CALGARY, Alberta – The big boys of Alberta were quite rude to the Penguins.
The Penguins over the last decade have typically fared well on their annual swing through Western Canada. But this year, they got it handed to them by the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
On Tuesday night, they lost the second half of their Alberta back-to-back to the Flames, who jumped on the Penguins early and cruised to a 4-1 victory at Scotiabank Saddledome. Nazem Kadri led the way for the Flames with a three-point effort.
It was a night to remember for Sam Poulin with some good, some bad in his NHL debut. Pittsburgh’s top forward prospect, forced into the lineup by a few injuries, earned an assist in his first game but also had a hand in two Calgary goals.
He was a factor in Pittsburgh’s second straight loss, but hardly the primary one.
The Penguins had a hard time handling the Flames’ physicality and forechecking prowess. Poor puck management was a problem again. And backup goalie Casey DeSmith was far from sharp playing behind a tired-looking Penguins team.
They arrived in Calgary with one of the NHL’s best records. But beating the Flames was a big ask after the Penguins spent much of Monday night chasing around Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers in a frustrating 6-3 loss in Edmonton. Meanwhile, this stacked Flames squad had been idle since Saturday, fresh and ready to go.
The Penguins picked up where they left off the previous night. Not great, Bob.
The Flames outshot them, 20-6, during the first period and Kadri scored twice.
On his first goal, the Penguins lost track of him in the slot. Andrew Mangiapane hit him with a centering pass and Kadri flicked a shot up into the top left corner.
Three and a half minutes later, Kadri netted another. Poulin tried to make a play but turned over the puck at the Calgary blue line, sending Kadri off to the races. Jeff Petry dared him to shoot. He did, beating DeSmith over his blocker again.
Jacob Markstrom, the big Flames goalie, might as well have strung up a hammock in his crease during that period. Evgeni Malkin’s late shot off the post would have woken him up before the Zambonis rolled out to resurface the slippery stuff.
At that point, the Penguins had allowed an eye-popping 58 shots on goal over their last three periods, mustering just 22 of their own. They were out-scored, 7-1.
Early in the second, Jonathan Huberdeau increased the Calgary lead to three just five seconds after Poulin took a needless slashing penalty in the offensive zone.
The Penguins scored a power-play goal of their own less than two minutes later. Malkin buried a rebound. Poulin picked up his first NHL assist on that play.
But Michael Stone put the Flames up, 4-1, later in the period. DeSmith was unable to glove down a dump-in, and a moment later Stone scored from the point.
The Penguins were better in the final two periods, even if it wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard. But that will come as little solace after another lopsided defeat.
ICE CHIPS
-- Jason Zucker sat out Tuesday’s game in Calgary, clearing the way for Poulin to make his NHL debut. Zucker was injured in Monday’s loss up in Edmonton. The veteran winger was cross-checked in the midsection in the third period. Coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday that Zucker’s status is considered day to day.
-- Jake Guentzel missed his third consecutive game due to an injury to his ear.
-- With both Guentzel and Zucker out, Sullivan put his lineup into the blender before Tuesday’s game. Bryan Rust was promoted to the first line, trading places with Danton Heinen. Jeff Carter skated as Malkin’s right winger. On the blue line, Chad Ruhwedel got the nod over Pierre-Olivier Joseph, skating on the third pair.
-- The Penguins got worked in the faceoff circle, winning just 23 of 64 draws.
-- Through seven games, the Penguins have scored seven power-play goals.
STAT N’AT
16 – total goals given up by the Penguins in their first four road games. Meanwhile, they allowed just five in three games, all wins, played at PPG Paints Arena.
COMING UP
The Penguins will get Wednesday off in Vancouver, which is an awesome place to spend an off day. They are scheduled to practice there Thursday then play the Canucks on Friday, the penultimate game of this nine-day, five-city road trip.
