The Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes are fading, and their shootout struggles are a major concern. Despite their efforts, they've lost another shootout, falling to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team's record in shootouts is a league-worst 1-7, and Arturs Silovs, the goaltender, has been a significant part of those defeats. Silovs has a 1-6 record in shootouts this season, and his teammates' inability to score has been a recurring issue. Penguins forward Bryan Rust acknowledges that it's a team effort, but the team needs to improve their shootout results to secure a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Penguins have been working on their shootout skills, practicing them regularly during practices in Cranberry. However, they may need to consider more detailed measures, such as one-on-one sessions with a skills coach or video analysis, to address the issue. Coach Dan Muse emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach, stating, 'All those things. It's going to have to be all those things. It's costing us points.'
The game itself was a close affair, with the Penguins eventually losing 4-3 in overtime. An unlikely source, Zach Aston-Reese, scored the first goal of the game, followed by a more conventional goal from Rickard Rakell. The Blue Jackets tied the game in the second period, and the Penguins eventually tied it again in the third period with a goal from Sidney Crosby. The game went into overtime, where the Blue Jackets scored the winning goal.
The shootout saw Chinakhov and Clifton score for their respective teams, while Crosby and Rust missed their attempts. The Penguins' struggles in shootouts have been a recurring theme, with Crosby only scoring once in seven attempts this season. The team's overall performance in shootouts has been a point of concern, and they need to find ways to improve their chances of success in these crucial moments.
