COLUMBUS (93.7 The Fan) – There haven’t been many seasons in the last two decades when you knew for sure when the season would end. It added to the exhibition game like feeling as Columbus came back to win 3-2 in overtime.
“It’s a hard game even to assess,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “Just under the circumstances. It’s been a long time since this group has been in this type of a game. I always believe there is something to play for, but obviously when you are officially eliminated from the playoffs it’s a whole different experience.”
As Jason Zucker put it, there wasn’t a whole lot out there with no motivation for a playoff opportunity. The loss punctuated not only a non-playoff season, but the first losing season (40-42) since 2005-06 (22-60).
Pens scored both goals as part of an area that had high peaks and low valleys in 2022-23, the power play. Kris Letang with his 12th of the season to get the scoring started and then a Jake Guentzel slap shot, his 36th to give the Pens the lead back in the third period.
“The expectations are high,” Sullivan said. “We have high expectations of ourselves. Nobody likes this feeling. I believe we will be more determined than ever to right this ship and get this thing moving in the right direction.”
Dumoulin future
There are three key unrestricted free agents. Jason Zucker, Tristan Jarry and two-time Stanley Cup champion Brian Dumoulin. The 31-year-old defenseman spent his entire NHL career with the Pens finishing with the highest point total of his career (25) this season. It would seem unlikely that he would return, but the man he was paired with for many of those games would like to continue to play with him.
“He’s the guy I’m the most comfortable to play with,” said Kris Letang. “My best years in the league are spent beside him. He’s such a good partner to be paired with. It’s not only that, he’s vocal. He understands the game really well. In the room he’s a guy people gravitate around. I just hope he’s with us next year. I think he’s proved that he’s a top defender in this league.”
Notes
· Most points for Crosby since 2018-19 (100) and second-most in nine years.
· It’s the seventh time Crosby had a season with 60 assists
· Letang reached the 40-point mark for the sixth straight year and 10th season in his career of 40-plus
· Rickard Rakell for hit the 60-point mark for the second time in his career (69 in 2017-18 with Anaheim)