Mike Sullivan called it "unfortunate" how the end of the Penguins' 5-2 loss to the Lightning played out on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins were the better team through two periods, though they had little to nothing to show for it. They led 1-0 through the first 20 minutes despite outshooting Tampa by a ridiculous 14-2 margin. They continued to have the better of the chances in the second period and outshot the Lightning 10-7, but Tampa carried a 2-1 lead into the third period after goals from Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov. Still, an early third-period power-play goal from Kevin Hayes had the game once again tied, and the Penguins seemingly on track for at least a point in the standings as the end of regulation drew closer.
Kucherov scored the goal that stood as the game-winner with 3:03 left on the clock, picking off Noel Acciari at the Penguins' blue line and immediately capitalizing on the breakaway that ensued:
Acciari, generally, really is one of their more responsible forwards. He has one of the lowest rates of turnovers among the Penguins' regular forwards, with his 1.84 turnovers per 60 minutes only bested by Anthony Beauvillier (1.37) and Phil Tomasino (1.04). And he adds to that with the best rate of hits (9.22) and blocked shots (5.43) among all their skaters, all while being tasked with one of the most defensive roles among their forwards, seeing just 16.5% of his shifts start in the offensive zone.
A turnover of this magnitude was uncharacteristic for him, and it ended up being the difference in the game. And he knew it, stepping up to take full responsibility.
"I tried to go wide to (Erik Karlsson) on the breakout and just kind of whiffed on it," Acciari told me. "I've got to be stronger on it. Gave them the game. No one to blame but me. We played a really good game, I think, overall as a team. I think we out-played them. But, they capitalized on my mistake and I just have to live with that."
The Lightning put the game away with two empty-net goals when the Penguins had Tristan Jarry pulled for the extra attacker.
Of course, the Penguins could have played in such a way that the game wouldn't be tied at all that late in regulation. They could have found a way to capitalize on the momentum when they had it and were outshooting the Lightning by absurd margins. Jarry could have been better than his .824 save percentage, stopping just 14 of the Lightning's 17 shots.
But the Penguins just couldn't find a way to win in a game in which they largely did play well, and that sets the stage for Acciari's gaffe to be the story.
"We were playing a good game," Acciari said. "You can't give them too many opportunities, especially on that last one. Gave their best player a breakaway. Just can't happen at that late in the game."
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THE ASYLUM
Acciari: 'No one to blame but me'
Mike Sullivan called it "unfortunate" how the end of the Penguins' 5-2 loss to the Lightning played out on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins were the better team through two periods, though they had little to nothing to show for it. They led 1-0 through the first 20 minutes despite outshooting Tampa by a ridiculous 14-2 margin. They continued to have the better of the chances in the second period and outshot the Lightning 10-7, but Tampa carried a 2-1 lead into the third period after goals from Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov. Still, an early third-period power-play goal from Kevin Hayes had the game once again tied, and the Penguins seemingly on track for at least a point in the standings as the end of regulation drew closer.
Kucherov scored the goal that stood as the game-winner with 3:03 left on the clock, picking off Noel Acciari at the Penguins' blue line and immediately capitalizing on the breakaway that ensued:
Acciari, generally, really is one of their more responsible forwards. He has one of the lowest rates of turnovers among the Penguins' regular forwards, with his 1.84 turnovers per 60 minutes only bested by Anthony Beauvillier (1.37) and Phil Tomasino (1.04). And he adds to that with the best rate of hits (9.22) and blocked shots (5.43) among all their skaters, all while being tasked with one of the most defensive roles among their forwards, seeing just 16.5% of his shifts start in the offensive zone.
A turnover of this magnitude was uncharacteristic for him, and it ended up being the difference in the game. And he knew it, stepping up to take full responsibility.
"I tried to go wide to (Erik Karlsson) on the breakout and just kind of whiffed on it," Acciari told me. "I've got to be stronger on it. Gave them the game. No one to blame but me. We played a really good game, I think, overall as a team. I think we out-played them. But, they capitalized on my mistake and I just have to live with that."
The Lightning put the game away with two empty-net goals when the Penguins had Tristan Jarry pulled for the extra attacker.
Of course, the Penguins could have played in such a way that the game wouldn't be tied at all that late in regulation. They could have found a way to capitalize on the momentum when they had it and were outshooting the Lightning by absurd margins. Jarry could have been better than his .824 save percentage, stopping just 14 of the Lightning's 17 shots.
But the Penguins just couldn't find a way to win in a game in which they largely did play well, and that sets the stage for Acciari's gaffe to be the story.
"We were playing a good game," Acciari said. "You can't give them too many opportunities, especially on that last one. Gave their best player a breakaway. Just can't happen at that late in the game."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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