Holy nutsack. What a difference a week makes. Last Sunday, the Penguins were cruising in the middle of a 7 game win-streak while looking back on the overwhelming success of Mike Sullivan’s year at the helm. Everyone was excited that Sully now had a completely healthy lineup for the first time in that span. Things were good.
This week, eh…a bit different.
This Week Sauce
After slobberknocking a Coyotes team that might not be quite as bad as they seemed and coming from behind against a pesky Bruins squad, someone threw a big handful of feces at the old wind blower.
Despite finishing the game against Boston with 26:23 TOI, it was announced Thursday that Kris Letang was out with a lower body injury. They placed Letang on IR yesterday, which puts him out at least through Christmas. Then things got worse.
The Pens got backup-goalied™ by Peter Budaj and the LA Kings. During that 1-0 OT loss, they also lost Trevor Daley to an upper body injury. He’s week-to-week. Puke. Pittsburgh followed up a back-to-back in Toronto with another deflating loss to Frederick Andersen and the Leafs. People on the internet continue to remind themselves that Toronto has to start getting better some time, and beating the defending Cup champs probably means that’s happening.
Pens lost a game in OT they prob should have lost w/ 49 shots against, Letang/Daley out, and playing their 3rd in 4 nights. *shrugs* Move on
— Meesh (@HockeyMeesh) December 18, 2016
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Let’s just say the sparkle has been dulled slightly.
Letang is obviously a huge loss for this team and the way the want to play night in and night out.
The Daley injury makes things a tad bit worse. The Penguins have the Rangers, Jackets, Devils (twice) and Canadiens before the New Year break. One of the only pluses that could possibly come over the next 2 weeks will be if Derrick Pouliot can turn some steady ice time into…anything, really. Like at all. This would be the perfect time to showcase the fact that the offensive blueliner has something to offer at the NHL level. In turn, the team could hope to parlay that into any kind of positive trade return for Pouliot, as it seems his development in Pittsburgh has stalled out completely at this point.
The Pens did get to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame on their trip to Toronto and drop off their Stanley Cup ring.
Earlier today some #Pens checked out their playoff display and presented a championship ring to the @HockeyHallFame. https://t.co/G94jCJWv9z pic.twitter.com/Ir9XTV4sEb
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 18, 2016
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“I dunno, Hags. I’m a little underwhelmed.”
Elsewhere In The East
Good news is, as winning streaks go, this weekend was a bad time for all.
Philly got thumped by the Stars 3-1 to snap their 10-game roll. The Habs slowed down Washington to kill their 6-game win streak. Columbus is red hot and the only remaining Metro team on a roll after they pulled out an OT win against Vancouver. Their current 9-game run hasn’t detracted from some butt-hurt blogging over on SadBalls Nation.
The Islanders are defying the odds of poorly run teams everywhere. Gotta think the next big episode is that one where the coach gets fired.
So Cody Eakin got a 4 game suspension for this…
Cody Eakin takes out Henrik Lundqvist. Game misconduct on the play. pic.twitter.com/0uSxN75K0I
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 16, 2016
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Which of course looks to have knocked the rust off of Hank’s game. See you Tuesday, Rags.
Minor Adjustments
Daniel Sprong has been returned to his QMJHL team. The biggest thing to take out of this is that the 2015 draft pick is 100% healthy and ready to see some regular playing action. It will be interesting to see Sprong get another year of Junior action.
Expect to see some of Chad Ruhwedel with the Pens currently damaged D-lineup. He played 21 games at the end of 2014 for a dogpiss Sabres team. The 26 year old has 13 points in 26 games this year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He’s also a right shot. So that helps.
The Nailers dealt their No.3 scorer Josh Shalla to Indy (Blackhawks) for RW Tyler Currier and future considerations. Just a smart move by a club to flip a guy who’s been riding a hot streak for a few potential pieces.
If you need me, I’ll be fighting cats away from the pine tree in the living room.
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