PITTSBURGH — Dominik Hasek wasn’t in net for the Senators Monday evening, but he may as well have been.
The Penguins failed to figure out journeyman netminder Dylan Ferguson, who was making his first career NHL start, for 55 minutes of play. Rickard Rakell finally solved Ferguson’s riddle on the Penguins’ last 48 shots with five minutes to go in the third period, scoring a shutout-ceasing goal that tied the game at one. But rather than lead to a comeback win, Rakell’s goal only prolonged the inevitable.
The Senators’ Drake Batherson scored a late power-play goal to send the Penguins to a 2-1 defeat at PPG Paints Arena. The loss was the Penguins’ fourth in a row for a team that is struggling to stay in the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture.
The home squad spent much of the first period trying to solve the riddle that was Ferguson, putting 19 shots on the goaltender who was thrust into action due to a rash of injuries to Senators netminders. Both Cam Talbot, Ottawa’s usual starter, and backup Anton Forsberg were unavailable, which prompted the team to sign Ferguson to an NHL contract just under three weeks ago.
Ferguson did his best Patrick Roy impression, turning away a number of high-percentage Penguins looks en route to a shutout opening frame.
In the midst of the Penguins’ onslaught, the Senators struck first when Thomas Chabot snuck the biscuit around Tristan Jarry. Chad Ruhwedel appeared to get in Jarry’s line of sight, allowing Chabot to put the visitors up a goal late in the first.
The Penguins’ emphasis on firing away continued in the middle frame, and with plenty of offensive zone time. During an elongated stretch of hockey in the Senators’ end, defenseman Artem Zub was forced to stay on the ice for a shift of 4:36 of game time as the Senators failed to get a clear for what seemed longer than an eternity.
No matter, though; despite putting another 12 shots on Ferguson, the Penguins were held scoreless after 40 minutes of play, setting the stage for a third period with some surprisingly high stakes against a team with the 12th-most points in the Eastern Conference.
It took another 15 minutes of agonizing play for the Penguins to get on the board courtesy of Rakell. A late Chad Ruhwedel hooking penalty just a couple of minutes later, though, presented the Senators’ with their golden power-play opportunity that Batherson produced the game-winner on.
ICE CHIPS
— Taylor Fedun skated in his first career game as a Penguin and 128th in the NHL. The 34-year-old right-shot defenseman has now played for six different NHL franchises. Fedun partnered with fellow right-shot Mark Friedman, who played on his weak side for the pairing. Both are emergency recalls from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
— Danton Heinen drew back into the starting lineup after a two-game absence as a healthy scratch, replacing Alex Nylander. Heinen skated at left wing for the third line. Nylander was a healthy scratch for his first time as a Penguin. He has played in the team’s last six games.
— Ryan Poehling centered the third line while Mikael Granlund slid over to right wing. Granlund was the third unit’s center for the past six contests. Poehling was bumped up to the third line and Drew O’Connor was dropped to the fourth, where he skated at left wing.
— Bryan Rust has yet to score a goal in the month of March. He last lit the lamp Feb. 28 against Nashville. Rust had his most shots in a game this month (six), generating and misfiring on a couple of good scoring chances.
STAT N’AT
47— Ferguson made 47 saves in his first career start. He had only gotten time in net one other time, back in 2017 in a relief appearance for the Vegas Golden Knights.
COMING UP
The Penguins will practice Tuesday afternoon, but in Denver rather than Cranberry. The team will workout at Ball Arena, home of the Colorado Avalanche. The two sides will square off Wednesday night in the Mile High City.
