April 4, 2015

Covering in Columbus: Blue Jackets 5, Penguins 3

by Dejan Kovacevic • Game previews • Tags: Penguins

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Getting ready for faceoff …

Game: Penguins (42-24-11) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (38-35-4), 2:08 p.m., Nationwide Arena

Goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (33-18-8, 2.29) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (27-17-2, 2.73)

TV, radio: Root Sports, 105.9 the X

Online: GameCenter / Multimedia / Official game notes

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: The Penguins are scratching Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Christian Ehrhoff. Malkin is expected to return tomorrow in Philadelphia. The other two will not.

Lots of black and gold heading into Nationwide Arena this afternoon, as always. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC

129 Comments Newest to oldest

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 12:11 pm

Flower has never lost in regulation at Nationwide. Sid lost his first game there in 1/06 (6-1) and hasn't lost in regulation there since.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 1:09 pm

I was there with my daughter having bragged about how great Sid and Fluery were going to be and as they described later, it was the low point in the HCMT era before they began their 28 month climb to get to the SC finals.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 12:19 pm

Letang is in Montreal....possibly for Easter, or maybe to see a concussion specialist he's seen before.
Anyway this is a revealing new angle....

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ryan-Wilson/New-Camera-Angle-of-Violent-Shane-Doan-Hit-On-Kris-Letang/177/67663

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 12:32 pm

Wow - great find Sarah

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 12:35 pm

Wow my son and i were in the balcony along those boards never saw the hit, because the puck was all the way up the ice. Crazy that they caught the whole thing on camera.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 12:43 pm

Well I thought it was boarding before I saw this clip, but really it's a LOT more violent than I first realized....I thought he kinda slid into the boards, but wow, he flew into them. Tough to watch huh?

theBikeman

4-4-2015, 12:52 pm

Unnecessary for sure and should have been interference at the very least.

Garage league

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 1:13 pm

Doan mentioned he wanted to hold Chris up so he didn't get by him but if that was the case, he could have just got in his way. Letang was off balance and thus vulnerable which amplified the result of what basically was a push.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 1:24 pm

Yeah weak excuse by Doan....

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 1:52 pm

Thanks for the clip Sarah. I love hitting and even fighting as much as the next guy but these players complete disregard for each others safety these days is astounding.

4-4-2015, 2:19 pm

When I saw messages from people who saw Letang in Montreal yesterday, I thought the same thing - that maybe he went to see the specialist, I believe his name is Francious Chaput, who helped him get over the bad concussion he had from the Pacioretty hit.

4-4-2015, 2:19 pm

alantig

4-4-2015, 2:58 pm

Thanks for that link, Sarah. The audio gives you an appreciation for the violence of the impact that the broadcast footage doesn't.

And the writer makes a good point that the hit was unnecessary. I know DK hates that term, but what it means to me is that Doan could have accomplished his stated goal without making that kind of play. It's the difference between a defender riding a guy into the boards to take him out of the play versus driving him into the boards. The Comeau non-call in this game - the Columbus player could have rubbed him out of the play without making the kind of hit that should have been called a penalty.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 1:38 pm

D pairings have Lovejoy at 1 w Martin, Scuds at 2 w Cole, and Chorney w Poo.
Deep breaths everyone. It's still better than 5. Right?

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 1:58 pm

Would much rather see Pouliot with Cole as the 2nd pairing and Scuds with Chorney as the distant 3rd pairing.

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 1:47 pm

Heard on the radio today that the Pens are the 2nd lowest scoring team in the league the past month behind only the Coyotes?????

Sarah

4-4-2015, 1:51 pm

Yep, they've really been barely at or below .500 since December.
And it's taken a career year from Fleury, to even do that.
Scary.

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 1:55 pm

Granted that players 10-20 just absolutely stink on this team but I still blame the power play for the lack of scoring since November and give all the excuses you want but they have mostly had the same 5 on the PP most of the year.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:07 pm

Stat from Pens Radio Twitter - pens averaging 1.58 GPG without Geno and 2.95 with him(86.7% increase) - something like 19 goals in last 14 games without 71

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:09 pm

Realistically Pens need to get a lead and have Flower in stoner mode today - if CBJ gets out fast it's over early

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:10 pm

And CBJ come out storming

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 2:11 pm

How many breakaways have the Pens missed this year?

