PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's the third of three consecutive games against the teams in front of them in the Eastern Conference, Florida won Tuesday night 4-3. It's the first in the stretch the Pens didn't manage at least a point.
"Obviously the Tampa game we were really good," said captain Sidney Crosby. "We didn't give up a lot and generated a lot ourselves. Carolina, I think in the second period they took over the game. Tonight, our start hurt us."
The first-place team in the Atlantic Division, Florida got up two-nothing with a goal by Sam Reinhart in front of the net and another by Aaron Ekblad where bodies in front kept goalie Tristan Jarry from seeing the puck.
"We have to defend that area with numbers," said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. "We have to defend that area harder. It boils down to details and a certain compete level."
"Certainly in the first period, I didn't think we did a very good job and then responded after that. When you are playing against a team like Florida that is as good as they are. We put yourself behind the eight ball when we got behind two goals. A lot of it boils down to the net front."
Pens would score a couple of goals within nine seconds of each other to tie the game in the second period. Bryan Rust with his 19th and Jake Guentzel with his 28th. The Panthers would add a power play goal in the second and then Carter Verhaeghe capitalized on a 2-on-1 to make it 4-2. Crosby would score with just over two minutes left for the final tally, he has points in seven straight games.
"I think the good thing is I think a lot of the things we need to correct are the easy ones," Crosby said. "They're turnovers. The thing that makes those teams as good as they are, they are able to capitalize on your mistakes. You make one big one, it ends up in your net. That's the difference."
"We have to be a little bit better in not beating ourselves or giving ourselves a better start. Things like that, that are things that we can fix quickly but are things go a long way to win hockey games."
"It's disappointing that we lost two of those three games. At the same times, for good chunks of those games we did some really good things too. We have to improve in a few areas."
Leading the NHL at 37 shots a game, the Pens 'held' Florida to 29 shots, Jarry stopping 25.
Pens have lost six of their last eight home games.
Line issues
Trying to find the right fit, Sullivan once again moved Kasperi Kapanen off Evgeni Malkin's line in the third period. Kapanen only played two shifts in the final 20 minutes. What's next for the Pens winger?
"I don't know if I have an answer," Sullivan said. "I'm trying to make decisions behind the bench to give our team the best chance to win. I made that decision in the third period, because I thought we needed to get more throughout our lineup."
Sullivan had moved Dominik Simon to the third line as he and Evan Rodrigues only played 12:01 due to the better play from the fourth line with Teddy Blueger returning.
"Will see where it goes moving forward," Sullivan said. "We are trying to find combinations that we can put together that gives us balance and gives us an opportunity to put guys in positions to be successful. Kappy included, everybody has to take ownership of their own game. They have to bring their best game forward."
Blueger back
Blueger played 13:45 on 21 shits taking two shots, three hits and winning six of 11 faceoffs in his first game back. The 27-year-old out since January 23 due to a broken jaw. He wore a full-face shield and paired with Brock McGinn and Zach Aston-Reese.
"I thought he was good," Sullivan said. "I didn't have to manage his minutes. He worked really hard to prepare himself. He kept his game simple. I thought he played well. It was a really solid effort."
Rust 400
Forward Bryan Rust appeared in his 400th career game Tuesday, scoring the goal in the second period, adding an assist.
The 29-year-old said he remembered his first game, taking a four-minute penalty trying to get in a fight December 13, 2014 in Columbus. Rust would only play nine shifts and on the ice just over six minutes.
"It's a game that I will remember the rest of my life," Rust said of 400. "To be able to say I've played in 400 is cool. Every time you hit a milestone like this, you look back. It's gone by pretty quick, but it's been a fun ride and hopefully there is more to come."
"It's been a real rewarding experience to watch Rust grow both as a player and as a person," Sullivan said. "He's turned himself into a really good player in this league. His on-ice play speaks for himself in what he's accomplished in the time he's been here."
"It's amazing to me where the time goes that he's played that many games in this league."
Up Next
Pens start a final string of games against the West with four of the next five out of conference. Las Vegas at PPG Paints Arena Friday night at 7p.
