Let's get this out of the way right here: P.O Joseph has done some tremendous things this season in regard to the Penguins' transition game and offensive attack.
Inversely -- although not to the same degree -- he's been giving a hefty chunk of it back to the opposition with his defensive play. It's not the only reason, but that likely played a significant part in him sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch in favor of newly acquired Dmitry Kulikov in each of the Penguins' three games prior to Tuesday night.
With Kulikov out week-to-week due to injury, the opportunity presented itself for Joseph to return to game action when the Penguins hosted and lost to the Canadiens, 6-4, here at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday.
The Penguins had rather dominant results with Joseph on the ice at full-strength against the Canadiens ... except in the actual goals department.
Early in the third period with the game tied, 4-4, Joseph's defensive warts appeared at the worst possible time, providing a glimpse as to why he'd been sitting upstairs.
Take a look:
Good, old-fashioned case of puck watching. Plain and simple.
That was 26-year-old Anthony Richard (who had all of one goal and 12 games of NHL experience prior to puck drop) that he let sneak behind him before getting burned. With their momentum taking each other opposite ways, there was simply no way for Joseph to adequately recover.
The Canadiens took a 5-4 lead and the Penguins never made their way back.
By no means is Joseph the reason they lost, but his error proved detrimental.