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:14 pm

I guess they never practice this either aka shoot outs

Sarah

4-4-2015, 2:20 pm

Who knew we'd miss Moustache Boy??

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 2:17 pm

Ok, HCMJ needs to be ordered to take Kunitz off power play. This is not acceptable.

75 games in and we have Perron on the point. I am losing confidence this coach has a clue.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 2:18 pm

Yeah. Really too many decisions are questionable.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:18 pm

CBJ dominating 5 on 5

Scott Hey Hey

4-4-2015, 2:25 pm

Downie is a dumb f*ck!!!

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:27 pm

His hockey IQ defines the low end of the scale

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 2:28 pm

Thought Tocchet was here to fix that? Of course Tocchet was also supposed to fix the PP and their motivational deficiencies so I would say that Mr Tocchet has failed on all three counts.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:26 pm

Way to go Steve - who wants a lead momentum

Sarah

4-4-2015, 2:28 pm

Let the whipping commence!

Dejan Kovacevic

4-4-2015, 2:29 pm

Downie fell on Bob, minor. Foligno fell on Fleury in identical manner -- not sure if TV caught it -- and no minor.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 2:35 pm

SOS unfortunately

Zico

4-4-2015, 2:36 pm

Boarding against Comeau, no call. Too many men a minute later, called.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:39 pm

Jody Shelley on CBJ broadcast praising the hit on Blake

Sarah

4-4-2015, 2:39 pm

Tremendous vision in close there by Horny to find Sid on that touch pass. Crazy good.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 2:44 pm

A dirty dangerous play by Dubinsky?
Shocking.

Durka

4-4-2015, 3:00 pm

Take him out back

Sarah

4-4-2015, 3:11 pm

I'd be happy with a cup check like he gave Sid last year .....

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 2:52 pm

Other than the penalties, pretty good period for the Prns

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 3:08 pm

Correct. Gotta give praise to the PK unit who has been consistently great all year.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:54 pm

Sid's stick caught awkwardly in boards and then Savard who already got away with the Blake boarding - hammers him twice. Sid gets up and gets stick and makes a gesture of frustration and goes off to locker room early. Could have twisted his left shoulder, arm/wrist there. If he's hurt then ....

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 2:58 pm

It was 29 Goloubef who boarded Comeau with no call

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:01 pm

Looking again it was his right arm that got extended when the stick got stuck

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:07 pm

Another rule change to aid scoring would be to start periods with an offensive zone face off when a team is on a carry over PP

Dejan Kovacevic

4-4-2015, 3:08 pm

You guys should know that I heard up here the only reason Crosby went off late in the period was due to some weird skate issue after getting his stick caught in the boards.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 3:32 pm

I'm really liking Cole.

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 3:42 pm

He's pinching a lot in the 2nd

Durka

4-4-2015, 3:35 pm

Twice Sid back checks 200 feet with the snap of the finger and 2nd time has enough steam to come back odd man rush. What a guy

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:37 pm

Peron hideous

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 3:43 pm

He has to get that puck out. Incredible how little situational awareness some of these players have

Dejan Kovacevic

4-4-2015, 3:52 pm

Horrific giveaway. Never, never, never in that area.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:39 pm

Another blown 2-0 lead

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:40 pm

That's 4 straight blown 2-0 leads

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 3:43 pm

No lead is safe with this team, just crazy

Sarah

4-4-2015, 3:48 pm

Scuderi lol. Just smh....

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 3:44 pm

Have to fly to Chicago, please have good news for me when I land

Jay Baileys

4-4-2015, 5:05 pm

Guess not

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:48 pm

Strong 36 minutes undone by ridiculously sloppy play. That Perron turnover could be a singular moment. CBJ have come from behind wins in 10 of their last 12 games. Ottawa fans appreciative.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 3:52 pm

When does OTT play WSH? Tonight I guess? That's a big game esp if we find a way to mangle this and lose.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 3:58 pm

Yes Sens home tonight vs Caps and in Toronto tomorrow. Pens needed a point on this trip to ensure they stay in playoff position until next weekend since they have ROW tiebreaker. Don't want to go into Ottawa Tuesday with only a one point lead.

