The Pittsburgh Penguins did it once more. They managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory by blowing yet one more third-period lead, and this one may need been the worst but. Not solely was it the worst one they’ve had this season, however it reached a traditionally dangerous stage.
Penguins let a 5-1 lead slip away in opposition to San Jose Sharks
Defending third-period leads and enjoying good situational hockey have been season-long issues for the Penguins.
Their 6-5 extra time loss on Saturday, which got here after they’d constructed up a 5-1 lead within the third interval, was already their fifth lack of the season when main after two intervals, a staggeringly excessive quantity to attain in only a third of a season. That additionally doesn’t embrace video games the place they have been tied after two intervals, took the lead within the third interval, and nonetheless misplaced.
Saturday’s recreation was the third blown lead of the week, following a 3-2 extra time loss to the Dallas Stars final Sunday, the place they allowed a game-tying aim within the remaining minute earlier than dropping in extra time, and then an even more incomprehensible loss on Tuesday to the Anaheim Ducks, the place they allowed a game-tying aim with 0.1 seconds to play.
Together with the 2 targets they allowed late within the third interval on Saturday, they’ve allowed 4 targets of their previous 4 video games when opponents have pulled their goalie.
It simply looks as if a fragile, damaged crew that crumbles on the first signal of adversity.
What makes Saturday’s loss much more beautiful is that their lead was 5-1 with lower than 14 minutes to play in regulation. It was the fifth-latest four-goal comeback (or blown lead from the Penguins’ perspective) in NHL historical past.
