it all down and ranks those concerns. (Spoiler: the defense takes the top spot.) The problems, on a scale of 1 to 10.
Friday: You couldn’t blame rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist. He made 46 saves. Everyone else? Well, there was plenty of blame and plenty not to like as the Penguins fell to 0-2-1 on their road trip by getting blanked in Edmonton.
No sugarcoating. No clear answers. No punches pulled. The Penguins are 0-2-1 through the first three games of what shaped up as a potentially defining road trip with one game remaining. They appear to be on the verge of an early collapse.
He’s predictable. Smart. Respected. Takes losses hard. He’s been one of the Penguins’ most consistent players. His linemates dish on Lars Eller.
