Penguins/Red Wings Recap: Pittsburgh falls in OT

The Pens steady themselves and play reasonably well, but not well enough to pick up the victory against Detroit

Pregame

It’s a new bottom-six for the Penguins after yesterday’s trade that sent Lars Eller off the team. Welcome back to the NHL, Sam Poulin. Anthony Beauvillier is back up to the top line too. Ryan Shea slots back in on defense for Jack St. Ivany. Alex Nedeljkovic starts and for the first time in a long time, Tristan Jarry is dressed for an NHL game.

The visiting Red Wings are rollin’ with this crew for the night’s festivities.

First period

Not too much excitement early — which is a good thing for Pittsburgh. They look a little tight and give up some shots, but no major breakdowns. The Pens unite Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at select times on offensive zone draws, Malkin fires five of the team’s nine shots on goal but otherwise a fairly unremarkable first period.

The only major note is that Blake Lizotte is struck in the face/nose by a shot attempt from Drew O’Connor. Coming off a recent concussion, Lizotte leaves the ice and would not return for the rest of the game.

Period ends the way it began on the scoreboard at 0-0, which isn’t the worst thing in the world considering how the last first period went for the Pens when they gave up six goals.

Second period

The first goal of the game comes one minute into the second period. Malkin doesn’t get the puck deep and it looks like a routine enough rush back the other way. Vladimir Tarasenko does well to up the difficulty with a cross-ice pass that finds its mark and Jonatan Berggren launches a great shot to the top shelf. 1-0 DET.

Poulin takes the game’s first penalty and the Red Wings end up scoring the first power play goal. Anthony Beauvillier and Ryan Shea bumble around a little bit trying to control a puck, a pass is made over to a wide open Patrick Kane, and that’s not a recipe for success for Pittsburgh. Kane elevates a rolling puck to the top of the net and it’s 2-0 Red Wings.

Pittsburgh needs something good to happen and Bryan Rust is the man to make that happen. Michael Bunting picks off a Red Wing pass and goes up the ice. The Pens don’t have a numerical advantage on the rush but Rust uses his speed and body positioning to walk around Moritz Seider. Goalie Cam Talbot tries to sweep the puck away but fails to do so which it makes for an easy tuck for Rust on his power drive to get the Pens on the board.

A pair of cross-ice passes get the Pens back to even. The first one from Crosby to Marcus Pettersson isn’t that surprising. But Pettersson’s drive deep into the zone and perfectly placed no-look feed for Anthony Beauvillier was a treat. Beauvillier is able to finish on the open net and the score is even at 2-2 just like that.

The teams trade power plays at the end of the period, Drew O’Connor goes to the box and the Pens kill it off. Then O’Connor gets high-sticked to draw a two-minute power play for Pittsburgh. The Pens don’t score on the NHL’s 31st ranked penalty kill but the top group gets some good looks.

Even game at 2-2 after 40, shots are about identical with Detroit holding a 23-22 edge.

Third period

Pittsburgh gets an early power play and plenty of zone time but can’t capitalize with a goal.

The first line is sniffing for another goal, Crosby fires a shot off the back of Talbot’s head from an angle looking to bank it in but it doesn’t go. Sid also has a golden chance but looks for the perfect pass that doesn’t quite work out. Pittsburgh looking the stronger of the teams in the third.

But they can’t find a goal before regulation expires.

Overtime

Crosby-Rakell-Letang start it out for the Pens. Crosby wins the draw but the Pens only hold the puck for 20 seconds.

Pittsburgh gets the puck back and a line change. Erik Karlsson makes a wonderful pass to set Malkin up all alone but his backhander is stopped by Talbot.

The Pens don’t touch the puck again and rookie Simon Edvinsson scores his second goal of the season to end the game.

Some thoughts

• It was really nice to see a line of O’Connor (26 years old), Lizotte (26) and Poulin (23), even if it didn’t last that long due to Lizotte’s unfortunate injury. When was the last time the Pens had a line consisting of players not only in their 20’s but all 26 or under? It’s been a while, and it’s also a sign of the times for a team in transition.
• Really tough to see Lizotte go down after taking a second puck to the face within two months. Hopefully the worst will be avoided but the team announced early on he wouldn’t return to the game.
• A former Team Sweden coach had some biting criticism (and obviously not unfounded) about Erik Karlsson today and maybe hearing about it is what Karlsson needs to drive himself towards improving. He’s always under the microscope but played a fairly clean and steady game defensively. That shouldn’t be a note for most in his position and standing, but right now you’ll take what you can get.
• Great move by Rust on his goal, who is starting to look more like himself lately.
• Crosby and Malkin combined for 12 shots in the game, that’s always a good sign. No goals but as always that’s a matter of time for that duo.
• Haven’t been the biggest fan of Beauvillier but he had a strong game. O’Connor (and Bunting) have done so little that it’s at least something to have a player capable of chipping in goals in a scoring line spot.
• The Pens fall to 2-1 in games decided in OT. They are 0-2 this season for contest when it goes to a shootout.

Pittsburgh moves on to play in Columbus on Friday night for the next game.