PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s a team with multiple, multiple Stanley Cup champions, yet one of their most decorated players in franchise history said this veteran group is feeling the pressure. It’s resulted in a three-game losing streak and four of its last five.
There is also who they are losing to. Once a force in their division, the Pens have lost nine straight against Metropolitan teams. That allows the Islanders in the span of two games to pick up four points on the Pens and jump them for the top Wild Card seed.
If a younger, inexperienced team, maybe some forgiveness. How has a team with this much pedigree blown EIGHT leads in the third period?
“We know we need a win,” Malkin said after the Islanders loss Tuesday. “We started a little bit nervous. We should play the same. When it was 2-1, just don’t wait and try to win. Just play the same game. The last couple of games we feel the pressure. We need points.”
Some of that is human nature, while he will commit frustrating turnovers, there is no doubt of Malkin’s desire to win. Judge that from the role he played in the fight Monday night. He said when they get a lead, some guys spot playing as hard. Malkin said that’s when their opponents grab the momentum and finish the game.
“When we have a lead going into the third period, we just got to play simple,” said Pens forward Bryan Rust. “We have to play hard. We can’t be looking for plays down the middle. We can’t be looking for anything high-risk. For us to get over this hump, we just got to play hard and play simple when we get leads.”
“We just have to have trust in each other,” said Pens forward Rickard Rakell. “We are right there (close) to pulling away and scoring that next goal. It’s really close-we hit a post, their goalie makes a really nice play. Then we are not connecting coming out of our own end and it’s the back of our net instead. We have to find a way to help lift each other in these moments.”
“When they score, we got to find a way the next shift and next couple of shifts, to regroup,” Pens defenseman Marcus Pettersson. “We got to find ways to win here. It’s getting tight. We are right there, still got it in our own hands. We believe in this group. We have to find ways.”
“It’s not ideal, when you lose games when you have leads,” said Pens captain Sidney Crosby. “The only way out of it is to find a way to win one and try to get some momentum from that. We can’t dwell on it. We are doing some really good things. I think that’s even more disappointing when you end up on the wrong side of things and you feel you are doing a lot of good things and you are not getting rewarded for it.”
That has been a common theme of them playing the right way. They felt like they played the right way Friday in a loss to the Islanders. They played the right way for the first half of the game on Monday. How much of this reality and how much possibly a convenient excuse so the team can sleep at night?
Pens defenseman Kris Letang said they are doing great things, they just need to bring their level up a notch. Rust said there are plenty of games left, they have a great team. He’s not worried about it.
“You got to find it within yourself,” Rust said. “Everyone knows what they bring to this team. Everyone knows their strengths and weaknesses and I think everybody has to focus on bringing that, bringing their game. I think that will help our team win some games here.”
“We understand every game is important,” Malkin said. “Stay focused, stay positive. Support each other and keep going, it’s not over. There are 25 more games. Play at the same level and same energy, we will be fine.”
“It’s tough this time of year especially in our division,” said Pens goalie Tristan Jarry. “We see how close the division is. Obviously, it’s always a worry. You want to win as many games as you can. That’s the key and that’s what we will have to start doing.”
Currently the Islanders and Florida are ahead of the Pens by two points and one point respectively-they have both played four more games than the Penguins. The Pens are a point ahead of Washington and Detroit. The Caps have played three more games and the Red Wings the same number. Buffalo is three points behind having played one less game.
“It’s tough losing,” Pettersson said.
“Tough losing the way we are doing right now. We are playing some good hockey.
We believe in this group right here. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we have to get going.”
“If we play the same, fight for every inch, we will win one game (and start rolling),” Malkin said. “We have a great team here. I believe in every one. If we play the right way we will be in the playoffs for sure.”
The reality of that last statement will play out over the next six weeks with Edmonton in town Thursday night at 7p.