The Pittsburgh Penguins just dropped a game they probably should’ve won against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, and let’s be real, it’s tough to swallow. The Birds weren’t exactly playing clean or crisp, yeah, but the fact is they controlled enough of that game at 5-on-5 that they absolutely deserved two points. So why didn’t they get them? Simple: they just didn’t get enough saves.
Murashov’s Rollercoaster Ride Is Costing Points
Sergei Murashov, man. What a swing. Just last Friday in Columbus, he was basically a brick wall, stealing the Penguins a crucial point against the Blue Jackets. Fast forward to Tuesday against Chicago? He flipped the script hard, probably costing them at least one point, maybe more. The team in front of him wasn’t perfect, no doubt about it. They were sloppy, their puck management and support were off at times, and they didn’t finish enough opportunities. But were they “four goals against” bad, excluding the empty netter? Nah, not even close. Public data backs this up too; Chicago just didn’t generate that many high-danger chances.
And then there’s the fourth goal, an absolute gut punch that came in the final five minutes. The Penguins had just battled back from a two-goal hole, showing some real grit. Then that one slides in. You cannot, CANNOT, let a shot like that go in, not from that spot, not from that angle, not in that moment. Or any moment, frankly. Historically, shots from that position just don’t go in; MoneyPuck had that one at a measly 0.01 expected goals. That’s a back-breaker, plain and simple.
“Not Entirely His Fault” Isn’t Good Enough
You hear the excuses, right? “Oh, the other three goals weren’t entirely his fault.” And sure, maybe they weren’t 100% on him. But “not entirely his fault” and “no chance to be stopped” are two totally different things, folks. Sometimes, your goalie has to make a save they’re not fully expected to make. That’s just how hockey works. The first goal? Yeah, that was just bad hockey by the Penguins in front of him. The third was a tough cross-ice pass that somehow got through, and you’d absolutely want that stopped. But the second goal? That wasn’t unstoppable. And the fourth? Absolutely not. Murashov didn’t even have to face 20 shots! The team, despite their own struggles, actually rebounded pretty well and often prevented shots or chances. The scoring chance numbers were heavily tilted in Pittsburgh’s favor, which just makes the loss even more frustrating. They weren’t great, but they should have been good enough to win given how bad the Blackhawks were too.
Where Do They Go From Here?
Look, the team has to be frustrated, and they should be. They put in the work, controlled the game, and played well enough to snatch a win on the road. But when your goalie swings from hero to goat in a matter of days, it’s hard to build any kind of consistency. Early in the season, these are the kinds of points you need to bank, especially against weaker opponents. They gotta figure out how to get reliable goaltending, because the offense and defense can only do so much when soft ones are going in. They played better than the score indicates, but moral victories don’t get you points in the standings. They need Murashov to find that Columbus form, and fast, to avoid digging themselves into an early hole.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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