There is no doubt that the Pittsburgh Penguins have what it takes to be a good hockey team when it comes to offense.
As of this writing (Tuesday night, March 4th), the Penguins are 15th in the league in goals scored with 182 goals in 63 games. That means that the team is close (2.89) to averaging three goals per game thanks to the likes of Sidney Crosby (19 goals), Rickard Rakell (28 goals), Bryan Rust (21 goals), Michael Bunting (14 goals), Anthony Beauvillier (13 goals), and Evgeni Malkin (12 goals).
Putting the puck in the net is not the problem. It is keeping the puck out of their net that has the Penguins eight points out of a Stanley Cup playoff spot in the Eastern Conference (as of Tuesday night, March 4th). The Penguins have allowed the second-most goals in the league this season as they have given up 228 goals in 63 games, which means they are allowing close (3.62 goals against per game) to four goals per game.
Yes, the team’s defense has struggled mightily this season. They have had trouble clearing pucks out of their zone, making smart decisions with the puck, and paying attention to all the little details that help a team play smart on the other side of the puck.
With that said, it is the team’s goaltending that is the crux of this issue. Every goaltender that has played for the Penguins this season simply has not been good enough consistently to give the Penguins what they need to win hockey teams and be considered a playoff hockey club.
The team’s poor goaltending started with Tristan Jarry. In 22 games, Jarry was 8-8-0-4 with a 3.31 goals-against average and .886 save percentage before being placed on waivers and sent down to the American Hockey League to play with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
In those 22 games, Jarry allowed a lot of soft goals, did not come up with the big save when his team needed one, and looked like a goaltender who did not have a lot of confidence in himself. Jarry may get a chance to show that he can go back to being an above-average goaltender after being recalled by the Penguins on Tuesday, March 4th.
With Jarry coming back up, the Penguins sent goaltender Joel Blomqvist back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. While with the Penguins, Blomqvist was 4-9-0-1 with a 3.81 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage.
Before being sent back down, Blomqvist looked overmatched against NHL shooters. He was not challenging shooters, was not covering up enough of the net, and was being beaten on shots that most NHL goaltenders would stop.
That brings us to goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Nedeljkovic is currently (as of Tuesday night, March 4th) 12-12-0-5 with a 3.18 goals-against average, a .892 save percentage, and one shutout.
While Nedeljkovic has not been terrible, considering the team and defense he plays behind, he has yet to provide the kind of goaltending that the Penguins need to be in the playoff conversation. Like the other two netminders in this article, he allows soft goals, has had trouble coming up with the big save when his team needs one, and has not been nearly consistent enough to put the Penguins on the winning track.
While it is clear that the Penguins need to play better hockey in front of their goaltenders, it is also apparent that their goaltending needs to be addressed. This team is on the verge of missing out on the postseason for the third straight season, and a lot of that has to do with the play of their goaltenders.
If the Penguins do not find a way to improve their goaltending situation, they could be in trouble for years to come.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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