PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens fought back from down two in the third period, only to have the Kings Trevor Moore get behind the defense on a change and score on a breakaway for a 4-3 Los Angeles win Sunday afternoon.
"We have to bring a consistent game," said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. "I thought in the second period in particular we weren't as diligent. We had some plays we didn't execute, as a result we gave up some transition opportunities for LA. It's a 60-minute hockey game, we need a more consistent effort throughout."
Pens gave up a couple of goals on 15 shots in the second to trail 3-1 heading into the third. For the game, the Pens were outshot by a dozen, had twice as many giveaways, all ending in a third consecutive loss.
"When you lose a few games in a row, obviously it's not great," said forward Bryan Rust who scored two goals Sunday. "It's a few little plays here or there, 1-2-3 plays a game are going the other way. We aren't making those few little plays. If we are able to get back to that, those detailed things that people always recognize."
"We want to play aggressive but not a risk game," said defenseman Marcus Pettersson. "We hurt ourselves by giving up the puck and giving up odd-man rushes. It's hard to play that way when you give up chances that are self-inflicted. We got to find a balance that we had, being aggressive the right way."
Pens have trailed in every game since the Ottawa game January 20th despite getting points in all of those but Sunday and winning four.
"Be on our toes early, once we get going we gain some momentum," Pettersson said. "We have to do a better job of gaining that earlier. In the last few weeks we have done harm to ourselves by not taking care of the puck. We have to stay aggressive, on our toes and keep pucks alive."
"That's a mindset, everyone just has to work that much harder," Rust said. "When you play a simple game, go-to-the-net game, you have to be ready to take some cross-checks. You have to be ready to take a few bruises to get some goals, that has to be the mindset of our team moving forward a little bit."
"We need guys to step up and take advantage of the opportunities in front of them," Sullivan said. "When our team is at its best we are getting balanced scoring, balanced attack. That's when we are at our best. Lately that hasn't been the case and that makes it more challenging to win."
Tristan Jarry finished with 34 saves. Kris Letang had a pair of assists, but was a game-worst minus three. Kings now have points in 15 of 21 road games.
Pens goals
It was a vintage Sidney Crosby goal in terms of the work that went into it. Trailing 1-0 after a tough angle goal from Alex Iafallo, Pens were on the power play. Crosby hustled to back-check the puck free after a turnover and quickly headed the other way. Letang found Evgeni Malkin skating into the zone and he hits a sprinting Crosby who takes the pass quickly backhand to forehand and up over Cal Petersen to tie the game at one.
Crosby worked hard on the next scoring possession including a calculated cross ice, bank pass to Kris Letang to allow Letang to shoot and eventually out to Bryan Rust for the goal to make it 3-2.
Jake Guentzel got his 300th career point as Rust banks attempted pass home for second goal of the game. Crosby with an assist on that goal as well to tie it at 3.
Dumoulin scare
Late in the first period Brian Dumoulin took a slap shot off his right foot and was unable to lift himself back on the ice. The 30-year-old was helped off and then assisted down the tunnel. The defenseman was back on the ice to start the second period and paired in his usual spot with Letang.
Late scratch
Forward Danton Heinen was a late scratch, so the Pens elevated Radim Zohorna to the starting lineup right after the warmup. It was Zohorna's fifth game of the season, all happening in January with a goal and an assist. Zohorna filled Heinen's spot on the third line with Jeff Carter and Zach Aston-Reese.
"I thought Z played very well," Sullivan said. "He brought us some energy. I thought he made some plays, used his big frame to protect pucks. I thought he was good on both sides of the puck."
"I feel so much better here than in the AHL," Zohorna said after seven hits, no shots, even plus/minus in 14:32 of ice time. "Every game I play here, I don't know why, but I feel more comfortable here than in the AHL."
Heinen is being evaluated for an upper-body injury. He has played in 40 games, only five Pens have played more. The 26-year-old is in his first season with the Penguins with nine goals, nine assists and a plus six.
Changing Cabs
Three new members called up to the Taxi Squad before the game Sunday afternoon.
· Defenseman PO Joseph-played in 4 games with Pens, 4th on WBS Pens with 18 points & a plus-nine
· Forward Kasper Bjorkqvist-6 games with Pens including 1st NHL goal, 24g with WBS with five points & one game-winner
· Forward Michael Chaput-22g with WBS with 2 goals/7 assists. The 29-year-old is vet of 182 NHL games.
Up Next
Pens are back in the division for just the third time in 2022 hosting the Capitals Tuesday night at 7p.
