Falling behind has an upside
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Lightning goalie Mathieu Garon makes a save against the Penguins' Chris Kunitz Sunday at Consol Energy Center. -
Evgeni Malkin scores against Lightning goalie Mathieu Garon in the second period Sunday night at Consol Energy Center. The Penguins won, 4-2, behind Malkin's two goals. -
Jordan Staal, in his second game back from injury, battles for the puck against the Lightning's Victor Hedman. Staal played nearly 20 minutes Sunday night.
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The Penguins have spotted the visiting team a 2-0 lead in three consecutive games, so it is clear that something drastic is in order.
OK, maybe nothing really radical. Like, say, actually scoring first.
Hey, no need to get crazy about it.
No, perhaps the Penguins simply should approach the league to see if the visitors can be given a 2-0 advantage before the opening faceoff, just to save them the time and trouble of falling behind on their own.
- 1. Kris Letang, Penguins D: 1 goal, 2 assists
- 2. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins C: 2 goals
- 3. Chris Kunitz, Penguins LW: 1 goal, 2 assists
That would be unconventional, to be sure, but so is winning three consecutive home games -- including a 4-2 victory against Tampa Bay Sunday night -- in which the opponent went ahead, 2-0.
And while all concerned insist the coaching staff hasn't made giving visitors two goals an integral part of its home-ice game plan, it probably wouldn't be hard to make a case for doing it.
"That's not how we draw it up," defenseman Matt Niskanen said, chuckling. "A good response, I guess, but we'd better take care of that problem, because we're not going to get away with that forever."
Maybe not, but they have gotten away with it long enough to win six games in a row at Consol Energy Center. They've raised their record to 32-19-5 and have 69 points, hoisting them alongside Philadelphia for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
The run of comebacks from two-goal deficits here dates to Jan. 31, when Toronto took a 2-0 lead in what became a 5-4 shootout loss for the Maple Leafs. Winnipeg then got the first two goals of the game Saturday, only to allow eight of the 11 that followed.
Tampa Bay didn't see much reason to stray from that approach, and put two on the board in an 11-second span midway through the opening period Sunday.
Lightning winger Steve Downie put a shot through Penguins goalie Brent Johnson from the top of the left circle at 9:58, then directed a Teddy Purcell pass by Johnson at 10:09.
Being down two, though, was nothing new to the Penguins. Certainly no reason to panic.
Of course, retaining composure and confidence has to be a lot easier when you can send the NHL's premier offensive force, Evgeni Malkin, over the boards at any time.
"He's playing some dominating hockey," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "He's been fantastic."
First Published February 13, 2012 12:00 am
