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Erik Karlsson provides a potential explanation and solution for Penguins third period collapses
Tonight, in a new interview Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson attempted to diagnose what has led to the team's third period issues and how to fix the problems.
Over the last two nights the Pittsburgh Penguins have fallen victim to back-to-back third period collapses losing multi-goal leads.
After tonight's loss captain Sidney Crosby spoke to the media and seemed to be at a loss for a singular reason why these games keep slipping away.
After Crosby spoke, defenseman Erik Karlsson had his opportunity to give his thoughts and tried to provide a reason and an inside look at the problems within the Penguins' game.
Erik Karlsson provides an explanation and solution for the Penguins late game troubles
During the press conference, Karlsson was asked for the second game in a row where things went wrong.
This time, Karlsson pointed to confidence and the team's overall mindset being a bit shaken at the moment.
But then again, situations like this, sometimes confidence plays a big role and obviously right now, we're lacking that. We've got to find a way quickly to get that back. Because early on in the season, I think we did a great job of playing with a lead. Somehow, we have kind of fallen away from that.
Luckily, Karlsson believes that the overall team mindset is one of the things that is most fixable when it comes to being better after a losing streak.
It's more a mindset right now. The good thing about that is it's controllable. I don't think it has anything to do with systems or X's and O's. It's within ourselves. We've got to find a way to regain that trust individually and as a team.
The Penguins clearly have the talent this season to compete for a playoff spot but their inexperience further down the lineup in big games is starting to show up consistently.
If leaders who have played big games like Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, and Letang can help teach the other younger players how to remain confident in big moments this Penguins group could take a big step forward.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 14 | 189 ANSWERS Erik Karlsson provides a potential explanation and solution for Penguins third period collapses Do you think the Penguins will still make the playoff despite recent collapses? | ||
| Yes | 75 | 39.7 % |
| No | 114 | 60.3 % |
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