Dejan Kovacevic

4-4-2015, 3:58 pm

That would be a three-point spread, with a head-to-head coming up in Ottawa.

sen107

4-4-2015, 4:10 pm

Sometimes you get the feeling the Pens' D hates Fleury.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 4:10 pm

Another ridiculous turnover courtesy of Pouliet - Flower deserved better today. Letang injury looks to have done the Pens in.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 4:12 pm

So if Malkin plays tomorrow does that mean they have to go with 5 D? And if he doesn't they can play 6 again? Not sure it matters because now their hopes depend on Ottawa losing some games.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 4:36 pm

I believe once they're back to 18 available, Chorney has to be returned to WBS....?

Bvolk81

4-4-2015, 4:15 pm

Any team would be licking their chops. Can't hold leads, no heart and no defensive fundamentals

Rob

4-4-2015, 4:26 pm

Hornqvist is one guy with heart. I'll take 12 of him any day.

Rob

4-4-2015, 4:16 pm

Maybe Eddie Johnston can come back as coach.

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 6:48 pm

I'd take the guy who coached the Bad News Bears at this point.

Jakester

4-4-2015, 4:17 pm

No words to describe this
Collapse don't get much more epic than this

mwehrle27

4-4-2015, 4:20 pm

51 just isn't a great defender yet. Which isn't good for his position choice

Jakester

4-4-2015, 4:26 pm

The very fact that that is only a 2 min penalty is all that needs said about this league
That's an ejection in any other sport

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 4:28 pm

Pens were 17 points ahead of Sens on March 1

Sarah

4-4-2015, 4:41 pm

Wow. Epic.

Rob

4-4-2015, 4:28 pm

Question of the day. Who is more painful to watch?
a.) Kunitz
b.) Scudder
c.) Mike Johnston
d.) all of the above

Garrett Cooper

4-4-2015, 4:42 pm

Durka

4-4-2015, 4:33 pm

Bob just died

mwehrle27

4-4-2015, 4:35 pm

NHL is the equivalent of wild Wild West. No rules, just police yourself

mwehrle27

4-4-2015, 4:36 pm

72 checked then slammed to the ice. What a joke

Sarah

4-4-2015, 4:40 pm

Wow Pouliot....

unipress_54a22cb33237f

4-4-2015, 4:42 pm

Garage league...

GEARHEAD

4-4-2015, 4:42 pm

Pouliot is freakin terrible. He might have well been wearing a blue jersey today. He can't even stay in the right position on the PP. Unbelievable...

DormontyDawson

4-4-2015, 4:49 pm

With 95% of our forwards having not scored since Kennywood was open, I have a hard time blaming a potentially great young D-man going through the usual growing pains.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 4:43 pm

Ottawa magic number to eliminate Pens drops to 14

Adam

4-4-2015, 4:44 pm

Pouliot was bad today. Yikes.

Sarah

4-4-2015, 5:00 pm

On for all 5 I think? Feel for the kid, hope he shakes it off and learns from it.

Rob

4-4-2015, 4:45 pm

What's the excuse today? Not good at day games, six defensemen, temp wasn't right, ice was bad, Blue Jackets desperate, etc., etc....

Adam

4-4-2015, 4:45 pm

If Malkin, who they need, plays tomorrow vs Philly, the move should be to send Pouliot, who was awful today, down to WBS and keep Chorney. It's not ideal to play only 5 D, but Malkin will help them more right now than Pouliot.

Garrett Cooper

4-4-2015, 4:48 pm

Are we about to pull a "Chicago Cubs"?

If we do, we need another overhaul this offseason - BB, Adams, Scuds, Kuni, HCMJ/staff = gone.

Lapierre?, Sutter?, Downie?, and Dupuis? = trade/release?

Good luck GMJR. Still glad you didn't retire?

4-4-2015, 5:43 pm

I blame the cadre of GMs for putting us in this "5D" situation, so Rutherford doesn't get a pass in my eyes.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 4:49 pm

Reduced to rooting for Caps, Rangers and Flyers to beat Sens

Windsor Spits

4-4-2015, 4:49 pm

11 of last 12 CBJ wins have been come from behind. Pens could stand to get a peek at that recipe.

