Not only did the Pittsburgh Penguins fail to maintain the lead, but they slept through the third period, just like they did against the San Jose Sharks, one game after completely imploding against the Blue Jackets of Columbus. It is no longer a problem to be solved but it is part of the DNA of the team which takes the advantage and then stops playing with the same energy. And it’s time for coach Mike Sullivan to send a message to the entire team.

It’s time to treat yourself to a good old-fashioned bag skate. Training without a puck. Skate until you’re exhausted and then practice a little more.

No system lessons, no power play drills and no shootout practice.

Sullivan must test them hard to impose the mandate that defensive negligence is not acceptable. The laissez-faire, nonchalant method of protecting leads is only good for losing, and a team that respects itself will fight for itself.

I saw Sullivan angry and I saw him up close. Tuesday night, I was as angry as I saw Sullivan off the ice. There was fire in his eyes and fire in his voice, even though he chose to express the softer version of his thoughts.

“Because we have to be more competitive. We need more guys to compete harder and pay more attention to detail,” Sullivan said. “And we have to take more pride in playing defense.”

The disdain and anger with which he said these words was intense. He stared at the back wall of the media room as he said it, his words sharp and his facial expression reflecting the fury of a coach guiding a team good enough to surpass the Tampa Bay Lightning, who still have a once succumbed to a mental breakdown.

This is not a crisis of confidence. I have asked this question to many players, including Sydney Crosbyfor the second time on Tuesday.

“I don’t think we’re trying to sit back. I think it’s just that we have to realize and find ways to get the momentum back,” Crosby said with a lack of conviction.

However, Sullivan hasn’t lowered his team’s boom in a very long time. We can’t tell you the last time the Penguins suffered a team-wide punishment. Sullivan generally doesn’t believe it: These days, a bagged skateboard is a last resort. This is a “break the glass in case of emergency” tactic, and if it fails, there is nothing else to do.

And then the coach is in great difficulty.

Of course, if the Penguins had breeding prospects pushing to leap forward in the lineup or devour AHL opponents, sending a message or three by delivering a few plates of nachos into the press box would be well justified. It’s tough to sit players like Erik Karlsson, as the Penguins already have just two defensemen left on the right side until Kris Letang returns.

It would surely be justified, but the list of players who deserve a place is not short either.

There is also an inherent danger of team-wide sanctions. A trainer cannot use the punishment a second time if the first does not work, because then the card is played without fallback.

However, there is also a potential benefit. On November 1st, Montreal Canadiens Coach Martin St. Louis transitioned the boys to a skate bag.

“There are different ways to get a message across. This is the most direct way. There’s not a single guy here that thought we didn’t deserve it,” Brendan Gallagher told reporters after practice. “You go out there, you put your head down, you work and you do it together. Now is the time for us to put things right and move on. »

The Canadian’s record hasn’t improved much since being put to the test (3-5-0), but the team is showing more signs of life lately. Plus, it’s not a good team (yet).

Last season, Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette threw a team party last year after a particularly bad stretch. He snatched the team’s trip to the Sphere in Las Vegas to see a U2 concert.

The team responded by becoming the hottest team in the league over its final 25 games and coming from four points out of a playoff spot to win the top wild card by seven points over the first team out of the playoffs.

Sullivan undoubtedly saw a valued member of his fraternity go up in flames Tuesday and heeded the lessons, good and bad. Coach of the Boston Bruins Jim Montgomery is a good coach and the Bruins have had success under his leadership, until this season.

It’s one thing to have harsh video sessions and crude dialogue. The Penguins need more than that now. The season has turned into a self-inflicted disaster, and no help is on the way. general manager Kyle Dubas has a different mission than saving this team: he is stocking up for the future.

There’s no good reason why the Penguins can’t maintain the lead. You can’t say it’s because they are old and shaky in the third half because they took the lead or collapsed in the second half as well.

We cannot blame a defender or a line either. All the Penguins have dipped their cup into the pit of shame, including Crosby. It’s time for Sullivan to use the hammer because all that’s left to do is create hatred. And no player should think they don’t deserve it.

Practice is at noon.