3 Takeaways From Penguins Disappointing Loss To Flyers

The Pittsburgh Penguins were missing captain Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Bryan Rust, just one of the reasons behind their 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

Let’s discuss what else went wrong on their final game before the 4 Nations Face-off break.

Rookie Goalie Stumbles

Joel Blomqvist got recalled when the Penguins sent struggling goalie Tristan Jarry to the AHL. The 23-year-old played only twice before Saturday night in three and half weeks, losing both contests since his return.

Ultimately, the rust from not playing was evident. Whether it was misplaying the puck that led to the Flyers’ second goal or the fact that he got beat on the game’s first shot, the loss can’t be totally on Blomqvist’s shoulders since he just hasn’t had the chance to stay sharp.

In addition to a depleted lineup, the Penguins tossed their rookie goalie to the wolves and hoped he could bail them out despite being destined to fail.

Flyers Make Their Shots Count

Philadelphia scored on their first shot and had two in the opening period, clinging to a 1-0 lead at intermission. By the end of the second, the home team had a 2-1 lead with nine shots, compared to the Penguins’ 21.

Meanwhile, just over four minutes into the third, captain Travis Konecny slapped home the eventual game-winner as the Flyers came to life in the period to record 11 shots, more than what they collected in the first two.

Even though Anthony Beauvillier scored to make it a one-goal game again, the Flyers had all the momentum and could defeat their cross-state rivals with just 20 shots.

Interestingly, Saturday night was the Penguins’ sixth loss this season when an opponent had 22 shots or less.

Penguins Need the Rest

Crosby’s status for the 4 Nations Face-off has yet to be determined. However, he’s the only injured player heading to the tournament.

But Crosby is just one of many Pittsburgh players who need rest, joining a list featuring Malkin, Rust, and Bokondji Imama.

Although three of the four played as recently as Thursday and Friday, the Penguins are limping into the break, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Moreover, having two weeks off will also help Alex Nedeljkovic, who has played eight out of the last 11 games since Jan. 17. He’s 5-2-1 with a .934 SV% and one of the reasons why the club still has a shot at a wildcard spot.

As one of the oldest teams in the NHL, the season’s long grind is catching up to several Pittsburgh players.