Resilience has its limits in Pittsburgh.
Updated yesterday at 11:08 p.m.
Without captain Sidney Crosby, concussed, without the partner of defenseman Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, without his first two goaltenders, Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, the Penguins could not finish the New York Rangers on Friday night.
Leading three games to two, and 2-0 in the first period, the Penguins fought hard against the Blue Shirts, and Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue held the fort as best he could under the circumstances, but he escaped a shot from Chris Kreider’s routine with 1:28 to go in the third and New York prevailed 5-3 in the end and prompted a seventh game in Manhattan.
Even though Penguins fans have grown attached to him, there are limits to what Domingo can do. The 30-year-old goaltender has changed organizations seven times since 2019, after all he hasn’t been able to hold on to the NHL in recent seasons.
As if there weren’t enough tiles on the head of the Penguins, their center Brian Boyle, injured in practice this week, couldn’t finish the game, and Evgeni Malkin appeared to be hampered by injury after a collision in third.
Rangers’ two most important forwards after Artemi Panarin, Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, have finally exploded with two goals each after five less than sparkling games. Zibanejad also took advantage of Domingue’s generosity by scoring twice with shots from the point. He also got two assists.
“Playoffs can say a lot about an athlete, his strength of character,” Kreider told the media after the game. (Mika) was phenomenal. It was our driving force and we knew it was going to produce. »
Kreider, a great accomplice of Zibanejad, even allowed himself at a certain point in the match to destroy an electronic tablet by throwing it against the wall behind the bench when his teammate was about to review a game.
“He was watching his escape and questioning himself. I didn’t like it…”
Pittsburgh, however, seemed in control of the game at the start of the second, until an unnecessary punishment from Evan Rodrigues in offensive territory. Rodrigues had just been hit from behind with impunity, it is true, but he chose to do himself justice by serving a cross-check to his attacker. It was enough for the Rangers to wake up with the first of the match of Zibanejad in numerical superiority.
“He can’t fight back, he just can’t,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said after the game. He must keep control of his emotions. It’s necessary to win games at this time of year. I would have liked us to stay ahead. We were well placed. We were playing well. Their manpower goal turned the tide. »
Chased twice in previous games, beaten twice in the first period, the Hart Trophy finalist awarded to the most valuable player, goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin, recovered well, and he even allowed himself a long and superb pass on Zibanejad’s second goal, from his semi-circle to the opposing blue line.
He kept his composure despite the panic of his teammates in the defensive zone and the chants of Penguins fans, who chanted his first name.
“Nothing changed, we had to go back to New York for the seventh game,” the 26-year-old Russian goalkeeper told reporters after the game. I was thinking of the puck only. I had to forget games three and four. Win or lose, it takes four wins to advance. The coach continued to believe in me and I thank him for that. »
Will there be enough gas left in the Penguins’ tank for the ultimate game and above all, will Sidney Crosby and goalkeeper Tristan Jarry be able to make a comeback?