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    • Yohe’s 10 Observations: Erik Karlsson, Penguins endure brutal second period in 4-3 loss
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    Yohe’s 10 Observations: Erik Karlsson, Penguins endure brutal second period in 4-3 loss

    Pabio Posted on

    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks broke out by scoring three goals in 65 seconds in the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Arena on Saturday.

    Then, the number 65 reappeared in the Canucks’ game-winner.

    Penguins blow two-goal lead, number one defenseman Erik Karlsson endured a nightmare game, and even though it’s October, the Penguins’ season suddenly feels like it’s on the brink after a 4-3 loss.

    “It got away from us,” Mike Sullivan said. “We lost details. We were losing missions during faceoffs. What will get us out of this situation is a collective effort.

    The Penguins better get over what “this” means quickly. This concludes their 0-3-1 trip across Western Canada. They have now lost five games in a row.

    They blew 2-0 leads in Vancouver and Winnipeg on that trip, and also failed to hold a 3-2 advantage in the final minute in Calgary.

    Karlsson was on the ice for three of the four goals against, looking foolish on one Daniel Sprong rush that led to a goal while also struggling on several other sequences.

    Sullivan was asked if Karlsson should play better.

    “Yeah, I think so,” Sullivan said. “I think we need a higher level of play from a lot of guys. We are a team in the truest sense of the word. It’s not just one guy. It’s on all of us.

    Antoine Beauvillier And Bryan Rust scored to give the Penguins a 2-0 advantage.

    Up until that point, the Penguins were playing some of their best hockey of the season.

    Then came the 65 seconds that changed everything and transformed the trip from disappointing to disastrous.

    First there was a failed mission which led to Elias Petterssonthe objective.

    Moments later, Rust returned the puck at the blue line, Marcus Pettersson fell, and Kris Letang failed to pick off the pass as the Canucks tied the score on Kiefer Sherwoodthe objective.

    Then, 22 seconds later, JT Miller got behind the defense. His initial shot was saved, but Karlsson failed to equalize it and Miller made it 3-2.

    Later in the second period, Karlsson tackled Sprong, the puck carrier, instead of retreating into a defensive posture.

    He was badly burned during the play, which ultimately led to Arshdeep Baines’ opener. NHL aim.

    “We don’t like our record,” Letang said. “We did good things, but during that period in the second period, you can’t give up four goals like that. They just seized the momentum. We need to be able to slow down and calm down when things aren’t going the way you want them to.

    Letang struggled early on, but Karlsson’s struggles ran particularly deep.

    “We’re not playing with the greatest confidence as a group, and individually I don’t think anyone is happy with the way we’re playing right now,” Karlsson said.

    Ten post-match observations

    • Karlsson is one of the great players of his generation, undoubtedly a Hall of Famer whose talent is dazzling. He’s also a very nice guy who seems to be popular in the Penguins locker room.

    His play lately has been unacceptable. If I had been Sullivan, I would have considered benching him after the fourth goal. There appears to be no accountability in Karlsson’s play. He plays a different game from the others, and not in a good way.

    He still has the nuts and bolts to be a great player in this league, but he’s only adding to the Penguins’ already bad habits. You can’t have one of your best players performing at that level. He doesn’t seem to think there’s anything wrong with the way he plays, and I couldn’t disagree more with his assessment. He’s capable of being much better than that.

    • It was another quiet night for Sydney Crosby. He has 7 points in 10 games and only managed one point during the Penguins’ four-game road trip. I don’t think it’s time to panic about Crosby. If he’s still playing like this in a month, you may panic about his age.

    But he’s not playing well at the moment. There is no explosiveness in his game. That needs to change quickly or what appears to be a lost season for the Penguins will become all the more likely.

    • Evgeny Malkin scored 3 points, including a breakaway goal, to bring the Penguins within one point.

    He was also injured during this play, his left shoulder crashing into the post.

    While he suffered somewhat on the bench, Malkin was able to return without missing a single shift. It was a disappointing trip for him, but he ended it on a high note.

    • Rust was injured in the third period after being tied with Nils Hoglander. Rust stayed on the ice for about 10 seconds before limping to the bench.

    He shouted a few curse words in Höglander’s direction before leaving and did not return.

    Sullivan said he was suffering from a lower body injury, but there were no further updates.

    • Michael Bunting has become a problem. He’s already been overlooked this season and did nothing to endear himself to the coaching staff by taking six penalty minutes in the first period against the Canucks.

    He doesn’t win any battles for the puck. That’s my biggest problem with his game right now. If he doesn’t win battles, he doesn’t help you because he isn’t equipped with an overwhelming amount of skills.

    • None of the goals were particularly bad for Alex Nedeljkovic allow.

    That said, he could have made a big save at least once in the second period, and he didn’t.

    I think his form is good, but given the Penguins’ poor defense, I would expect him to allow four goals on many nights this season if things don’t change.

    • The Canucks are a kind of hockey team.

    I can’t say enough about the work that Rick Tocchet, Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin have done in Vancouver. There isn’t much weakness when you look at their roster. They play in the brutal Western Conference and will have to get by Connor McDavid win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, but if they stay healthy, I’ll give them a chance.

    The Canucks haven’t been sharp yet this season and are still 4-1-2. They have a few more speeds than the Penguins, as they showed in the second period. Impressive team.

    • This was always going to be a horrible road trip considering the Penguins were playing four very good teams. Winnipeg is 8-0. The Canucks and The tankers are Stanley Cup contenders. THE Flames are off to a good start.

    Still, it was horrible. There’s no other way to say it. Against the Oilers, the Penguins were simply outclassed.

    In every other loss this trip, self-inflicted wounds made the Penguins look like an unprepared, unselfish, bad hockey team. There was little fighting. Small execution. Small fire. Not a lot of smart hockey.

    It was the worst hockey I’ve seen the Penguins play in two decades, since Crosby was a rookie and Eddie Olczyk was the head coach. I’m not being hyperbolic.

    • Earlier Saturday, the Penguins announced that Tristan Jarry was beginning a conditioning period in Wilkes-Barre.

    He stopped 32 of 34 shots and earned a 3-2 victory Saturday night.

    “Anytime you can get a win, it builds your confidence,” Jarry said. “I think getting that first win helps. Hopefully I can make the transition and it will help me throughout the week.

    Kyle Dubas answered journalists’ questions about the Penguins goaltending situation.

    “We have seven games in the next 14 nights with Pittsburgh and five in 14 nights with Wilkes-Barre,” Dubas said. “This provides all of our goalkeepers with a tremendous opportunity. We will evaluate where they all stand after this stretch and make the best decision for the Penguins.

    • If things continue at this pace, the only thing Penguins fans will have to look forward to is the nostalgia tour that will take place this season.

    It will peak in less than 72 hours.

    The Penguins play Tuesday at home, and Marc-André Fleury and the Minnesota Wild will be the competition. I would suggest that for an evening, perhaps you ignore what is happening on the ice and enjoy saying goodbye to an old friend. It’s better than the alternative at the moment.

    (Photo of Vancouver’s JT Miller scoring on Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic: Derek Cain/Getty Images)

    Pabio
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