Halloween is one of the best holidays we have. You get together with groups of friends, sometimes ones you haven’t been with in a while (Ben Kindel, Evgeni Malkin, Yegor Chinakhov, Samuel Girard back in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup), and put on some new costumes (new Chinakhov-Kindel-Malkin line). Then together, you seek out candy, ultimately in search of the ultimate, the elusive full-size candy bars (Kindel’s goal with 22 seconds left). You covered your entire neighborhood and then some (played well for most of the game).
Yet despite doing all these things successfully, you come home and open up your full pillowcase of candy, and the rest of it is tootsie rolls (Cooley and Sergachev’s goals).
It was a horrific end to the game on what should have been a celebratory occasion.
Scary bad decisions
Dan Muse had a wildly successful first season behind the Penguins bench. It was a much-needed change of pace after Mike Sullivan’s long tenure. This year hasn’t been good. I find that he consistently gets in-game choices wrong, and last night it culminated, once again, in a late third-period blunder.
Last night, after Kindel’s exciting would be game winning goal the Utah Mammoth called timeout with 22 seconds left. Muse could have chosen anybody to go on the ice. Everybody was well rested. What he went with left a lot to be desired. He chose the fourth line (Robertson-Lizotte-Dewar) and a defensive pairing (Carlile-Korczak) who played all of a 1:25 together last night. Carlile has been struggling mightily as of late.
It backfired spectacularly.
In the three late-game meltdowns, Blake Lizotte and Declan Carlile were on the ice for both the Dallas and Utah games. Connor Dewar was on the ice for all three situations.
Start playing better players.
Spectacular goaltending
Arturs Silovs started for the Penguins in what was his fourth consecutive start, a career high. He was spectacular. He made save after save after save. Silovs bought his team more than enough time to put the game away. It was good enough. Kindel’s goal should always be a game winner.
Here’s some of his work
It is really frustrating to waste this kind of goaltending effort. It isn’t reasonable to expect Silovs to play at this level on a nightly basis, and he won’t. This isn’t a dig, it is reality. How many goalies can?
Sergei Murashov hasn’t played since the 17th of October when he gave up five goals to Vegas. I want him to get back in the net soon, but I don’t think a Saturday night at the Bell Centre on Halloween night is that spot. I don’t really want to see him turn into a pumpkin. However, the next game on the following Tuesday is once again against Vegas.
It will be interesting to see how many starts in a row Silovs will be getting. There isn’t a back-to-back situation until November 21st and 22nd.
Penguins broadcast feels off
Overall, I think the Penguins broadcast is much improved from a few years ago. I think Josh Getzoff does a really nice job calling the games. I also think the color commentator rotation (Phil Bourque and Colby Armstrong) complements Josh well.
However, the changes they have made to my favorite Penguins broadcast personality aren’t sitting right with me. I love the job Dan Potash has done over the years. His humor and authentic relationship with the players over the years have been tremendous. He has always owned his role and nailed it.
Recently, Potash signed a contract extension to stay with Sportsnet Pittsburgh, which is great. Unfortunately, it appears his role is going to have him predominantly seated at the desk. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good in this role, but it doesn’t feel right. He feels more distant from the team, and it doesn’t lean into his #1 gift, his people skills.
I had nothing against Hailey Hunter, nor do I have anything against Katie Florio. I just think Dan Potash is the perfect person for the job and gets the most out of his interactions with everyone at ice level.
His absence at ice level was incredibly jarring last night. It was Halloween. These were the nights when he cranked the dial to 1,000 and leaned into personality. His costumes were always terrific, and a lot of effort went into the presentation.
We didn’t get that last night. He was in a suit and tie. It felt wrong. I will go so far as to say that, by not having Potash in full costume, the vibes were off, and if he was dressed up, the Mammoth’s tying goal would have never happened.
Get Potash back at ice level!