Gary Filiaggi

4-4-2015, 4:49 pm

Well DK, at least they're saving us the pain of watching them choke in the playoffs for a sixth straight year. They decided to just miss them altogether, and in true swan dive fashion. High probability they'll lose their remaining games, yes even at Buffalo. I'm not panicked, just fed up and.think this whole organization needs a big shake up. Maybe missing the playoffs would trigger that, but who knows?

chethejet

4-4-2015, 4:52 pm

DK, next time you interview Mario, ask him why he lets his star players get hammered game after game. Ask him why Johnson a crap dman can throw a right cross with out any fear of anyone making him pay? Said it before, Sid should simply retire and F this league.

Garrett Cooper

4-4-2015, 6:04 pm

It's amazing how the NHL (i.e., refs), numerous fans, and his fellow players all seem to want to see Crosby injured/fail.

I really can't think of another sport where the star athlete of the league is more despised. (Maybe with the exception of Western Canada and PGH.)

The real shame of it is that he's reportedly a better guy off the ice, than on. Simply put, the NHL doesn't deserve such athletes now or in the future. That is until the league becomes a real league again, and not the wild west on ice.

DK219

4-4-2015, 4:53 pm

Charlie Morton to the DL. Almost as much as a sure thing as the Pens making the Playoffs

fletchpsu

4-4-2015, 4:56 pm

I was at the game. Calls were terrible but 4 unanswered ... Wtf!!! Brutal.

mwehrle27

4-4-2015, 4:58 pm

2nd straight game all 3 starts went to one team. Spoiler: none were penguins

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 5:18 pm

1. Fire HCMJ now!

2. Fire GMJR now!

Sign James Harrison, The Rock and Rhonda Rousey and attack. This stuff is another year old. GUTLESS team to allow stars at racked and ownership plays a part too. Action now Mario!!!!!Wake up Burkle.

PensFan

4-4-2015, 5:22 pm

After watching this team completely implode over the past 6 months, I would actually rather see them miss the playoffs (they really do not deserve to make them...) than watch them implode even more and get annihilated in the first round. Say what you will about "fair weather fans," but I love the team, and hate, hate, hate what they have brought to the ice since December. Don't ask hard working people to shell out $200-400 a game to watch this team blow it on home ice routinely. Shameful. I hope Mario and management implode this team and start fresh for next season - me and my pay checks will be eagerly awaiting an improved plan. Jeez - DK, can I change my handle?

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 5:37 pm

Sellout streak will end. Why would you pay to watch them playoffs? If they make them.

PensFan

4-4-2015, 6:14 pm

@Rbilak1 - completely agree with you!!! I'm not spending my hard-earned money to be absolutely let down by this sort of play. I will always cheer for the Pens, but where I do it and how much I pay for the privilege will depend upon the performance of the team on the ice.

dannyboy1631

4-4-2015, 5:33 pm

Apparently the pens are incapable of overcoming the loss of 3 of their top 4 defenseman, as well as their best forward (all due respect to 87). Put the brakes on people. Pouliot was only able to be terrible today because of the situation with our D. He's a first year pro playing arguably the hardest position to learn on the ice, and he made some very typical rookie mistakes. The rest of them save Martin are bottom pairing Dmen and nothing more. The pens are awful right now. They probably will eek into the playoffs. There's a team in Manitoba that would live to make the last wild card and possible be bounced in the first round. We are where we are due to injuries and bad luck. Period. Luckily this team is managed by people who already know that.

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 5:35 pm

Disagree record since Thanksgiving is below 500. That is a trend not a slump.

dannyboy1631

4-4-2015, 5:47 pm

How many games since Thanksgiving has this team played with less than 2 of their top 6 forwards/D on IR? Got any numbers on this Dejan? We can't continue to ignore the significant losses due to injury this team has had. It matters a TON.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 6:01 pm

No excuse for the play Perron made that completely turned this game around. Pens should have been up 2-0 going into third. Also no excuse for the Downie penalties. Blowing a 17 point playoff lead in 5 weeks takes more than injuries.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 6:02 pm

Pens lost 200 more man games last year than this year.

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 6:10 pm

Danny I do get your point. However, Philly no Wayne no RJ. No hope for playoffs. Chicago lost a pretty good player for a long time. So my point is every team loses guys.

1. The power play sucks with or without Malkin and Letang.

2. The first sign of trouble they become unglued. This is manifested by the inability to comeback on teams.

3. How many 2 goals leads have they blown? Quite a few come to mind.

4. The failure of this coach to recognize Kunitz should not be on power play is inexplicable. He has no idea how to fix it and the man who hired him needs held responsible.

