“Pathetic performance” – Mike Sullivan blasts team as Oilers choke Penguins with DISASTROUS 7-2 win at PPG Paints Arena

The Penguins' inability to save their sinking team resulted in another loss as Oilers outclassed the 16-year playoff contenders at the home game.


<strong>“Pathetic performance” – Mike Sullivan blasts team as Oilers choke Penguins with DISASTROUS 7-2 win at PPG Paints Arena</strong>

Mike Sullivan [Image Credit: NHL]

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan blasted the team after their embarrassing loss to visiting Edmonton Oilers. On Thursday the Pens lost to the Oilers in a 2-7 record in front of an arena full of crowd. Enraged fans started chanting “Fire Hextall” from the second to the third period.

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Their chants echoed in the building as the fans saw the Oilers choking their hometown team. In most of the game, it seemed like the Penguins only kept on chasing the Oilers who didn’t let the puck out of their sight. Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid’s faceoff was one to watch out for the night.

Unfortunately, the team’s results drowned any excitement the fans might’ve had in the game. Crosby as well as Sullivan called out their team for their performance, marking it as “pathetic”. The fans also took a dig at Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as Penguins’ core players and scorers, booing them out front.

Related: Sidney Crosby booed by enraged fans as Oilers outclass Penguins in UGLY 2-7 loss, NHL Twitter reacts

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Mike Sullivan calls out Penguins for their pathetic loss at PPG Paints Arena

Mike Sullivan [Image Credit: Sports Illustrated]
Mike Sullivan [Image Credit: Sports Illustrated]

After the game, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan noted, “Not impressed”. “It’s a pathetic performance.” “Are we gonna be happy to play eight minutes?”. “I’m not gonna be happy to play eight minutes. What will those guys say if we take 50 per cent of their salary, because they only play 50 per cent of the time?” 

It was a nightmarish play for the fans, but the team has also been upset with the outcome. Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith allowed goal after goal with Connor McDavid zooming past them with ease. The defenceman appeared to be soft, as they couldn’t stop the Oilers’ attacks.

In front of approximately 18,400 surly fans, Connor McDavid and his team absolutely thrashed Sidney Crosby in the race to snatch a wild-card spot for the East. Though Kris Letang took the opportunity of the game-opening goal, the Penguins couldn’t hold off their lead.

Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins talked about the Penguins as a team with past glory, “That’s the way that we want to play,”. “Not give them anything. Kind of choke them out as much as we can. That’s a skill team over there, so to hold them (down), to limit their shots and Grade-A chances, is big for our team.”

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Mike Sullivan further said that with this loss the team just took a step back, “Without a doubt…a step backwards”. As the Oilers tiptoed their way out of Pittsburgh, they showed the NHL world how organized and structured their game was on Thursday compared to the Penguins.

Despite slamming the team, Sullivan also motivated them saying they just have to get back on the ice and do better, “Obviously, when you lose a few games, there’s an element of fragility that you’re concerned about. … It’s human nature. Are we a little bit concerned about that? Sure.”

Do we talk about those things? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, pro sports isn’t for the faint of heart. We’ve got to grab a hold of it, dust ourselves off and get back into the fight. We just got outplayed. They played better than us.”

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