The Pittsburgh Penguins did it again. They managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by blowing yet another third-period lead, and this one might have been the worst yet. Not only was it the worst one they have had this season, but it reached a historically bad level. Protecting third-period leads and playing good situational hockey have been season-long problems for the Penguins. Their 6-5 overtime loss on Saturday, which came after they had built up a 5-1 lead in the third period, was already their fifth loss of the season when leading after two periods, a staggeringly high number to achieve in just a third of a season. That also does not include games where they were tied after two periods, took the lead in the third period, and still lost. Saturday’s game was the third blown lead of the week, following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars last Sunday, where they allowed a game-tying goal in the final minute before losing in overtime, and then an even more incomprehensible loss on Tuesday to th
