During the latter stages of the Mike Sullivan era, it became almost de riguer for the Penguins to blow leads.
Last season we squandered eight third-period leads, tied for eighth-most in the NHL, and 18 leads overall, according to the website Champ or Chumps. In 2023-24, we blew nine third-period leads and 21 overall. Fifth-most on both counts.
Well don’t look now, but Sully’s new team, the Rangers, are experiencing similar meltdown issues. On Tuesday night, the Blueshirts built, then frittered away, a 4-1 lead after two periods before losing to the Bruins, 5-4, in overtime.