The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to 3-3 on the season after a Friday loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
This game was the polar opposite of Wednesday night's game where records were broken and the team mounted a come-from-behind effort to win in overtime.
Final from Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/ZD5wk55gsj
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 19, 2024
Carolina had the Penguins number from the puck drop. With the Hurricanes fast play, excellent puck movement, and aggressive pursuit, the Penguins were on their heels from the getgo. The Penguins scored first to have a fleeting 1-0 lead that lasted less than 70 seconds.
What went wrong?
The Penguins could not become the aggressor. Carolina scored on power plays and was stingy, allowing no goals, when down a man on five Penguins' power plays. Carolina is a physical team that got the better of the Penguins in those close-contact situations.
It all left a subdued tone on PPG Paints Arena on Friday night for a team and fanbase eager to get its third straight win.
Joel Blomqvist played an excellent game at goalie, defending many shots. The only minor flaw in Carolina's game was the amount of shots that hit the outside of the net which helped Blomqvist's cause slightly, but he still made some superhuman saves with his body and his hands.
What happens next?
It is time to regroup for the west coast Canadian swing coming up next week. Beginning Sunday, the Penguins travel to Winnipeg and play four games in seven days against the Jets, Flames, Oilers, and Canucks.
Despite possessing a .500 record, the Penguins have not played a consistently high level or brand of hockey in this young season. The three wins were all come from behind victories.
Even with the third line being more prolific this season and Blomqvist doing an admirable job at goal, the Penguins cannot get the puck in the net during power plays, a problem that plagued them last season.
Conclusion
Once again, the Carolina Hurricanes show they are the real deal and are playing a brand of hockey that makes the Penguins uncomfortable. It is not surprising that they have been a repeat playoff contender.
The Penguins need to figure out how to play aggressively against the Hurricanes before their next meeting in Carolina on November 7.
The Penguins remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division behind the 5-2 Deveils and the 3-0-1 Rangers.