We are going to have to disagree but I respect your opinion.

Purple Moose

4-4-2015, 6:13 pm

And here we have the result of how people have grown up in the new society where we don't keep score in kids game so not to hurt feelings and everybody gets a participation trophy.

- We have injuries
- Referees are against us
- We don't like afternoon games
- We.........................

It is called fortitude, guts, heart, character, resiliency, intestinal fortitude. Last I looked guys like Adams, Spaling and Bennett are allowed to play with sticks and are allowed to score (not every game but how about once every 8 games). Last I checked guys like Scuder and Lovejoy are allowed to put a body on an opposing forward in front of the net. Not sure which injury caused Perron and Pouliot to give the puck away like a hand grenade today.

Don't worry boys, we have a participation trophy for you right after the end of season party.

Big Daddy

4-4-2015, 5:45 pm

What a garbage team - this team DOESNT know how to win anymore. And to back themselves in a corner by having to play only 5 defenseman is like a baseball team fielding 8 players or a basketball team playing with only 4 players. Team and MANAGEMENT are DISGRACEFUL!!!!!!!

Robert

4-4-2015, 5:54 pm

Cole has been solid. Martin hasn't been awful. Same with Lovejoy. That said, a bunch of stick swinging positional defenseman without a ton of size can't hold off a team with big, physical, aggressive, relatively talented forwards. Go figure...

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 6:16 pm

Well Mobile is HCMJ system. I like Cole but 41 and 47 were big and could physically play. Now we are reduced to Cole saying something to an opponent. Pens need someone willing to punch not talk.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 5:59 pm

Lost in the meltdown is that Sid is playing some great hockey and Fluery has been superb all year.

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 6:14 pm

Yes, leadership comes in many forms and he tried to will team to victory. I wonder if he is sick of zero protection? I know I am.

Milo Hamilton

4-4-2015, 6:07 pm

You know, you really want your team to do well. You want to root for them to win every time they play. But I really can't watch this anymore. I just want it to be over, the sooner the better. This is the Bataan Death March if I ever saw it.

PensFan

4-4-2015, 6:11 pm

Agree completely.

Rbilak1

4-4-2015, 6:12 pm

Milo tomorrow will be first time ever that I have a chance to watch and won't. I go back to franchise beginnings.

nagle

4-4-2015, 6:13 pm

Just think, if they miss the playoffs they have a chance at the first...OOPS, Forgot

B.Lez

4-4-2015, 6:37 pm

This team has been playing below par for months, that's not all on the players. I've been ok with the job Agnew is doing but Tocchet hasn't shown me anything. He was supposed to coach the PP and corral Downie. I'm no teacher but I'd give F's on both counts. Where has he ever been a successful coach? If the PP was any type of threat this would be a different team.

Alex Kirschke

4-4-2015, 7:02 pm

couldn't agree more. not a fit

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 6:43 pm

On March 12th (23 days ago), the Pens had 88 points while the Sens had 73. That's a 15 point lead with 15 games left in the season.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 6:46 pm

At that point Pens were only 3 points behind in the race for the President's trophy.

cdeardo

4-4-2015, 6:51 pm

Since then, Pens have 7 regulation losses in 11 games. If you take away the 2 games against Arizona, Pens don't have another regulation win and are 1-7-1 with 12 goals in those 9 games.

fuzzy1313

4-4-2015, 7:10 pm

Too little from too many = no playoffs. Crosby/Hornqvist/Fleury seem motivated today but all others just don't seem to care. Our only hope is for a Malkin spark when he returns but that still may not be enough for this disinterested crew.

timberlandblues

4-4-2015, 8:57 pm

I love how everyone is "shocked" that the Penguins have so many injuries every year as though they are just the victims of some unexpected injury conspiracy. The Pens assume a higher risk of injury when they insist on loading up on tiny, aging, finesse who are obviously going to be more injury prone. You get what you pay for.

timberlandblues

4-4-2015, 8:58 pm

*players

teaman87

4-4-2015, 9:57 pm

Remember we are the only team that doesn't have a win trailing after 2 periods. That sums up their season...

Covering in Columbus: Blue Jackets 5, Penguins 3

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Covering in Columbus: Blue Jackets 5, Penguins 3

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