Penguins Playoff Monday

Yinzers,

It was a great weekend for hockey in the city of champions. Two games since we last spoke, so we'll jump right into it.

Friday night, game 2 with the Senators up 1-0 in the series.
With their backs to the wall at home, the Penguins needed to win on Friday night to have some momentum heading into Scotia Bank Place for games 3 and 4...we got the job done. Throughout the game, the Penguins did exactly what this author said was a necessity to come away with the victory. The Penguins' forwards came deep into the defensive zone on the breakout in order to beat the Senators' neutral zone trap with speed. The Senators had a much more difficult time keeping the Penguins in their own end and with control in the offensive zone, the Penguins were free to do what they do best: own the puck.

The game did start out on a sour note, and looked like it would be a long night with the Senators' Peter Regin scoring his second of the post-season just 18 seconds into the game on a wrist shot from distance, right over the catch glove of Marc-Andre Fleury. A soft goal to open up on the first shot of the game, but Fleury would have the last laugh, stopping all 19 of the ensuing Senators' shots. Sidney Crosberry answered the Senators goal at 8:45 in the first period, tying the game at 1 and getting his first of the playoffs. After said goal, the game got chippy. At 17:45, Andy Sutton took a run at Jordan Leopold, knocking him out-cold. It was another one of those "shot to the head-esque" hits. Sutton's elbow did come up on his follow through of the hit, but he did not intentionally throw the flipper to the head of Leopold. This was another case of a hit being unnecessary more than dirty. Leopold had his head down, but Sutton lined him up from a distance and took a good run at him. Fine-able...yes, suspend-able...not really. At the end of the first period, Maxime "Superstar" Talbot fought Jack Smith of the Senators, but we did not get to see it since FSN has the most awesome camera crew ever.
Scoring would be tough to come by for the rest of the game, with a majority of the time being played tied at 1-1. There were no goals in the second period, but there was a remarkable save-not by Marc-Andre Fleury but by Sidney Crosby. A Senators' shot trickled by Fleury, who was at the apex of the blue ice. With the puck sliding ever so tantalizingly out of Fleury's reach towards the goal line, Sidney Crosby came in behind, seemingly out of nowhere to shovel the puck out of the crease on his backhand just millimeters from crossing the goal line. I may have had a heart-attack at this point in the game. Thanks to that save, the game remained tied through two periods. Finally, at 15:48 in the third period, a game winner came off the stick of Penguins' defenseman Kris Letang. Tanger gets his first goal of the post-season and it is a game-winner for the Penguins in game two. He's here for another 4 years ladies and gentlemen. Pens win 2-1 and the series is tied at 1.

Sunday night at Scotia Skank Place, Series tied 1-1
The Senators have not won a home playoff game since Alanis Morisette butchered the national anthems 7 years ago...it would stay the same on this day. The Penguins came out firing from the start. During the pregame show, they showed the Penguins bench and I was happy to see that EVERY member of the team had a packet of smelling salts. They must read the Morning Steel Mill. Scoring opened up at 1:17 in the first period when Alexei Ponikarovsky showed amazing patience on the rush. Poni entered the right wing zone with Evgeni Malkin screaming down the wide side when a Senators' defenseman slid down to block the passing lane. Poni coolly waited for the sliding body to pass and ripped a wrist shot passed the short side of Brian Elliot, who was obviously expecting a rink-wide pass to Malkin. This would also be a pretty chippy game...I mean, come on, it's playoff hockey. The Penguins took the lead 1-0 into the locker room after 1.

Jordan Staal took a slashing penalty with no time left on the clock in the first period, thus giving the Senators a power play to open up the second period. They capitalized on their chance, tying the game at 1 with a power play goal from Penguin-killer Mike Fisher. The Penguins rebounded, however, controlling the play for the rest of the game. Evgeni Malkin got his third goal of the playoffs at 5:57, followed by a late power play goal at 19:15 by Sidney Crosby. The Penguins led 3-1 after two complete.

The third period was all Penguins, with the forward lines just getting under the skin of the Senators with their in-zone puck possession. Billy Guerin added his first of the playoffs when he got a gift from Chris Kunitz. Just coming over the boards making a change, Guerin found himself taking a rangy pass from Kunitz and found himself all alone behind the Senators defense. He then proceeded to show his gray beard prowess and made a fool out of Brian Elliot with the triple deke...ok maybe it was just a sweet move to the forehand...but at any rate, the Penguins led 4-1. The Senators tried to get back into it after a power play goal from Matt Cullen at 12:58, but that would be the last they see. Final score: Pittsburgh 4 - Ottawa 2.

The Penguins now lead the series 2-1 going into the second game at Scotia Bank Place. Some things to remember for this game are that the Senators are not out of it. They are a pesky team, especially for the Penguins. Just keep doing what you are doing: bringing forwards deep on the breakout, owning the puck and pour on the shots, and the Pens will be fine.

The next installment takes place on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm in Scotia Bank Place in Ottawa.

Let's go Pens,
B Brog