The Pittsburgh Penguins (24-29-10) proved they could hang with the big boys by going to the limit and then some with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they only secured a single point as they fell 6-5 in overtime in their final home game before the NHL trade deadline.
In a surprising outing, the two teams combined for 11 goals, but the loss ultimately came down to Joel Blomqvist’s inability to make the final save.
Although that continues to be a nightly trend for the team at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, there were still other moments to celebrate in Pittsburgh’s latest setback.
Crosby’s Remarkable Career Something to Marvel at in Failed Campaign
Sidney Crosby will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame whether he retires today, tomorrow, or in 2027, when his contract expires.
On Sunday, the Penguins captain had three points with a goal and two assists in another effort to will his team to a victory. If he played defense and stopped pucks, there’s a chance he would have done that too.
As the Penguins wind down their season without a sliver of hope of getting back into the wildcard race, fans need to continue supporting the player who has bled black and gold for two decades.
On Sunday, Crosby moved into the top ten for career assists and surpassed the great Bobby Hull for most goals, sitting at 17th all-time.
Despite the cries from many in the hockey community for Crosby to leave Pittsburgh, the captain will not abandon his ship. He will continue to do everything he can to help them win.
Penguins Can Still Run and Gun, But Come Up Short
After almost a month without scoring five goals in a game, the Penguins have reached that many twice in the past three games.
That’s great news for a team starving for wins to make a playoff push, but one of the biggest concerns with this style of play is that Pittsburgh’s goaltending isn’t strong enough to make that final save to win these games.
Blomqvist is a rookie goalie on a team that struggles to play solid defense, so he can’t be blamed for all six goals. Yet, it must be discouraging that the team is lighting at the lamp at one end and can’t get that critical save at a key moment.
Blomqvist finished with 27 saves for a .818 SV%, while the Penguins managed five past Joseph Woll on 34 shots, who finished with a .852 SV%. Those 34 percent points were the difference in the game as Woll could stop the attack with a save here or there.
As fun as it was to watch the team exchange goals at the rates they did, it's not a formula for success. If the Penguins had stronger goaltending, then five goals would be more than enough to win a hockey game, but that's not the case, which has been a concerning theme through 63 games.
One Final Home Showcase
Rickard Rakell had two goals, Erik Karlsson had two helpers, and Bryan Rust had three points. As great as their Sunday afternoon was, it could be their last performance in front of the PPG Paints Arena faithful.
Of course, many players in this season's lineup have no movement clauses, so the Penguins' lineup could be the same when they return from their three-game win trip, but the NHL rumor mill is full of possible moves, featuring Rakell, Karlsson, and Kris Letang.
Although it is too early to tell regarding the club’s trade deadline plans, a handful of players had great games on Sunday, which speaks to their character and desire to play strong in challenging situations.
Ultimately, there may not be as much to play for down the stretch except pride and milestones, so the Penguins should keep up their competitive spirits and have fun in the final 18 games of the 2024-25 season.