Penguins extend support to Mars goaltender

The Pittsburgh Penguins extended an invitation to the Mars hockey team to host their game Monday against South Fayette at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

The gesture comes nearly two weeks after Mars’ goaltender, a girl, was the target of vile taunts from an opposing fan base.

On Oct. 28, during a game between Mars and Armstrong at the Belmont Sports Complex in Kittanning, Armstrong’s home arena, fans chanted sexual vulgarities at the goaltender.

The Tribune-Review has chosen not to identify the goaltender by name.

Members of the Penguins and the organization as a whole have been swift to respond in support of the goaltender.

Several players have sent video messages to the goaltender, and Emily Matheson, an Olympian who won gold while playing defense for the United States women’s Olympic team in 2018 and is married to Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson, chatted with the goaltender personally.

“My wife, Emily, spoke to her actually for a little while,” Mike Matheson said. “Everyone quickly agreed on how disgusting that was, that that happened, especially nowadays that something like that could still be going on. The message that Emily tried to send to her was just to reinforce that and to know that she wasn’t alone. And to know that as much as it might not be fun to be in the spotlight, especially for something like that, there’s such an (outpouring) of people that were willing to speak out and show that wasn’t right and support her. That was the message, to let her know she’s not alone and that a lot of people disagreed with it.”

On Saturday, the Penguins hosted Mars’ team as guests in a suite at PPG Paints Arena for a home contest against the Minnesota Wild.

“It’s extremely disheartening to see something like that,” assistant coach Todd Reirden said. “There’s no place for that type of behavior in the world, let alone during our sport of hockey. Hockey is way better than that. That was extremely discouraging. I’m really proud of the stance our organization has taken, our individual players have taken to reach out and try to make a difference. I’m saddened the whole situation had to occur. Hopefully, the (reaction) our organization has had, our players have had and our staff has had sends a clear message that this type of behavior is not appropriate at any time let alone in a hockey rink.”

“The biggest part about sports is that it brings people together,” Mike Matheson said. “Whatever the sport is and whatever level you’re at, it’s for everybody no matter race, ethnicity, gender, all those things.”

Penguins fine-tune five-on-six defense

During Saturday’s game, a 5-4 shootout loss, the Penguins held a 4-2 lead late in regulation, only to give up two goals to the Wild, who pulled goaltender Cam Talbot for an extra attacker on both scores.

On Monday, the Penguins spent a significant portion of their practice session defending five-on-six situations in the wake of Saturday’s setback.

“We were a little disappointed with how things went with how aggressive we were in (the defensive) zone,” Reirden said. “We were a little bit too passive. We let them dictate what they wanted to do. That was something we addressed with video today and worked on today in practice, as well. We have a clearer vision of how we can do a better job of that given our next opportunity that occurs. It’s an important part of gathering points and securing points. It’s an area that, certainly, we need to be better at.”

Through Sunday, the Penguins led the NHL in goals against while defending empty-net situations with four.

“We focused on that a little bit more throughout practice,” Matheson said. “Maybe our timing wasn’t there, maybe our roles and responsibilities weren’t as clear. And maybe as players, maybe we weren’t as adept to what those roles and responsibilities were. Obviously, we got exposed, and that was unacceptable, against the Wild. … If you’re up 4-2 with that much time left in a game, you should be able to hunker down and just get the win. That one is a good learning (experience) and will be important for us going down the road. It’s a good thing that it happened now, if it had to happen. Obviously, we wish it hadn’t. But hopefully, we learn from it and it doesn’t happen for the rest of the season.”

Health updates

AP

Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin has been sidelined the past two games after testing positive for covid-19.

Reirden indicated things remain status quo for defensemen Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel, forward Sidney Crosby and coach Mike Sullivan, all of whom remain in isolation after testing positive for covid-19. … Forward Evgeni Malkin skated before practice. He continues to recuperate after undergoing surgery to his right knee in the offseason.

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