With power play sputtering, Penguins blanked by Rangers

The Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Their malfunctioning power play is not at the top of that list.

Their chronic struggles with the man advantage sunk their hopes in a 1-0 home loss to the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday.

Going 0 for 5 with the power play, the Penguins were stymied by a stout Rangers defense that blocked 24 shots and a spry 37-year-old goaltender in Jonathan Quick, who made 35 saves in the shutout.

The Penguins were limited to five shots on 8:47 of power-play time during the contest.

“Obviously, not going the way we want,” Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “At least today, we got ourselves some opportunities. Couldn’t find a way to break them down. There’s various reasons for that. But we’re going to keep pounding at it. We’ve got everything that we need. Now, we’ve just got to find a way to make it all work and execute a lot better. And managing the puck a lot better when we have one more guy on the ice than they do on the ice.”

This isn’t a new problem either.

Over their past eight games, the Penguins have one goal on 20 power-play chances.

For the season, the Penguins are 7 for 51, equating to a conversion percentage of 13.7 which is 26th in the 32-team NHL.

“We’re trying to pass it into the net sometimes,” Penguins forward Jake Guentzel said. “That’s not the way to have success. You’ve got to make the right play. You’ve got to move the puck fast and move the puck hard. We’re just not being simple right now and trying too much.”

Matters weren’t helped Wednesday by injury woes either.

The right side of their forward depth has been cratered by undisclosed injuries to top-six wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell (to say nothing of waylaid third-pairing defensemen P.O Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel).

As a result, the Penguins were forced to deploy a patchwork assembly of lines Wednesday.

Drew O’Connor, typically a third liner, opened the contest on the top line while reserve Alex Nylander, recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Tuesday, was stationed on the second line. Vinnie Hinostroza was promoted from the fourth to the third line.

“We believe we have depth throughout our organization at all the positions,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said following Wednesday’s morning skate. “We have what it takes to win regardless of who is in our lineup. That is what the expectation is.”

Wednesday’s defeat dropped the Penguins’ record against Metropolitan Division foes to 2-3-0.

A turnover by one of the incumbents in the Penguins’ lineup led to the contest’s only goal 5:08 into regulation.

Crossing his own blue line into the neutral zone in front of the home bench, Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves attempted a pass up the boards to defensive partner Kris Letang but fanned on his release, allowing the puck to be intercepted by Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad. From the center red line, Zibanejad fed a forehand pass that sprung forward Alexis Lafreniere on a breakaway. Upon arrival at the net, Lafreniere deked to his backhand and elevated the puck over goaltender Tristan Jarry’s glove for his eighth goal of the season. Zibanejad had the only assist.

A would-be goal by Nylander at 15:30 of the first period was nullified when the Rangers issued a coach’s challenge, citing the sequence as being offside. A brief video review confirmed those suspicions and kept the Rangers in front.

After that, the Rangers were largely committed to blocking seemingly any puck that came off the stick of a Penguins’ player.

“You’ve got to get the puck there,” Karlsson said. “That’s one of the things we haven’t done a good enough job at. Getting guys in there and getting pucks down there. They did a good job today. They (had) some really good blocks where they’re sticking out feet. It’s hard to read. You think you have a lane and then you don’t.

“That’s definitely one of the things that if you don’t get the puck down there (and) you don’t get quality scoring looks, then it’s hard to score goals in this league.”

Jarry stopped 35 of the 36 shots he faced as his record tumbled to 6-8-0.

A goal on the power play – or in any other scenario – might have altered the outcome.

“We’re just not doing a good enough job on the power play right now,” Guentzel said. “Everyone’s just got to be a little bit better.

“Can’t win games like that. We just have to be better.”

Notes:

• The Penguins’ only power-play goal in their past eight games came during a 4-0 home win against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 11. In that contest, Karlsson was credited with a power-play goal after he forced a pass to forward Sidney Crosby but Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson inadvertently redirected the puck into his own net.

• The Rangers recorded their first shutout against the Penguins since … their last game against the Penguins. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves and directed the Rangers to a 6-0 home win on March 18.

• Penguins rookie defenseman John Ludvig rejoined the lineup after missing 11 games due to a concussion. He was activated from long-term injured reserve Wednesday afternoon and opened the contest on the third pairing.

On 15 shifts, Ludvig logged 9:21 of ice time, blocked one shot and recorded two penalty minutes. He also provided some of the limited excitement offered by the home team when he slammed Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko into the boards with a big hit at 4:53 of the third period.

• Shortly before the game, the Penguins assigned reserve forward Jansen Harkins to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He was recalled to the NHL roster one day earlier.

• The Penguins’ scratches were Harkins, Rust and defenseman Dmitry Samorukov. One day earlier, the team signed Samorukov to a one-year, two-way NHL contract.

• The Penguins enjoyed their fourth sellout of the season on Wednesday (18,250).

Their previous sellouts this season:

Nov. 16 - New Jersey Devils (18,321)

Nov. 11 - Buffalo Sabres (18,429)

Oct. 10 - Chicago Blackhawks (18,411)

Seating capacity at PPG Paints Arena for hockey is 18,187

• Entering the day, Rakell, who is currently designated to long-term injured reserve, was the team’s “ironman” with consecutive games played streak of 117. Forward Sidney Crosby assumed that mantle with 104 consecutive games.