The Pittsburgh Penguins discover themselves at a crossroads after struggling a humiliating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday evening. Letting in six targets within the first interval alone, Pittsburgh hasn’t seemed worse than they do proper now. It was the form of efficiency that has Penguins followers calling for main modifications. May the primary change be one that may see head coach Mike Sullivan on the recent seat?
The Stars wasted no time pouncing on the Penguins, as Matt Duchene opened the scoring on Dallas’s very first shot. The onslaught continued with Logan Stankoven and Mason Marchment discovering the web, and Miro Heiskanen added two of his personal. Tyler Seguin capped off the first-period scoring, making it 6-0 on 12 photographs.
The Penguins’ beginning goaltender, Joel Blomqvist, was pulled after permitting three targets on eight photographs, however backup Alex Nedeljkovic fared little higher, permitting 4 targets on 31 photographs in aid. Blomqvist completed with a .625 save share and Nedeljkovic a .875.
Anthony Beauvillier supplied the one marker for the Penguins, scoring their one objective.
The primary interval was an absolute defensive meltdown for the Penguins. The Stars are a stable crew, however this sort of efficiency is inexcusable for a crew making an attempt to remain within the playoff dialog.
Penguins Must Take into account Coach Sullivan’s Future
Falling to 6-9-2 on the season, Pittsburgh’s struggles replicate deeper points with an ageing, top-heavy roster. And, their wage cap scenario means there isn’t rather a lot that GM Kyle Dubas can do about issues. The crew’s protection has repeatedly did not assist inconsistent goaltending and the forwards aren’t on the identical stage as their elite competitors.
The tip result’s hypothesis mounting about head coach Mike Sullivan’s future. He mentioned after the sport:
“They get a few fluky targets early within the first interval. … We didn’t play the remainder of the sport the appropriate manner. … They turned it into an insurmountable problem. … We’ve to dig in and provides ourselves an opportunity to win.”
Sullivan has loved immense success in Pittsburgh. That mentioned, issues are now not going nicely. Perhaps he doesn’t should be the autumn man for the crew Dubas has constructed, however one thing has to provide. Even the very best coaches have a shelf life, no less than in the identical metropolis (Sullivan will get employed rapidly if launched).
With the Crosby period waning and the playoffs slipping out of attain, the time for important change may very well be arriving sooner than anticipated.
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