PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's just another thing this team has struggled with in a season where they are selling off assets, but still trying to compete. The Pens dropped to 1-5 in shootouts, losing to the Devils 3-2 on a goal in the seventh round.
"It's me versus whoever, it's just me," said goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. "It sucks. There are five, maybe six extra points that we've given away because I haven't been very good in a shootout. The guys are doing an unbelievable job of putting the puck in the net. I had two chances to shut them down and win. I'm not getting the job done right now."
Nedeljkovic now has seven career shootout losses and said he's working on being more patient. He said you get in those situations and you tend to think too much instead of reacting and playing. When he did that, he made a couple of impressive breakaway saves, but is trying to take away the time and space when no one else is on the ice.
Effort solid
Overall, while not happy with the result, players and the head coach said they were proud of the effort and feel if they keep playing like this the results will change. This as the Pens drop to 22-24-9 and remain in last place in the Metropolitan Division.
"I thought we played hard against a real good team," said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. "I thought we played really hard. I thought we defended hard. We come back from a two-goal deficit, there is a lot to like from our game. It's unfortunate we didn't get two points, but it was a hard-fought one point that's for sure."
"We played a pretty good game from start to finish," Nedeljkovic said. "I thought the first period we were the better team. They got a lucky bounce right there at the end. Second period they made a nice play off a faceoff, but we stuck with it. Kept going, clawed our way back. We'll take the one point, sucks not getting the other one."
Not giving up
Even in last place and after demoting the former number one goalie and trading their most consistent defenseman and a young forward, the team isn't giving up on the long-shot dream of the postseason.
"We are trying to stay in the fight for a playoff spot," Sullivan said. "We know what we are up against. I think the guys have embraced the challenge and playing really hard. We are just going to have to keep fighting."
Sid hurt, returns
It was early in the third period when Sidney Crosby was fighting for a puck and his arm got caught between New Jersey center Erik Haula and defenseman Luke Hughes. Crosby skated off the ice, hunched over in obvious pain, but would be able to return and played a majority of overtime.
"I just got tangled up," Crosby said.
When asked if it was his elbow, he said again he just got tangled up.
"That's not an easy loss when you lose a player like that for a period of time," Sullivan said. "Obviously he means so much to this team in so many ways, he's the heartbeat of the group. It's never an easy thing when he leaves the bench."
Up Next
Due to the Four Nations Face-Off, the Pens won't be home again until February 22 when the Caps visit. They will play back-to-back games at the Rangers and Flyers starting Friday night.
