A day after the worst performance of the season, the Penguins traveled to Long Island to play one of their biggest games yet. The effort level was significantly better. The overall performance was significantly better than the night before too. Hell, the Penguins thoroughly outplayed the Islanders last night. Yet the Penguins ended up losing in overtime. The Islanders are the kryptonite that weakens the powers of the NHL’s Superman, the Pittsburgh Penguins. It has happened so many times, most notably in 1993. Last night was another prime example because in no world should the Islanders be able to skate with, let alone win against, Pittsburgh. Outside of Schaefer and Sorokin, I find the Islanders to be a bad hockey team. Clearly, the standings say otherwise but I will hold strong to that opinion. The path to victory for New York was catching Skinner on an off night, a bad screen by Solovyov, and a putrid overtime shot attempt by Kulak. Those three were all players acquired by Dubas during this season and have each individually played good hockey for the past month, last night not so much.

The game tying goal simply cannot go in the net; Skinner knows that and acknowledged it after the game.

I cannot even begin to explain why Brett Kulak was shooting the puck in overtime. Unless he is on a breakaway or receiving a pass that would essentially set up a tap-in, he should never be shooting the puck in OT. The shot was not in a high-quality area. He had no clear passing lanes. Just regroup the puck, it’s really that simple. Kulak has to know that he is only on the ice in that situation due to a Letang injury, he isn’t out there to provide offense.

You just cannot make that play in that situation as the lone man back. I was screaming “NO” at the TV as soon as I saw him load up the wrister.

Additionally, Solovyov provided a great net-front screen on his own goaltender which evened the game up at three. There was really no reason for Solovyov to be standing where he was, as there was no one to tie up. These slight mistakes can make a large impact. Outside of this error, I think Solovyov has been a perfectly fine 6/7 defender so no real animosity for this one.

Bad night for a lot of players that Dubas added to this roster. Luckily, it was an equally good night for players Dubas has added. Mantha, Chinakhov, and Brazeau all scored.

First, I think Chinakhov is a better goal scorer than Ovechkin, Columbus is just too poor of an organization to realize that fact. Every single time he has the puck on his stick I truly believe it is going into the net. His shot is actually orgasmic to a hockey nerd. Chinakhov also had a three on one with the puck on his stick, he passed. If I am Dan Muse I am telling Egor that under no circumstances, is he ever allowed to pass in such a situation again. His goal was a prime example as to why he should be banned from passing on odd-man breaks. I may write it in every blog, but what a shot.

Mantha scored his 20th(!) of the season. What an add by Dubas in the offseason. The goal was a product of a beautiful pass by Big Braz. Reuniting those two was the correct decision and they shouldn’t be separated for the rest of the season.

Speaking of Brazeau, I was on board with giving him last night’s game off. He has not been nearly as effective at the beginning of the season and not just because the goals have stopped pouring into the net. I thought McGroarty played really well during Rust’s suspension and probably deserved another game, Rutger is also a much better option to play with Sid if someone were to go down during a game. Dan Muse has the Midas touch though. He left Braz in the lineup, and it paid off.

As mentioned above, Rust returned to the lineup. He promptly scored. His return also coincided with Sid looking significantly better than he has in the past week, that is not a coincidence.

Speaking of Sid, what in the actual fuck were the broadcasters talking about last night? Sid got butt-ended off a faceoff in the midsection. The broadcast went on and on about how it was incidental contact and definitely not a penalty. Ed Olyczyk played in the league, and coached Sid, he has to know for a fact that no one gets butt-ended on accident. It was absolute bullshit commentary, and it was blasphemous that a penalty wasn’t called. As a sidenote, every time Sid is down on the ice my soul leaves my body. It’s happened a few times in the past couple of games and if it continues to happen, I am very worried that I may have a heart attack.

At the end of the day, the Penguins played a really good game. I, and they, believe they did enough to win. Superman has found ways to overcome kryptonite before; I believe the Penguins will find a way to overcome their version of kryptonite, the Islanders, if they meet in the playoffs. They are not only a better team, but the team everyone wants to see.