POINT SHOTS

Mike Sullivan sounded off after the Penguins lost to the Flyers on Thursday, and not just because they coughed up a three-goal lead. That choke job continued a maddening stretch in which they have been unable to string together even two or three complete efforts in a row. “If I had an answer for you, I could probably fix it,” he said. “It’s frustrating from the coach’s standpoint because I know we’re capable of more consistent play.” Pressure is mounting as his team falls back from the pack in the East standings and two guys who didn’t hire him or hand him that lucrative contract extension evaluate his performance. But Sullivan is a very good coach. He didn’t just trip over those two Stanley Cups in the middle of the night. It would be foolish for Brian Burke and Ron Hextall to move on from him during this strange pandemic season. And Burke and Hextall aren’t fools.

Some potential good news for Sullivan and the Penguins: Nine of their next 11 games are against the Rangers, Sabres or Devils — the only three teams that, based on points percentage, currently trail them in the East standings.

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Five weeks ago, the Penguins were pulling blue-liners off the street. Now, they roll five deep on each side. You have to think Hextall will look to dangle one or two of them in the hopes of adding some desperately needed bottom-six help.

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I took a deep dive into Evgeni Malkin’s game a few days ago, talking to a few NHL analysts about what is missing from his game. In case you missed it, it has been consistent fire and shots from the slot and goals and clear explanations for why he continues to be in a funk. I know he was on the ice for three more goals against Thursday. But I believe he is on the verge of a breakout. I can just feel it coming, like the water cup rattling in “Jurassic Park” before the T-Rex arrives. Or maybe I just had one too many IPAs before sending this column