Better exertion, the same result, pens dead in the U -Bahn last

Pittsburgh (93.7 of the fan) – Sunday played the pens with the efforts it took to try to stay in a playoff race. It was much better than on Saturday, but exactly the same thing is another loss. Rangers scored three points in the third period and won 5: 3 on Sunday.

It was the number 27 of the regulation (for a team that also fought for a playoff place), the worst in the Eastern Conference. Overall, it was a loss of 36, the worst in the Eastern Conference. This hockey team is now 23-36 with a target difference from -44.

“We still have to dig up,” said pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “I said to you after the game when we put this game on the ice on most nights, we will win some games, and I think so. We wore territory, zone time, opportunities, chances. You cannot always check whether the puck goes online or not what you can control is the process to give yourself the opportunity to create opportunities. “

The pens exceeded the Rangers 33-16, but four of these New York shots (the fifth was an empty network) went against the rookie Joel Blomqvist. That is seven goals in 32 shots this weekend. This is a percentage of 0.781.

“Higer day,” said Blomqvist. “I thought our team played very well. It is a difficult loss. “

“I think we are able to do better,” said Sullivan. “I don't know if it is a case in which we come from the break and we have to deal with game campaigns. I know that both Ned and Joel are better able to do. “

Sullivan is in a difficult place and would like to give the 23-year-old Blomqvist more options at NHL level. However, there is the reality of the results. He gave up 20 goals in his last 108 shots. Alex Nedeljkovic was mostly a backup in his career, but the 29-year-old was more consistent and was a rash on February 1st.

“Joel is a young goalkeeper,” said Sullivan. “He is very sporty. We are very happy about this guy, but he is a young goalkeeper and he goes through a growing process here. We have the challenge as a coaching staff to help him. “

Striker Rickard Rakell said on Saturday that the playoffs are already for the pens. They had to win about 75% of their last 25 games to have a chance. They not only start 0: 2, they also gave up 13 goals.

“Obviously we lose from the break twice in a row, that was not the plan,” said veteran Kevin Hayes. “Very different game than (Saturday). (Saturday) was not what we wanted to get on the ice, and I thought (Sunday) We played a really good game. I thought we were the better team all night. Unfortunately, hockey doesn't work sometimes. “

“We understand where we are,” said Sullivan. “We know that every game is important. All two points are important. We will stay at the moment and continue to fight. We will fight until the end. We will do everything we can to stay in the race. “

“We fought hard tonight. We didn't get the result. We have to find out where we go from here. It is not dark and dark. I think the group understands that this type of attitude does not bring us anywhere. We will have to dig in here. We will continue to fight. “

Defender Ryan Shea was a healthy scratch on Saturday and Sunday had his first goal of the season and the first NHL night with two goals. Evgeni Malkin scored the other, his 10^TH of the season.

Pens will play in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening before the Flyers play here on Thursday at 7:30 a.m.