Tuesday’s game in Pittsburgh was one where the Jackets got all of the shots and none of the bounces as they lost 4-1 at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins win keeps them in second place in the Metro Division with a three-point lead over the Jackets.
The Jackets outshot the Penguins 39 to 27 and out attempted them 70-43. They also had the shot attempt advantage in 5-on-5 play with 66.67% of all attempts in the game.
Tuesday marks the third game in a row that the Jackets have out shot and out attempted their opponent. Even when shot totals are adjusted for score and venue, according to naturalstattrick.com, the Jackets have 51% or more of all shot attempts in each of the last four games at even strength.
The Jackets just haven’t been able to find the back of the net.
The Penguins, on the other hand, did. They scored by capitalizing on an errant Jackets’ pass; an odd-man rush set off by a blocked shot; and then banked a puck in off Cam Atkinson’s skate. They also added a fourth goal to start the third.
Brandon Dubinsky ended the Penguins’ shutout bid 10:20 into the third. While on the penalty kill, the assistant captain got the puck on his stick, looked up, saw open ice and skated into the zone before beating Matt Murray five-hole. It was the tenth short-handed goal of Dubinsky’s career.
“We’re out of sync offensively and we’re lacking execution,” John Tortorella said. “I didn’t mind our effort at all. I thought our physical play was there but we’re in a funk offensively and tonight didn’t get any better. I looked at some offensive plays that are right there. We just haven’t been able to make a lot of good offensive plays right now.”
After Tuesday’s game, If the standings remain as they are, the Penguins are likely to host the Jackets in the opening round of the playoffs.
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