Sidney Crosby's Supporting Cast Slammed by Fans in Penguins' Game 2 Loss to Rangers

Erin WalshMay 6, 2022

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins plays the puck against the New York Rangers in Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 05, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins had an underwhelming performance against the New York Rangers on Thursday, falling 5-2 in Game 2 of their first-round series at Madison Square Garden.

While some were quick to blame third-string goaltender Louis Domingue, who stopped 34 of 39 shots, for the loss, a number of fans and analysts noted that the real problem was that the Penguins were unable to get any depth scoring on Thursday, with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel the team's only goal scorers.

That said, the Penguins need players like Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Carter, Evan Rodrigues, Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen to step up if they want to win this series.

Rob Rossi @Real_RobRossi
Good teams response to losing Game 1 at home. Rangers are a good team.<br>Penguins will be fine IF they can get even a little bit healthy (Dumoulin, goalies) and find anything from bottom six (Jeff Carter, anyone?). Oh, and maybe take a lead.<br>Gonna be a fun rest of series.

Sean Gentille @seangentille
Jeff Carter just signed a two-year contract extension? Huh.

Dan Rosen @drosennhl
The Penguins can't be a one-line team and win this series. They need more from Evgeni Malkin (the 3OT goal notwithstanding), Jeff Carter and others.

Adam Herman @AdamZHerman
The Penguins are a one-line team right now. Gallant has to swallow his pride about rolling four lines and figure out a matchup for Crosby.

Bob Pompeani @KDPomp
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Penguins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Penguins</a> MUST find someone other than Crosby-Guentzel-Rust to score....anything!!

𝐑 𝐀 𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐋 @rach_elizabethh
It’s a damn shame Sidney Crosby can get zero help from any other lines

Matthew_Sean @Matthew_Sean96
Another reminder that the Penguins are a one line team. Top line's fantastic, everybody else is playing mediocre and has for most of the season.

Jason Tipton @CECsec214
There is just no way in hell the Penguins can win a series with Domingue vs Igor. <br><br>Not to mention the team has one line with a chance to score

During the regular season, the Penguins had 12 players reach double digits in scoring. Aside from the top line of Crosby, Guentzel and Bryan Rust, Malkin tallied the fourth-most goals (20) and Carter had the fifth-most goals (19).

Malkin and Carter, two seasoned veterans with plenty of playoff experience, particularly need to step up in this series. Both have been nearly invisible through two games, and it's not going to cut it against a Rangers side that has exceeded expectations this year.

That said, the Penguins will also need either Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith, who are nursing injuries, to return in goal. Both netminders have been better than Domingue this year, and Jarry could even go toe-to-toe with Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who could end up being a Vezina Trophy candidate.

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The Penguins and Rangers will meet again Saturday for Game 3 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh with the series tied 1-1.