The Penguins' NHL club couldn't manage to make the playoffs this season. Their farm teams made the playoffs - but both are in danger of being swept.
The Wheeling Nailers, the "Double-A" affiliate of the Penguins in the ECHL, find themselves down 3-0 in the First Round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs to the Norfolk Admirals.
The Nailers, like the WBS Penguins, are enjoying their best season in almost a decade. Their 38-28-4-1 record (81 points) notched them a 3rd place finish and their most productive regular season since 2015-16.
They did a lot of their best work on the back of Sergei Murashov, the budding goaltender and Penguins top prospect. However, Murashov has been part of the problem for the Nailers' dire circumstances.
Down 3-0 and that might be merciful
Not only are the Nailers down 3-0 in the series, but it took them until the second period of Game 3 to score their first goal of the series. No bueno.
On top of their inability to score, Murashov hasn't done them any favors between the pipes. In all three games, his save percentage has been south of .900, which is the benchmark for good goaltending. Double no bueno.
When you're not scoring, it's easy to place blame on the goaltender, but goals cause momentum, and Murashov has not mitigated the swings in momentum enough.
Murashov had such an incredible - and historic - regular season, but it's slightly concerning that he hasn't looked the same when the lights come on in the playoffs.
Historically accurate
The Nailers have never enjoyed much of any postseason success in their history, but that's not excusing them from being competitive.
The likes of Murashov and 2024 Penguins draft pick Finn Harding are names you'd like to see take charge. While Wheeling is, in theory, a long way from Pittsburgh, the organization would like to see positive growth in their minor league affiliates sooner than later.
The Penguins have parched their ECHL and AHL affiliates for a long time now with their lack of early round draft picks. With the most picks in the NHL for the next three years, we can hope to see the Baby Penguins and youthful prospects start to have more success as a unit.
Ideally, that success will begin to make its way to the NHL club, especially with the dusk of many legendary careers approaching swiftly.
I don't expect Wheeling to complete the reverse sweep, but it's no less disappointing to see them go out like this. Would love to see some silver linings come out of this series one way or another.