Pittsburgh Penguins' Controversial Roster Decision Backfires in a Big Way

The Pittsburgh Penguins fought but lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, gaining a single point in what has been a surprise beginning to their season.

It was, nevertheless, a long way from their finest performance, perhaps one of their poorest efforts thus far. Conspicuously absent were teen phenoms Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke.

Both were healthy scratches under the team's development model, a calculated move to limit their workloads and protect them from the entirety of an 82-game NHL grind. As understandable as it was, their absence was noticeable.

Connor Clifton, who replaced Brunicke, again had a tough time in his own end and was on the ice for several goals against.

Forward Tommy Novak replaced Kindel but wasn't able to provide the same energy and production the 18-year-old had been providing in recent games. The Penguins' depth was tested, and it showed.

To add to their worry, defenseman Caleb Jones will be out six to eight weeks with a foot injury, and forward Rickard Rakell departed the Columbus game in the third period and did not return.

Despite an early lead with Ryan Shea and Anthony Mantha scoring, Pittsburgh was outplayed for much of the second period while Columbus recovered with three goals in succession.

A late rally managed to salvage a point, but the night served to illustrate just how thin the Penguins' margin for error has become.

Even in defeat, the Penguins' determination is still remarkable, though their young stars might be too vital to sit on the bench for extended periods anymore.