3 Penguins Biggest Disappointments in First Round Loss to Flyers – Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins waited until press time to make the series. Looking carefree from the start, the Penguins fell into a 3-0 hole to the Philadelphia Flyers and failed in their bid to get out. Their effort in Games 1, 2, and 3 left a lot to be desired.

The Penguins didn’t get into this place for one thing. Unfortunately, it takes a few villains for a favorite to come into the series and not win in the end. These are the three most guilty penguins.

Anthony Mantha

There may not be anyone else who is easier to identify in this series than Mantha. After a breakout season with the most goals (33), assists (31), and points (64), Mantha would be counted on to continue making the Penguins a dangerous offensive team.

What they got in return was one assist, 20 PIMs, and a minus-five average. Mantha hasn’t been playing as well as he could have, especially considering his regular season performance and roster status. How someone so big can play so young is mind-boggling for Penguins fans.

Egor Chinakhov

Chinakhov looked like the deal of the century after coming to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade. After seeing little ice time and being healthy, Chinakhov lit the lamp 18 times in just 43 games for the Penguins.

However, in the playoffs, it looked more like Columbus Chinakhov than the Pittsburgh version. Chinakhov was a ghost, held scoreless and managing just eight shots in six games. His ice time was inconsistent and the Penguins could no longer rely on him when the going got tough.

Bryan Rust

Rust is one of those guys who has defied logic for almost his entire career. He has been a 25-30 goal scorer, averaging between 55 and 65 points on a regular basis. The Penguins needed him to be the offensive player in this series to have a chance to win.

Instead, Rust — averaging north of 20 minutes per game in nearly every game — turned in a goal in Game 1, an assist in Game 3, and that was it. The fact that the Penguins even won two games with one of their best players struggling is amazing. His five shots in Game 6 at least showed some life even if they led to actual production.

Dubas Advance Decisions

General Manager Kyle Dubas has a few things to consider this summer, including the future of the legendary Evgeni Malkin. That said, the Penguins are in a good spot. They have exceeded expectations this season, thanks in part to their Jack Adams-appointed head coach, Dan Muse. They have plenty of options and prospects ready to bolster their ranks for the future.

As disappointing as this series was, it shouldn’t be forgotten how far the Penguins have come this season. From projected lottery picks to playing squads, the future looks bright for Dubas and company.