The Penguins were looking to cash in on some "momentum" after the shootout win over Columbus. They are chasing a ghost. It doesn't exist. Each game is its own entity and lately they haven't been going the Penguins way.
Loss tonight makes the penguins more likely to miss the playoffs than not for the first time this season.
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) December 30, 2017
The divisional loss to Carolina in regulation comes with consequences. They are now two points behind the Hurricanes while the Hurricanes have two games in hand. Then there's also the fact that Carolina isn't even sitting in a playoff spot right now and you can see that this isn't the kind of situation where you will automatically assume the Penguins will "just get through it". They are in legitimate danger of missing the playoffs. I'm not going to sit here and say they can't make the playoffs. They have a lot of high end talent, but they need some serious winning streaks.
What can they do? The howling you hear is a gust of trade winds blowing into Pittsburgh. Jim Rutherford was already planning on making some trades and losing to his ex-team in an important game might be the tipping point.
There are other things that could be done. Daniel Sprong could be brought up for at least a couple of games. The team is going through a horrendous stretch where they can't buy a goal. They have a guy who has one of the best shots outside of the NHL and they are worried about his "defense". Here's the deal, Tom Kuhnhackl shouldn't be given a jersey every night. He's a replacement level player with no specific skill set that is helping the team. Blocking shots isn't helping because when you look at the team's ability to generate shot attempts when he is on the ice it is non-existent. The Penguins get NOTHING offensively from their fourth line, nothing. Carter Rowney and Kuhnhackl have four points each and Ryan Reaves has three total. Why should I be concerned with Daniel Sprong's defense and continue to accept a fourth line with no ability to positively impact a game? Right now the best case scenario for the fourth line is that the Penguins get a lead and they play close to ten minutes to give everybody a rest. Well, if you've noticed the Penguins haven't had a ton of leads so the useless fourth line rots on the bench. It's where they belong in those situations, but it doesn't help the other nine forwards energy levels. While I was typing this mini-rant this did in fact happen
The #Pens have recalled forward Daniel Sprong (@sprong97) from the @WBSPenguins. Forward Dominik Simon has been re-assigned to WBS.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 30, 2017
Sprong, 20, recorded his second hat trick of the season yesterday vs. Hartford.
Full details: https://t.co/kwZVHmJvBI pic.twitter.com/25KhGU3IiD
The Penguins have nothing to lose. They are lacking in a certain area and this player has the potential to fill that role. It might not be perfect, but neither is the status quo.
Curiously, Dominik Simon has been sent down to make room for Sprong. Simon has been fine. He is a much better option on the fourth line than pretty much any of the other players. In his call up he's put up 55.8% possession and while his 0.99 points per 60 is bad, it's better than every member of the current fourth line.
The Sprong move is one of the last options Rutherford has before he has to look outside of his club. Sprong is being thrust into high leverage games. He isn't a savior and shouldn't be treated as such. He's not going to be perfect. He's going to miss some defensive assignments, but unlike some of the other players on the team he has the ability to go down to the other end of the ice and return the favor. He can help the team. A team that could use all the help they can get right now.
NEW PODCAST Kris Letang in the rumor mill. Penguins are in trouble, Daniel Sprong to the rescue? World Junior Championships. Other teams in trouble https://t.co/HuTBqUj8Xz
— Ryan Wilson (@GunnerStaal) December 30, 2017
Thanks for reading!