Pittsburgh’s Penguins (22-24-9) wrapped their stand at home before the 4 nations break, drop an exciting competition To the Devils of New Jersey in a 15-2 seven round shootings.
The loss drops the penguins to 3-8-3 against the opponents of the metro division, one of the main reasons why the club is second to last in the division, just a point in front of the philadelphia flyers, their opponent SATURDAY.
However, before a force test in the city of fraternal love, Pittsburgh will play the New York Rangers in the Big Apple on Friday evening.
Let’s discuss their latest reverse.
Shooting problems continue
Tuesday evening, the sixth time, the Penguins went to a shooting. After losing against the Devils, they are now 1-5. They have six goals in 25 attempts, which is equivalent to a 24%shooting percentage.
Alex Nedeljkovic after loss of shooting 3-2 tonight:
“The guys do an incredible job to put the washer in the net. I think I had two chances of closing them tonight and winning. I just don’t do the job right now. pic.twitter.com/9Sywec90ad
– Sportsnet Pittsburgh (@Snpittsburgh) February 5, 2025
Meanwhile, opponents continue to succeed against Alex Nedeljkovic and Tristan Jarry. The duo abandoned 13 goals on 28 shots, leaving them a .452 SV%.
Despite seven laps with a better team from the Metro division, the Penguins cannot find a backup when they need it most.
Penguins lose the first competition without Malkin
Evgeni Malkin was injured in the first period of the Penguins match against the San Jose Sharks. Even if they lost that night for the 32nd NHL team, Pittsburgh rebounded with an extension victory against the Utah hockey club, then closed the Nashville predators.
“I thought we had played hard against a very good team. … There is a lot to love in our game. It is regrettable that we have not obtained the two points, but it is a hard point that is sure. “”
Head coach Mike Sullivan is thinking about the loss of tonight pic.twitter.com/9mlvzv9p1d
– Sportsnet Pittsburgh (@Snpittsburgh) February 5, 2025
Earlier in the campaign, Malkin missed four games and the Penguins went 1-2-1 in his absence. Before the defeat against the Devils on Tuesday, the club was 2-0-0 during its second visit to the IR and is now 2-0-1.
Without Malkin, Pittsburgh now has 2-2 in six games. Since the 38 -year -old will probably not play before the 4 nations break, the Penguins have two crucial clashes against the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia flyers.
The opponents of the metro division destroying the Penguins season
The Penguins abandoned another competition to a rival in the metro division. Their record within the division is now 3-7-4, and after a additional waste of time by Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh is equal for the last place in the metro.
Then the Penguins play another divisional heavyweight, the New York Rangers, against which they are 0-2-0. They then play the flyers the second night on a consecutive back.
Pittsburgh can have ten points against his rivals, but he abandoned 14, which is one of the main reasons why he has only 53, the total total as philadelphia. In addition, this is only four points ahead of the Buffalo sabers, the lower team of the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, it seems that the Penguins have a mental blocking against metro opponents this season. Their schedule to come will not make them favors, so many of these losses are difficult to digest.
