Lightning shutout Penguins 2-0 in Ryan Whitney's return

by FrankD on Dec 24, 2008 12:57 AM EST in Game Recaps

Remember when the Tampa Bay Lightning skated into Pittsburgh with a 7-16-9 record earlier today? No one could have predicted the Lightning's goaltender Mike Smith would shut out the league's top two scorers. No one could have predicted the former Penguins Mark Recchi would tag two assists and hardly anyone could have suggested the Penguins would muster up less than 20 shots on a lackluster defense.

And yet, all of those things happened.

If this blog were run like a newspaper, something I'd like to think is NOT the case, then I probably would have led with some sort of headline like, "Lightning jolt Pens" or "Bolts shock Pens" because apparently headlines like that are cool/witty/funny. Truth be told there is nothing funny about this loss. It's downright embarassing.

The Penguins had 15 shots on goal. Let me repeat that in case your eyes hazed over seconds ago and you didn't read the previous sentence. The Penguins had 15 shots on goal. To make matters worse, eight of those 15 came in the first period. The remaining two resulted in three and four, respectively.

Shutouts sting regardless of who delivered the blow. Shutouts on home ice sting twice as much. Yet when you factor in those two items with a team that has yet to win 10 games, it's just painful.

That about sums it up. Tonight's game was painful. It was painful to watch (albeit on DVR - much to my appreciation), painful to hear about and right now it's painful to write about.

Let me just say, I am not seeing a playoff team right now. This is not the play I expect from a team that has hopes of making the playoffs. Seriously? 2-0 to the Lightning?

And here we all were thinking Ryan Whitney's return would spark some sort of resurgence in the power play (0-for-3 by the way). So much for that.

Merry frickin Christmas.

The good: The good? Seriously?

The bad: Where does one begin?

The ugly: The shots on goal. You have to be kidding me.

Next game: Friday. Devils. 7:00.

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Did I miss something

or is Letang really the worst defensemen that we have that isn’t hurt… I’m curious as to why he was the one sitting in Whitney’s return.

That also brings another question… when Gonchar and Gill return… who is going to be left out? The Pens are stuck with a ton of good d-man… I have a feeling that at least one of them will get traded.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Dec 24, 2008 2:11 AM EST reply actions

Letang has been playing pretty poorly lately, but I think he was sitting last night because he took a shot off the foot against Buffalo and limped off the ice.

I’m with ya in the trade talk thing. If Sydor were still around he’d be a definite trade, but at this point I’m going to take a shot and say the Pens may be interested in dishing a guy like Scuderi. I think the bad thing about Goligoski or Letang is that they’d have to clear waivers before going back to an assignment in WBS. Don’t hold me to that, but I think that’s how it would work. If that is true then the Pens would likely lose either one to a team in need of able-bodied defenseman with any degree of NHL experience.

In other words, I do believe a trade is likely.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Dec 24, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

Ok so this is kind of confusing, but I’m not sure that Goligoski would have to go through waivers. He’s on his first contract with the Pens, and he signed it in July ‘07 at age 21-22, I think (according to this – http://www.nhlscap.com/waivers.htm) he’s exempt from clearing waivers for 3 years or 70 NHL games played. Letang (who signed at age 20? I think) hasn’t played 3 years or 160 games yet, so he may also be exempt from waivers. I’m not too sure about all this though – and I’m really confused now.

That said, I still agree with you that a trade is probably likely.

by Dayna on Dec 24, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

haha me too. Thanks for looking into it though. If those facts hold true than it’s like Goligoski can remain in the system if sent down. But I’m still banking on some sort of trade. Perhaps a Fedotenko/Scuderi package w/minors kinda deal or something. I’m just rambling, but hey – whatevs.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Dec 24, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions