PENS CAN’T GET OVER THE HILL AGAINST DEVILS

The Penguins played solid hockey against the New Jersey Devils yesterday, but two mistakes, one at the start of the game and oen at the end, cost them the win. Paul Steigerwald has the story.

Coach Mike Sullivan says the Penguins were good, but not good enough.

Captain Sidney Crosby says the Penguins came up just a bit short.

Crosby says the Pens did not convert their power play chances.

The Penguins tightened up their defense in the game after having allowed more than 40 shots in each of their previous two games against Ottawa. They gave up only ten shots on goal in the first two periods yesterday, only two in the second period. They finished the game having allowed just 25 shots on goal.

The Penguins usually win the faceoff battle but were outdrawn, 26-24 yesterday. While that was not bad, they did allow the Devils’ Michael McLeod to go 13-for-13 on faceoffs, frequently matched up against the Penguins’ best faceoff man, Crosby, who was 9-of-22.

Forward Ryan Poehling was activated from injured reserve before the game and took 16 shifts.

The Pens have a busy week ahead. After yesterday’s trip to New Jersey, they are back home tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers, then on Thursday they play the Capitals in Washington before returning home to play San Jose on Saturday. After Saturday, they’ll be off until after the All-Star break, returning to the ice on February 7^th at home against Colorado.

NHL

Former Penguins GM Jimmy Rutherford, who is now the president of the Vancouver Canucks, yesterday fired coach Bruce Boudreau and assistant Trent Cull. The Canucks then announced they’d hired former Pens forward and assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who returns to the NHL after being let go in Arizona in 2021. He’s been a hockey analyst on TNT since that time.

The new leadership in Vancouver completes a “Penguins West” team of Rutherford, General Manager Patrik Allvin, and Tocchet. Other “Pittsburgh Connection” members of the Vancouver coaching staff include ex-Pens defenseman Sergei Gonchar and former Pens assistant coach Mike Yeo.