Penguins Playoff Monday

Yinzers,

Two games have been played in this semifinal series between the Canadiens and Penguins, so we'll get it going right away.

Game 1: Friday Night in Pittsburgh
The Penguins came out in dominating fashion to begin the series, taking game one by a score of 6-3. The biggest story of game one was the Penguins' power play. The Pens' specialty teams went 4/4 on the power play, contradicting everything the Montreal Canadiens did against the Washington Capitals in the quarterfinals. The Canadiens held the Capitals to just one power play goal over the course of 7 games and the Penguins scored 4 in one night. Montreal simply had no idea where the shots were going to come from on their penalty kill.

Scoring opened up in the first period off the stick of Montreal's tough-guy defenseman P.K. Subban. The Canadiens led for exactly 4:08 in this game until the Penguins began their power play tear, took the lead and never looked back. Sergei Gonchar got the first of the power play goals at 8:38 in the first, followed by another power play goal by Jordan Staal at 13:47. The Pens led 3-1 after one period of play. Kris Letang added a 3rd power play goal for the Pens at 2:34 in the second period. Mike Cammalleri showed a pulse for Montreal at 15:27 in the second, but that was silenced by Craig Adams at 18:36 and the Pens took a 4-2 lead into the locker room after 2. Alex Goligoski added the 4th of the Penguins' power play goals at 2:59 of the third. At 12:29, Brian Gionta gave Montreal a power play goal. The final dagger was thrust by Billy Guerin with an empty net goal, finalizing the score at 6-3.

Other big news from game one included a Matt Cooke hit on Andrei Markov, a lacerated ankle tendon on Jordan Staal and the pulling of Jaroslav Halak in the third period. As Markov was coming around from behind the net, Cooke was in pursuit and threw a shoulder into the big Russian. Markov wend down awkwardly into the dasher board and did not return after. Jordan Staal's injury seemed even more harmless. Coming across center ice, Staal took a shove from a Montreal defenseman and fell awkwardly. He got up limping, but it seemed normal for a hit of that style, but it would later be found that he had lacerated a tendon in his ankle in that fall. Halak was pulled in the third period after giving up 5 goals and replaced with Carey Price. Some things had to change if Montreal wanted to have a fighting chance in this series.

Game 2: Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh
Montreal kind of turned it around in game 2. Three players in particular turned it around for the Canadiens: P.K. Subban, Jaroslav Halak and Mike Cammalleri. Without Andrei Markov in the lineup, Subban stepped up his game in a big way, playing an extremely solid defensive game 2. Jaroslav Halak went from giving up 5 goals in game one to giving up just 1 goal in game 2 after facing 39 shots. Mike Cammalleri continued his MVP-esque performance by getting two more goals, taking the scoring lead for the playoffs. The Penguins did give the Canadiens a chance this game, however. If you read yesterday's Pens Zen, you would know what I mean. As the Zen pointed out, the Penguins played an undisciplined game 2 compared to game 1. Yes, they led in shots, scoring chances and time of possession, but the Pens were trying to force plays, rather than make plays. In the end, it added up to superior numbers but an inferior score.

Matt Cooke got the Pens rolling out of the gate with a nifty move at 4:38, beating Halak through the five-hole, giving the Penguins an early 1-0 lead. This would be the only goal of the night for the Penguins, however. Brian Gionta scored at 15:48 for the Canadiens off of a pass out of the corner from team mate and fellow former Devil Scott Gomez. Marc-Andre Fleury made a poke-check on the pass, but it careened off of Fleury's stick, then off of the right instep of Brooks Orpik and right to the tape of Gionta, who was left with about half the net with which to work. This game was knotted at 1 after 1. Mike Cammalleri got his 7th goal of the playoffs in the second period when he scored a power play goal at 7:29. If this one was not on Sportscenter's top 10...shame on them. P.K. Subban took a shot from the point and the rebound came off of Fleury right to Cammalleri. There was one problem: the puck was about 3 feet off the ground. Cammalleri hackeysac-ed the puck with his right shin guard and then knocked the puck into the open net out of mid-air. Very impressive. That goal gave Montreal a 2-1 lead after 2. Cammalleri then added his second of the night at 17:06 when he ripped a break away wrist shot over the glove of Marc-Andre Fleury. Montreal took game 2 by a score of 3-1. If you want to read more into this one, check out yesterday's Pen Zen.

The series is now tied 1-1 heading into the Bell Centre. Game 3 is Tuesday night at 7:00 pm on that dreadful Versus. The Pens need to just chill out and play their game and don't try to force plays. They are a far superior team, they just need to play that way. With one game back each, I would look for contributions from Jordan Leopold and Tyler Kennedy in the absence of Jordan Staal on the third line.

Let's go Pens,
B Brog