Again. And again. The record has been skipping for a week as the Pittsburgh Penguins have taken leads into the final minutes, only to see lit goal lamps behind their goalie when six opponents raise their hands for a tying goal.
The extra attacker has been a battle for the Penguins. If not for a controversial hand pass, the Penguins’ streak of allowing a tying goal against the extra attacker would be three and counting.
As it is, the Penguins have allowed three tying goals against an empty net this season, and in two straight games.
While Kris Letang’s and Erik Karlsson’s defensive gaffes in the final moments were under the bright lights of PPG Paints Arena Tuesday, there is an equally big problem involving the Penguins’ structural defense in those situations.
According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the Penguins have given up the third most scoring chances (38) and the fourth most high-danger chances (16) when playing 5v6.
There might very well be a structural flaw. Or at very least an inability to execute in that situation.
The Penguins have an inverse defensive system compared to league trends, and it has worked quite well this season as they have allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the league.
The Penguins’ defensive system relies on zone coverage at the top of the zone and man-to-man below the top (Carolina has popularized a man-to-man attack at the top of the zone, which many teams are moving toward).
It has worked, but there is the matter of playing man-to-man defense when there are more men. The Penguins have clearly not excelled, and photos like this appear.
Or against Dallas, the Penguins had one defenseman against two net-front screens/attackers:
Open shots are going to happen against an extra attacker. Coach Dan Muse used Letang and Karlsson against the attacker Tuesday in an effort to keep puck possession, a skill at which they excel. The best defense against an extra attacker is indeed having the puck.
Muse did the same in the second game of the season, which resulted in a high-danger chance at the horn, as well. They have not been paired in other games in that situation.
But it would seem without the puck, the Penguins are being overmatched when–and where–it matters most. Personnel and scheme aren’t working in their favor.
Round the Outside, Round the Outside
The Penguins thoroughly dominated the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday. Perhaps it was the hockey gods taking one back from the Penguins for beating Tampa Bay despite a similarly lopsided game in reverse.
The Penguins allowed only three high-danger scoring chances against Anaheim.
The Penguins peppered goalie Ville Husso with 40 shots in regulation, yet needed a late power play goal to take a 3-2 lead.
Karlsson described the shortcoming well. The Penguins can look good, but not necessarily be doing everything they need to be doing.
“Maybe (we need to) get a little bit more traffic in front of the net and get a few more dirty goals instead of shots from the perimeter with no one in front, (where we) need a perfect shot for it to go in,” Karlsson said. “So maybe (we need to) create a little bit more chaos, by the time that the players get tired, and we’re controlling play. It’s looking good sometimes, but it doesn’t really generate play.”
Looks good, but not generating.
To further the point, the Penguins’ best line in generating rebound chances? The very newly formed line with Rutger McGroarty, Ben Kindel, and Ville Koivuen. In just 35 minutes at 5v5, the line has 13 rebound chances, to lead all line configurations.
In just 35 minutes. Such proficiency doesn’t speak well for the rest of the team.
The second-best line for rebound chances has been Anthony Mantha, Evgeni Malkin, and Justin Brazeau. In 126 minutes, they have 11.
And the third-best line might be even more surprising than the first. The line with Ben Kindel centering Tommy Novak and Filip Hallander had nine rebounds in 38 minutes.
Perhaps as the Penguins look ahead and the trade calls come, a winger who can finish a rebound or create a few more might be the biggest, though least discussed need.
Tags: Dan Muse erik karlsson Kris Letang Penguins Analysis Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized: Penguins Analysis