When the Penguins signed Brent Johnson to be Marc-Andre Fleury’s backup three years ago, they knew what they were getting. He was a reserve goalie his whole career, who had 111-94-12 record and a .903 save percentage. You can’t ask for much more out of a backup tender.
And the Pens didn’t have to; in his first year in the Burgh, Johnny started 15 games and went 10-6-1 while allowing 2.76 goals a game and stopping 91% of the shots he faced. Last year, when Fleury slipped out of the gate, Johnson was there to keep the Pens relevant. He went 8-4-2 to start the year and only allowed more than two goals twice.
Then it happened. 41 seconds away from his second shutout of the year and ninth win, Johnny decided to go toe-to-toe with the Isles’ Rich DiPietro. Since DiPietro’s jaw is made of glass, Johnny ended the fight with one punch…and the knockout has been hurting him ever since.
His next game, Johnny gave up seven goals to the same Islanders team he shutout a week earlier, and the Pens finished the year going 4-3-1 in games Johnny played in. That may not seem so bad but his .908 save percentage to finish the year was bookended by the embarrassment on Long Island and an 8-2 loss to the Lightning in the playoffs, in which Johnny gave up four goals on 11 shots.
Things have only gotten worse this year. Johnson had been so bad that Fleury had to play in 23 straight before Wednesday’s loss in Toronto. This year Johnny is 2-6-2 and is one pace for the lowest win total of his career when playing more than 10 games. He’s given up three goals or more in six of his 10 appearances, and for only the third time in his 11 years as a pro, he has a goals against average over 3.00, and his .884 save percentage is the second worst of his career.
But just like the TKO that sent his career into a tailspin, Johnson’s latest start could be the game that resurrects it. On Wednesday, Johnson started his first game since Dec. 3 and he stopped 23 of 24 shots. It was by far the best game he’s played in almost a year, and had he gotten some help from his offense, the Pens wouldn’t have lost 1-0.
With the Pens’ upcoming schedule, they need Johnny to be back to the old reliable backup that can start at a moment’s notice, not the haymaker-throwing wildcard. The Pens are set to play back-to-back days every weekend in the month of February. Johnson’s going to have to play, and he’s going to have to play well, especially if defenses are beginning to solve the Malkin Enigma (the Leafs are ranked 25th in goals against but only allowed one Geno goal – off his chest – in the last two games).
The Pens are in fifth place in the East and they’re only seven points away from retaking the division lead – only 10 points separate first from fourth place in the Atlantic. The Pens play Boston and New Jersey, Winnipeg and Tampa, Philadelphia and Buffalo, and Tampa and Columbus. Of the eight teams they’ll face during their crazy weekend schedules this month, only the Bruins, Devils and Flyers are playoff teams. That means the Pens have a great opportunity to make some moves in the standings.
With 13 games in the year’s shortest month, and with four back-to-back series, Fleury can’t do it all by himself. This is the only time this season that the Pens play on back-to-back days four times in one month, but since Johnny joined the Pens, it has happened four other times. In those 16 games, Johnson went 4-2-2, stopping 88% of shots he faced.
That might get the job done against the Blue Jackets – the worst team in the league – but Johnny needs to find a way to duplicate his performance from Wednesday if he wants to start a game more than once every two months, and if he wants to help the Pens to a playoff run.
After starting every game of the eight-game winning streak, Fleury is on an absolute tear; his 27 wins are third in the NHL and he’s on pace to set a career mark in goals against (he’s only given up more than three goals three times all year). Fleury showed his durability by playing 23 straight games, so he could easily play 10 of the 13 games the Pens have this month; he may even play in both games of two of the back-to-back series (it wouldn’t be the first time), but after Johnson’s performance in Toronto, you have to think Dan Bylsma has more confidence in his backup right now than he’s had all year. That added confidence could lead to a start as early as tomorrow, and the sooner Johnny can ge back between the pipes, the sooner he can prove to everyone that he’s returned to form.
If he can’t return to form, Johnny’s knockout could be what ends up knocking Johnny out…for good.
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