The Pittsburgh Penguins slide has continued after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 2-1. Goals are still tough to come by for the Mike Sullivan led Penguins and as a result he is 0-4 since replacing Mike Johnston.
In the small sample of four games with Mike Sullivan the Penguins are playing better from a process standpoint, but their PDO at the moment is woeful.
At least Murray has helped with the SV%. All numbers 5v5 & score-adjusted. pic.twitter.com/VyLbsncr7I
— m g (@kikkerlaika) December 20, 2015
To put it in perspective the CF/60 at 61.1 is third best in that time frame and the CA/60 of 49.9 is 10th best. That is also without the services of Kris Letang who the team sorely misses.
The team is now 3-14-2 without Kris Letang since the Shane Doan hit (including playoffs). In those 19 games the Penguins have only scored 30 goals while giving up 57 goals. That averages out to 1.58 goals for the Penguins and 3.00 goals against per game in that stretch.
So while the team is showing signs of being better since the coaching change (even without Letang) they aren't getting results. That isn't good enough because Pittsburgh doesn't hasn't built up the same bubble in the standings that they did last year.
"I don't know what's going on. I see we play better. We talk on the bench. We're pretty together. We're tight. It's a tough loss again, but (we're keeping our) heads up. Looking forward. We have one game before the (Christmas) break. It's two points. We need to win. Just win."
After tonight's results the Pittsburgh Penguins are closer to having the worst record in the NHL than a playoff spot.
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) December 20, 2015
Nothing says you may not make the playoffs quite like one goal on 38 shots against Cam Ward.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) December 20, 2015
A few more losses in a row and this team will have dug itself a hole that it cannot come out of.
Matt Murray made his NHL debut last night and gave the Penguins a quality start. He stopped 24 out of 26 shots (all 19 at even-strength). He should get the start against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
Brandon Dubinsky is already warming up for Monday's contest
Dubinsky kneeing minor (not major. the major was for fighting.) pic.twitter.com/UO4yTviXDg
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 20, 2015
Thanks for reading!