Penguins' latest collapse reached historic level of incompetence

The Pittsburgh Penguins did it again. They managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by blowing yet another third-period lead, and this one might have been the worst yet. Not only was it the worst one they have had this season, but it reached a historically bad level.

Penguins let a 5-1 lead slip away against San Jose Sharks

Protecting third-period leads and playing good situational hockey have been season-long problems for the Penguins.

Their 6-5 overtime loss on Saturday, which came after they had built up a 5-1 lead in the third period, was already their fifth loss of the season when leading after two periods, a staggeringly high number to achieve in just a third of a season. That also does not include games where they were tied after two periods, took the lead in the third period, and still lost.

Saturday's game was the third blown lead of the week, following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars last Sunday, where they allowed a game-tying goal in the final minute before losing in overtime, and then an even more incomprehensible loss on Tuesday to the Anaheim Ducks, where they allowed a game-tying goal with 0.1 seconds to play.

Including the two goals they allowed late in the third period on Saturday, they have allowed four goals in their past four games when opponents have pulled their goalie.

It just seems like a fragile, broken team that crumbles at the first sign of adversity.

What makes Saturday's loss even more stunning is that their lead was 5-1 with less than 14 minutes to play in regulation. It was the fifth-latest four-goal comeback (or blown lead from the Penguins' perspective) in NHL history.