The Avalanche are the NHL's best team by such a broad margin that it's beyond opinion. They're atop the overall standings at 44-13-9, they've scored the most goals, they've given up the fewest goals and, if that weren't enough, they've got the league's leading goaltender in every category in Scott Wedgewood.
So, imagine what it'd take to turn all these faces this sour in a single evening:
With Sidney Crosby watching from way up in the press box.
Some reaction from the home team, beginning with a barely audible Jared Bednar at his postgame podium: “The goals and chances we gave up were just blatant, guys getting beat, guys getting out-competed. Just not digging in enough. We looked like we were trying to skill our way through the whole game. No push. One-and-done on every entry."
As if that weren't enough tacit praise for the Penguins, he'd then say of the opponent, "They just played the right way the whole game, and the score ends up where it ends up."
And from the room itself ...
Nathan MacKinnon: “Tonight was just bad. We just played bad.”
Brock Nelson: "We gave them some easy looks. I’m sure people are saying it’s about the goaltending, but none of those goals are on them. We have to be better in front."
Sam Malinski: "Frustrating is probably the best word. We need to defend harder. Make harder plays. Just be harder."
They'll have another chance next week: The Penguins host the Avalanche March 24 at PPG Paints Arena in the teams' only other meeting.
THE ASYLUM
MacKinnon: Avalanche 'just bad'
The Avalanche are the NHL's best team by such a broad margin that it's beyond opinion. They're atop the overall standings at 44-13-9, they've scored the most goals, they've given up the fewest goals and, if that weren't enough, they've got the league's leading goaltender in every category in Scott Wedgewood.
So, imagine what it'd take to turn all these faces this sour in a single evening:
GETTY
Yeah, that's right: Pittsburgh 7, Colorado 2.
With Sidney Crosby watching from way up in the press box.
Some reaction from the home team, beginning with a barely audible Jared Bednar at his postgame podium: “The goals and chances we gave up were just blatant, guys getting beat, guys getting out-competed. Just not digging in enough. We looked like we were trying to skill our way through the whole game. No push. One-and-done on every entry."
As if that weren't enough tacit praise for the Penguins, he'd then say of the opponent, "They just played the right way the whole game, and the score ends up where it ends up."
And from the room itself ...
Nathan MacKinnon: “Tonight was just bad. We just played bad.”
Brock Nelson: "We gave them some easy looks. I’m sure people are saying it’s about the goaltending, but none of those goals are on them. We have to be better in front."
Sam Malinski: "Frustrating is probably the best word. We need to defend harder. Make harder plays. Just be harder."
They'll have another chance next week: The Penguins host the Avalanche March 24 at PPG Paints Arena in the teams' only other meeting.
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