Penguins Swedish hangover gets ugly, not wild

This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.com.

With just two games in the last 12 days, and no games since Sunday, when the team was on a different continent, the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ (10-6-4) first period Friday figured to be a struggle.

That it was, and that’s also putting it mildly. The Minnesota Wild (11-7-4) staked themselves a 3-0 lead in the first period, outshooting the Penguins 9-2 in the process, en route to a 5-0 drubbing at PPG Paints Arena Friday.

The Penguins loaded the struggle bus and were picking up passengers as the first period continued.

A defensive breakdown amongst the Penguins’ top-line, beginning with hot potato puck handling in the offensive zone, created a Minnesota counterattack in which Matt Bouldy (12) was left alone in front of the net to easily deke around a helpless Penguins goalie, Arturs Silovs, at 3:57 of the first.

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