The Penguins' Perfect Run Ends in a Subpar Effort
The Pittsburgh Penguins' six-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt in a game that was a stark contrast to their recent success. The team struggled to find their rhythm and pace, taking over a period to get going, and ultimately losing to the Calgary Flames 2-1 at PPG Paints Arena.
The Flames, on the other hand, snapped their own four-game losing streak with a decisive win. Calgary had been struggling offensively, failing to score more than one goal in their previous three games, but they found their stride in the third period.
In the first minute of the third period, Penguins defenseman Kris Letang pinched along the right wall, but it was Calgary's Matt Coronato who made the most of the opportunity. Coronato snapped a stick-side wrister past Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs, giving Calgary a 2-1 lead that they held onto.
The Penguins' first period was a far cry from their recent dominance. They managed just five shots against an energetic Calgary team, who attacked relentlessly. The Penguins struggled with Calgary's puck pressure and made a few mistakes, ultimately yielding a breakaway goal to Conor Zary.
Zary intercepted a pass across the blue line and raced 115 feet for a breakaway, slipping a backhand through Silovs' five-hole for a 1-0 lead at 2:33.
As the second period progressed, the Penguins finally found some energy and their rhythm. Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea atoned for his first-period giveaway with a takeaway in the middle of the second period. Egor Chinakhov took the puck from teammate Ben Kindel at the red line, racing ahead for a two-on-one break with Evgeni Malkin.
Malkin faked a shot, instead sliding the puck back to Chinakhov, who snapped a wrist shot past Calgary goalie Devin Cooley for a 1-1 tie at 9:17.
The Penguins visibly reversed their first-period struggles, outshooting Calgary 10-6 in the second period. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the Penguins also had five high-danger chances and allowed zero.
The only players with more than two shots after the second period were Calgary's Joel Farabee and Penguins winger Justin Brazeau, who each had three.
The Penguins had a tying goal waved off in the middle of the third period, moments after game operations played 'Renegade' from Styx.
Amidst the towel-waving 16,000 fans, Tommy Novak appeared to score, but referees immediately ruled no goal as Sidney Crosby had knocked Cooley to the ice.
Silovs was injured at 15:35 of the third but remained in the game, stopping 24 of 26 shots. Cooley turned aside 27 of 28.
Penguins Notes
Before the game, the Penguins announced that winger Bryan Rust was out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Kevin Hayes slotted into the lineup, and coach Dan Muse adjusted his top three lines.
Tommy Novak-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Evgeni Malkin-Ben Kindel-Egor Chinakhov
Anthony Mantha-Kevin Hayes-Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
