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About an hour ago
In the context of a 56-game season, Mike Sullivan realizes the heightened gravity that comes with every contest in 2020-21.
“Every game has an increased level of importance by nature of having fewer games to get points in the standings and to position you, establish you in the standings,” the Penguins coach said via video conference. “Every game is vitally important just because there are fewer games and fewer opportunities to climb the standings.”
After their second game of the campaign, the Penguins may want to invest in carabiners and crampons as they’ve already fallen into a crevasse.
Allowing three goals in the opening 11 minutes, 30 seconds of regulation, they were never able to bounce back and fell to the Flyers, 5-2, on Friday in a game that lacked details on both teams’ play but filled in. action. The loss made the Penguins a perfect 0-2-0 to open the season with 54 remaining, strictly against enemies in the East Division.
The setback saw Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry give up three goals, which was an improvement over the half-dozen he surrendered in Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to Philadelphia. But then again, he was pulled out on Friday after facing just six shots.
In two games, Jarry made 22 saves on 31 shots for a save percentage of 0.710.
“As for Tristan’s start to the season, it’s hard to give up so many goals on few shots or not many chances,” Sullivan said. “But in his defense, some of the chances were high quality.”
Jarry’s defense by Sullivan was much stiffer than the defense in front of him on the ice.
Philadelphia’s first two goals, a power-play score from forward Travis Konecny 7:27 in the game and a even-matched tally from Konecny again just 2:59 later, each came straight in. blue paint. These are Konecny’s first goals of the season.
“We need to protect our net a little better, help our goaltenders,” said Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, who made his debut this season. “Just try to keep (the opposition) out of that blue paint.”
Indeed, the Flyers could not score again on Jarry since the fold. Instead, they scored from the left circle when defender Ivan Provorov beat tackle Jarry on the tight side at 11:30 am of the first period for his first goal.
Sullivan had seen enough, shooting Jarry – perhaps for humanitarian reasons – in favor of Casey DeSmith.
The Penguins appeared to react to the change when they converted their first power play opportunity of the game only 1:29 later. Forward Sidney Crosby managed to settle a deflected pass to the right of the crease and lifted a backhand from the near post and over sprawling goaltender Carter Hart for this second of the season.
The Penguins went 3-2 just 32 seconds later. Forward Jared McCann soared into the attacking zone on the right wing and lifted a twist on the other side that Hart hit into the lunge with his tackle. Forward Brandon Tanev followed the rebound and put it into the net with a forehand for his second goal.
After that, the Penguins appeared to control play for the remainder of a competition that was filled with special teams as 12 separate power play opportunities were handed out by officials.
“We had a ton of chances,” said forward Bryan Rust. “We had a lot of chances there. We had a lot of chances to tie the game and score goals. We just couldn’t do it. Hopefully we can learn some lessons and start putting in more pucks. ”
After a scoreless second period, Konecny completed his first career hat trick at 12:53 in the third period with a deflection of his left skate against DeSmith, who finished with 12 saves on 13 shots.
An empty net from forward Oskar Lindblom, his second goal of the season, capped the score at 17:52 of the third and secured a win for the Flyers as well as a winless start for the Penguins and Jarry.
“Tristan is a good goaltender,” Sullivan said. “He’s a competitor. I know it will bounce back.
Seth Rorabaugh is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Seth by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .
Categories:
Penguins / NHL | Sports
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