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Penguins, Penalty Kill Implodes, Listless Effort
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- Penguins, Penalty Kill Implodes, Listless Effort
Pittsburgh Penguins Game 5-1 Loss Carolina Hurricanes
PITTSBURGH— For the third time in 13 days, the Pittsburgh Penguins (35-19-16) and Carolina Hurricanes (45-19-6) clashed in a battle of the two top teams in the Metropolitan Division, but this one was all Carolina. The Penguins' top-ranked penalty kill failed them on Sunday afternoon, allowing three Hurricanes power play goals in route to a 5-1 loss.
It was the Penguins' first regulation loss against a Metropolitan Division opponent since October 25 and broke an 18-game points streak against division foes. The Penguins' record against the Metropolitan Division now sits at a still-impressive 11-2-9.
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Just 25 seconds into the game, Pittsburgh defenseman Ryan Graves , slotting in for the injured Ryan Shea , took a tripping penalty and the Hurricanes wasted no time converting. At the 47 second mark of the first, Sebastian Aho (25) wristed a puck from just above the top of the left circle that deflected off Connor Dewar 's stick, bounced between the legs of teammate Jordan Staal in front, and past Penguins' netminder Stuart Skinner to give Carolina the early 1-0 lead. While the Penguins were thoroughly outplayed in the first and outshot 9-5, they escaped only being down by one.
The Hurricanes got their second chance on the power play at 5:24 of the second and, once again, made quick work of the league's top power play unit. After a flubbed attempt to dump the puck deep by Noel Acciair, the Hurricanes regrouped in the neutral zone and got their power play set up in the Penguins' zone. After some passing around the perimeter, the puck ended up on the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers (21) who hammered a slap shot from the center point that blew by Skinner to put the Hurricanes up by a pair at 6:24 of the second.
Just 2:51 later it would be another point shot that would foil Skinner. This time it was Jalen Chatfield (2) wristing a puck from the right point that alluded several players in the slot and in front of the net and found its way past the stick side of Skinner to put the Hurricanes up by a trio of goals.
The Penguins got their first opportunity on the power play at 10:40 of the second, but it was the Hurricanes who nearly scored again. Carolina broke out of the Penguins' zone on a two-on-one with Seth Jarvis and Aho skating towards Kris Letang as the only man back. Letang did his best to break up the pass from Jarvis to Aho, but the puck still ended up on the stick of Aho who got two cracks at a loose puck in front of Skinner, but he was somehow able to make a series of right toe saves to keep the score 3-0. It would have been the third-consecutive game of the Penguins allowing a short-handed goal. In fact, the Penguins have surrendered 11 short-handed goals this season, only Colorado has allowed more.
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The nightmarish day for the Penguins' penalty kill continued when Carolina went on the power play for a third time and got their third man-advantage goal in as many chances. With Evgeni Malkin off for tripping, the Hurricanes set up in the Penguins' zone and got the puck down low. With Ehlers stationed along the goal line to Skinner's right, he patiently waited and found a passing lane through the legs of Parker Wotherspoon and right onto the stick of Seth Jarvis (29), who quickly flicked the puck past Skinner to get the Hurricanes a third power play goal and a 4-0 lead.
Egor Chinakhov (13) continued his torrent scoring pace, netting his 13th goal as a Penguin in just his 32nd game with the team after scoring just three goals in 29 games with Columbus. His 13 goals for the Penguins rank first since January 1 when he debuted with the Penguins. Bryan Rust assisted on the goal to establish a new career-high points streak of seven-consecutive games. However, this goal would not be enough on Sunday and Carolina sealed the deal with an empty net goal by Jankowski (9).
Things do not get any easier for the Penguins as they face the NHL's top team, the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets faceoff in a crucial game on Long Island tonight that will have ramifications on the Penguins' playoff status.
Notes
The Penguins' lines on Sunday afternoon were as follows:
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Forwards
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Just Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
Defensemen
Parker Wotherspoon – Erik Karlsson
Additional Notes
Defenseman Kris Letang still sits one point shy of 800 for his career. Once he reaches the milestone he will become just the fourth active defenseman and fourth member of the 2005 draft class to reach 800 points.
Rickard Rakell had his eight-game points streak broken. The eight-game streak for Rakell had been the longest of his career.
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The post Penguins, Penalty Kill Implodes, Listless Effort appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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