Anatomy of Frustration – The 2018-2019 Penguins Review: Part Five
As a former Goalie, I felt sorry for the Penguins’ Goalies this past season. As a team, our favorite flightless fowl subjected their last line of defense to the 3rd worst barrage of 5 on 5 shot attempts in the league (3,960). Yes, there were players like Jack Johnson who threw themselves into the line of fire to help out their beleaguered teammates to block shots (147), improving their 5 on 5 rankings when you controlled for unblocked shots attempts (USA); checking in at 7th worst – still in the bottom 3rd of the league – with 2,939 USA. However, our locals’ Goalies stood tall against the hail of vulcanized rubber that poured down on them. If the Black-and-Gold net minders are having nightmares, it would be quite understandable.
Like the rest of the team, this position experienced its ups and downs. Fortunately for Mike Sullivan the Goalies had more ups than downs and more ups than the rest of the team had or Mr. Sullivan may have found himself on the unemployment line.
As a position I would have to give the Penguins‘ Goalies a B+ for a grade and a purple heart for the wounds inflicted by the assault they faced, often times with no one between them and one or more shooters, during the regular season.