PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pens are out. The longest running playoff streak for any of the teams in the four major North American sports leagues is over as the Islanders take the final Wild Card playoff spot with a 4-2 win over Montreal.
An Islanders loss on Monday gave the Pens the opportunity to win their last two games and qualify, but a loss to Chicago handed it right back. New York buried its second chance opportunity.
Pens head coach Mike Sullivan said after practice on Wednesday he would alter his lineup if they didn’t get in the playoffs. There may be some regulars who don’t play in Columbus Thursday night.
AT&T Sportsnet’s Jay Caufield told the Cook and Joe Show Wednesday he never thought, even with all of the inconsistencies this year, they would have lost to the last place Blackhawks at home. He said it’s not just the cliché of ‘the points you gave up in October’ rather it’s a whole team construction issue.
“No matter you want to rip apart on the roster and the things that are wrong, they still should be winning these games and still comfortably within the playoff number,” Caufield told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan. “It’s crazy to me. With Sidney Crosby still performing the way he has. A lot of other things got ya. The injuries with the goaltending, the up-and-down play of the goaltending, special teams going sideways-all of that comes into play and now you are on the outside.”
There was a somber air in the Pens locker room after their 25-minute practice in Cranberry on Wednesday. While they held out hope of a Montreal win, they also knew they blew their opportunity.
As you look ahead to next year, Caufield said there are numerous holes that have to be made up this offseason and they’ll do it with limited salary cap room. They’ll also have a few albatross contracts
· Mikael Granlund-1 goal/4 assists in 20 games, $5 million
· Jeff Carter-38-years-old, a -16 plus/minus, $3.125 million
· Jeff Petry-35-years-old, 5 goals, inconsistent, $6.25 million
They have just over $49 million already committed to next season according to spotrac.com and that’s with free agents Tristan Jarry and Jason Zucker, restricted free agents Alexander Nylander and Drew O’Connor. Plus, after next season Jake Guentzel becomes a free agent.
“They are multiple moves away,” Caufield said. “You even hear players, Evgeni Malkin saying they were faster than them. They are not built properly, they are multiple moves away. They are multiple players away to compete.”
“Look at New Jersey, the speed and they are heavy. The Penguins don’t have that. They don’t have what it takes to compete. Plus, you have to settle your goaltending.”
“There is a new generation of player-they’re fast, they’re big, they’re strong, they’re skilled and the Penguins don’t have that kind of thing. Mrazek had 8-10 big saves (Tuesday night for Chicago), but the rest he could see everything. They don’t have bodies to get in front.”
Mike Sullivan won a pair of Stanley Cups. He guided the Pens to the playoffs every year but this one. In no sport are successful coaches fired more often than hockey.
“Sullivan coaches the same way every time and I think the talent that he has, hasn’t been there,” Caufield told 93.7 The Fan. “The mistakes that are bad, Evgeni Malkin had the goal (Tuesday), but his line was on for multiple goals. That’s not Mike Sullivan’s fault.”
Caufield acknowledges that at times coach’s messages get stale. That change is good just for change sake. He doesn’t think this is the case.
“If the message isn’t getting through to some players, than the players should move on,” Caufield said on the Cook and Joe Show. “I would not pin this on Mike Sullivan. It’s the product on the ice that didn’t get the job done.”
The run is over, how long until a return to the postseason.