Pens’ struggles blatant in Devils game

Where can I start with Wednesday’s Penguins-Devils game?

Fundamental mistakes were… Where can I start with Wednesday’s Penguins-Devils game?

Fundamental mistakes were rampant.

The Penguins couldn’t even find a way to beat a New Jersey team that has been playing horrible defense and has a future Hall-of-Fame goaltender, Martin Brodeur, not playing at the level of which he is capable.

The Devils started the game off with two goals that a mite-level goaltender could’ve stopped.

The first goal, Jay Pandolfo’s second goal of the season, should have been stopped. Fleury was caught watching the play behind the net instead of being aware of what was happening. The puck came to Pandolfo, and he buried it in the almost empty net.

This goal was simple fundamentals as Fleury was unable to transition from his right post to his left in time. He also left the entire top shelf open as he slid on the ice, so that Pandolfo was able to pick the top corner on his turn-around shot.

John Madden of the Devils made the game 2-0 after the Penguins’ defenseman Darryl Sydor was caught backing off of Madden in the slot. Then to top it off, Madden was able to rip a slap shot over Fleury’s shoulder without a screen.

The Devils’ offensive capitalization accentuated the Penguins’ deficiencies even more.

With the score 1-0 in favor of New Jersey, Ryan Malone of the Penguins was unable to put home a simple rebound.

After a Mark Eaton shot from the left point, Malone had Brodeur frozen, but he failed to get the puck off of the ice, and it was blocked by a sprawling Devil.

All of these mishaps happened in the first period and were capped off with a 2-on-1 with Sidney Crosby and Petr Sykora, giving the Penguins a vital scoring opportunity.

Crosby cut down the left wing but fell. He regained his balance, unsuccessfully stick-handled through three Devils and then sent a spinning pass to Sergei Gonchar. Gonchar, for some unknown reason, sent a spinning backhanded pass to Sykora, who was unable to get a clean shot on Brodeur.

Despite the Pens scoring three straight goals and gaining extreme momentum, the Devils came back to tie the game with poor effort on Fleury’s part.

With the Devils on the power play and Travis Zajac parked to Fleury’s left, the puck slid to Zajac. Fleury dropped to his knees, a huge mistake for a goaltender from that position, and Zajac was able to redirect it into the net.

The Devils scored their fourth goal with Brian Gionta on top of Fleury, which can’t be helped or blamed on the Pens goalie. But Rob Scuderi, who is quite possibly the worst defenseman in the league, chased a Devil behind the Pens’ net, which left the slot wide open.

Scuderi was caught there, and the Devils outmanned Pittsburgh in front, which enabled them to put in the go-ahead goal.

Pittsburgh was able to tie the game again, but the Devils scored their only legitimate goal with about 10 minutes left in the third period to seal the game in favor of New Jersey.

Overall, elementary mistakes could’ve enabled the Pens to take home a victory. Coaches can’t play the game for the players, so this one is on the athletes.

Bad form, Penguins. Bad form.