Early Goals Doom Penguins In 4-1 Loss To Jets

It was another day, another loss to a playoff team for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Despite scoring in the third period after a valiant display of heart from their captain, the Penguins dropped their second straight game to the league’s best team, the Winnipeg Jets, 4-1.

The Penguins were down, 3-0, heading into the third period. Just 38 seconds in, Sidney Crosby goaded Winnipeg Forward Kyle Connor into dropping the gloves, and the captain sparked some life for his lifeless team.

After killing off Crosby’s extra minor for cross-checking, the Penguins earned a power play while Crosby was still in the box. Michael Bunting registered his fourth goal of the season and his second power play goal, and the goal gave them some momentum for the rest of the game.

However, it was not enough against a team like Winnipeg, a stingy defensive team that doesn’t give up a whole lot. Despite playing better in the third, the Penguins still only managed five shots on goal in both the second and third periods.

“I thought we got some juice after Sid’s battle, and then we scored,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “But, we have to manufacture that more consistently if we’re going to be harder to play against. I just think physicality is a fundamental element of hockey, and we’ve got to engage more consistently in all three zones.”

Pittsburgh is now 7-11-4 and is officially in the basement of the Metropolitan Division. The only teams with a lower points percentage than them across the league are the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks.

Here are some thoughts and observations after tonight’s loss:

– The Penguins have given up a goal on the first shot of the game six times this season, including four times with Tristan Jarry in net.

When asked if there could be a reason for that phenomenon, Sullivan got a bit testy.

“It happens a million different ways,” Sullivan said. “For example, the first goal tonight. How do I explain that? Can you explain that? Because I can’t.”

Simply put,…