Tim Benz: A lot went right, but too much went wrong for Penguins in Nashville

If it wasn’t for how the game started — or how the game ended in overtime — the Pittsburgh Penguins had a pretty good night in Nashville.

Unfortunately, even though most nights can get a little blurry on Broadway, we can’t forget those two things happened, though. As a result, the Penguins were only able to skate away from Tennessee with one point in their pocket.

And the Predators extended their win streak to six games with a 3-2 overtime victory.

Despite outshooting the Preds 11-9 in the first period, the Penguins went to the locker room down 2-0. Michael McCarron scored both goals, his second and third of the season. His second goal of the game came on a delayed penalty with an extra attacker on the ice with 82 seconds remaining in the period.

GO OFF MICHAEL MCCARRON! pic.twitter.com/V0Hdd1PaLd

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 29, 2023

From there, though, the Penguins mounted a comeback, with Evgeni Malkin scoring in the second period and Bryan Rust netting a goal in the third.

Inching closer to that Nashville lead.

Evgeni Malkin has 21 points (7G-14A) in 19 career games against Nashville. pic.twitter.com/3bVUH6NaAF

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 29, 2023

RIGHT BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS! pic.twitter.com/VtJWMjZYtb

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 29, 2023

For Rust, it was his first game back after missing three games because of injury.

“It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet when you have been out for a little while. It’s something that gives you a little confidence. Hopefully, I can keep my game going in the right direction,” Rust said on SportsNet Pittsburgh after the game.

Head coach Mike Sullivan was effusive in his praise of his team, who battled back and forced overtime at 2-2.

“I give the players a lot of credit. We played hard. I thought we competed. We were able to get the tying goal in the third period. I just like the resilience of the group,” Sullivan said.

The overtime, though, didn’t last long and didn’t end well.

Nashville’s Filip Forsberg scored just 14 seconds into the extra frame, the second-quickest overtime goal to beat the Penguins in the franchise’s history. New York Ranger Tony Amonte scored eight seconds into an overtime period in 1994 to beat the Penguins.

I’m not sure if there was controversy surrounding that goal from Amonte. But there sure was with Forsberg’s on Wednesday.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was the victim of a blatant pick play during the opening moments of the 3-on-3 session as Forsberg gained the zone before firing the game-winning shot.

Interference or good no-call?#LetsGoPens | #Preds pic.twitter.com/Kpy9aNPvZz

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 29, 2023

Um, I’m gonna go with the first option. That looked like interference to me. Where was the NFL officiating crew from the Steelers-Bengals game when we needed them? They sure seemed to enjoy calling offensive pass interference.

I wonder if those guys can skate.

“I’d love to hear what the refs have to say. But I guess we will never know. That’s all I’m going to say about that one,” Rust said.

No kidding. Sullivan said he didn’t get an explanation as to why there was no penalty called. But he claimed he did get a good look at the sequence, and he was surprised there wasn’t a call.

“It’s unfortunate the way it ended,” Sullivan said. “It’s a game-changing moment. I didn’t like the opening drop of the overtime. It is what it is.”

For his part, Crosby attempted to be diplomatic.

“I don’t know. I didn’t get a good look at it. I made contact with him,” Crosby said after the game.

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This was certainly a result the Penguins could live with if we were looking at it in a vacuum. It was a good comeback on the road against a red-hot team. They got a point.

But it was also representative of some of the fits and starts that we have seen from the Penguins so far this season in the big picture.

Still unable to put together a full 60 minutes. A power play that failed to help in its two opportunities. Thirty-six generated shots on goal, putting just two goals on the board. A good night statistically from Tristan Jarry, who made some big saves, but he let just one more in than the other guy.

These have been themes throughout much of the season. It’s why they are 10-10-1 and tied for sixth place in the eight-team Metropolitan Division as we approach December.

And don’t look now, but after winning five in a row to start November, the Penguins have lost five of seven again.

“We played a decent game,” Crosby said. “We generated a lot of chances. They pushed a bit after we tied the game. But I thought we handled it well.”

That’s true. But it wasn’t enough to prevent the Penguins from being in a — what’s the word I’m searching for — “flimsy” position late in a game where some bad officiating could decide their fate.

Hmmm. Have I heard that phrase somewhere recently?

Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss the Penguins up-and-down play and upcoming stretch of games.