In what very nicely might be the final time Pittsburgh Penguins followers see their former netminder, Marc-Andre Fleury, play in Pittsburgh, he and fellow former Penguin Frederick Gaudreau helped carry the Minnesota Wild to a comeback 5-3 win on Oct. 29. Sloppy play all through the sport and a pair dangerous bounces doomed the Penguins, whereas a number of gamers stood out as positives of their sixth straight loss.
Joel Blomqvist Continues to Look Robust
One of many shiny spots all through the present six-game shedding streak has been the play of rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist. Whereas he gave up 4 objectives within the loss to the Wild, he went toe-to-toe along with his counterpart Fleury all through the sport, making 34 saves. The 2023 American Hockey League (AHL) All-Star appears to proceed to get extra snug and assured in between the pipes for the Penguins and made loads of saves to attempt to maintain his crew within the sport after being frolicked to dry fairly a number of occasions by the protection in entrance of him.
Associated: Penguins Ought to Roll With Joel Blomqvist Till Higher Choices Emerge
If Blomqvist can proceed his strong play to begin his rookie season, he’ll undoubtedly proceed to earn extra alternatives to begin within the web for head coach Mike Sullivan and the Penguins.
But One other Blown 2-Purpose Lead
For the second time within the final three video games, the Penguins acquired out to a 2-0 lead (they did the identical towards the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 26). However but once more, the crew discovered a approach to shortly let that lead evaporate, this time giving up two objectives inside a minute of one another for the Wild to tie the sport up earlier than the top of the primary interval.
It appeared that the Penguins took their foot off the gasoline after they acquired the two-goal lead as a substitute of attempting to construct off it, and it began with their defensive play. As talked about, Blomqvist was frolicked to dry a handful of occasions by his crew because of sloppy play, together with reaching for the puck and lacking, getting beat to the puck, and being outworked. In whole, the Penguins gave up 4 unanswered objectives to the Wild earlier than Rickard Rakell scored his second aim of the sport within the third interval. The general lack of assist in entrance of the goaltenders, whether or not Blomqvist or Alex Nedeljkovic, continues to doom the Penguins.
Rakell Continues Robust Begin
One other shiny spot, together with Blomqvist within the loss and up to now of the season, continues to be Rakell. The former Anaheim Duck has bounced again after a little bit of a down season final season. To date, by way of 11 video games, he’s virtually midway to his 2023-24 aim whole of 15, having six this season.
As a part of Sullivan’s shuffling of the ahead group, Rakell has discovered himself on the highest line with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He took benefit of taking part in with the 2 Penguins legends by scoring twice within the loss to the Wild. The offensive play he has proven has been what stands out probably the most for many individuals within the field scores, however Rakell has additionally seemed higher as an general participant up to now of the season.
Different Recreation Notes
- Valterri Puustinen scored his first aim of the season within the loss on his first shot of the season as nicely.
- Whereas Crosby nonetheless has one aim this season, he continues to contribute offensively, tallying two extra assists within the loss.
- The powerplay cashed in on certainly one of its two probabilities within the sport (Puustinen’s aim), however general, it didn’t look good. The items should be easier as a substitute of attempting to make the “fancy” play. David Quinn was introduced on this offseason to assist get the unit again to the place it ought to have been however has been unable to take action as hoped.
- The penalty kill was essential in maintaining the Penguins at solely a one-goal deficit late within the third interval, killing off two five-on-three benefits the Wild had.
What’s Subsequent for the Penguins
The crew will hit the ice once more on Oct. 31 as they proceed their three-game homestand towards the Geese, seeking to finish their six-game skid.
