Vincent Lecavalier #40 of the Philadelphia Flyers moves the puck past the defense of Evgeni Malkin #71 and Joe Vitale #46 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 16, 2014 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images)
If you feel like there’s no excuse for losing two straight games to the hated Flyers, stop reading.
This past weekend’s home-and-home felt big a week ago. But injuries to wingers Chris Kunitz and James Neal nullified that from the Penguins’ standpoint. The Flyers got tremendous momentum and four much-needed points. The Flyers will make the playoffs on the back of what happened Saturday and Sunday.
But the Penguins played without their three best wingers and without two of their three best defensemen. That negates the result somewhat.
It doesn’t negate dumb penalties and lack of discipline. It doesn’t negate Flyers forwards getting behind Penguins defensemen time after time. It doesn’t negate the Penguins getting flustered for the weekend’s first four periods. It doesn’t negate the Flyers dominating the offensive slot. It doesn’t negate the Penguins’ inability to deal with the Flyers’ power play.
If the Penguins meet the Flyers in a playoff series, you’d be scared to death. And should be.
But the Penguins still lead the Metropolitan Division by 15 points.
Now, given their injuries, the Penguins have cause to explore a Plan B.
For the immediate future, the Penguins should play a trap. Keep games tight. Attack on the counter and maximize results on their power play, the NHL's best. Win games 2-1.
This concept rings true because, first and foremost, it’s necessary. To be high-octane, you need octane. The Penguins currently lack. Centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are playing with wings they simply can’t elevate.
It’s also a good idea because the Penguins need a Plan B. A Plan B is worth exploring even if a sudden epidemic of health strikes the dressing room.
When the Penguins hired Jacques Martin as an assistant coach, he was supposed to teach/provide different tactical options. He hasn’t. Except for a couple weeks mid-season when they used a left-wing lock, the Penguins’ primary (read: only) strategy has been (drum roll) GET TO OUR GAME.
Right now, the Penguins can’t. Given their injuries, “our game” seems a more unreachable destination than Antarctica.
No tactical move is permanent. At least, none should be. In a best-of-seven series, none can be. The Penguins had no Plan B vs. Boston in last year’s Eastern Conference final. Develop one now, even if it’s merely a trap.
Don’t blame this past weekend’s losses on coaching, though. Blame injuries. Credit the Flyers for playing good hockey and displaying their unique understanding of the Penguins’ psyche and how to undo it.
But Dan Bylsma, the Penguins' coach, did err terribly on a few occasions yesterday.
The Penguins had cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 and got a power play at 10:36 of the second period. Deryk Engelland, of all people, played on the Penguins’ second power-play unit and made an error that led to a short-handed goal for Philadelphia and made it 4-2. Penguins lose, 4-3.
I bet Engelland wasn’t on the PP when he played in the ECHL. Who’s a better option? Anybody.
With 54 seconds left in the second period, the Flyers committed an icing infraction and were forced to leave a tired line on the ice. Bylsma used Crosby, Lee Stempniak and Jayson Megna. Not Malkin. Megna. With a between-periods intermission coming up, Malkin has to be out there.
Bylsma has to get over the notion that, given effort and opportunity, anybody can do anything. They can’t. Talent tells.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
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