Canadiens 5, Penguins 2

So what happened?

First off, congratulations to the Canadiens. They played a great game and were the better team in the series.

Fleury just didn't have it last night, from the first goal he allowed to the last one, those pucks simply cannot go in the net.

Having said that, I really thought the Pens were going to make it back to at least tie the game. I haven't seen them play like they were playing late in the second period (and start of the third) in a long time. That begs the question: where was this desperation and level of play through the series?

The Pens cut the lead to 4-2 and were flying. They had a power play to start the third. It all looked set up for a comeback. Sid and Geno both had shots point blank on Halak, but the Montreal netminder was able to stonewall both of them. Sid tried to get the puck up, but Halak was on top of him, and Geno needed to get the puck up, but he couldn't because of the pass he was taking. That sealed the fate of the Pens.

Halak was the story of the series. When the Habs won, it was largely because of him. That was never more true than last night. He held the fort and kept the Pens from being able to come all the way back.

Ending the season this way certainly stings.

Who scored?
Kunitz (4), Staal (3)

Any surprises?
One goal each in the series from Sid and Geno.

Where do we go from here?
The Consol Energy Center will open next October!

Notes:

• It was a turbulent season and a turbulent post season. Probably best we put this one behind us and look ahead.

Playoff Game #13 - vs Montreal Canadiens

Playoff Game 13

Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins

Series tied 3-3

Why does it matter?

Win or go home. Pretty simple.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - They were able to get to Halak on Monday, but they weren't able to keep the Habs away from Fleury.
• Canadiens - The Habs played a great home game when their playoff lives depended on it.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens protect Fleury, and can Flower make the big saves? He sure has in the past when the Pens needed it (think about the save on Ovechkin in Game 7 last year).
• Can the Pens keep the game simple when they're at home?
• Will the fans avoid yelling "SHOOT" when the Pens are on the power play?

Keys to the game

• Come out and establish the forecheck. Set the tone early to spend time in the offensive zone.
• Keep firing from the point. The Habs are packing it in when the puck goes down low. Work it out for a shot from Sarge or Letang and hope for a deflection or rebound.
• Protect the defensive zone. The urgency that was there in Game 5, matching up with the Habs at every step, was missing in Game 6 when players lost track of Habs in their own end.

Canadiens 4, Penguins 3

So what happened?

The Habs just don't quit. They showed remarkable resiliency in winning the game last night. The Pens had taken a 2-1 lead and were threatening to blow the game open. Halak held the fort, and Cammalleri tied the score.

The Cammalleri goal is worth talking about because it is a great example of how the Habs have stayed in this series. The Habs looked like they might have a 3-on-2, but Max Talbot hustled back to cover Cammalleri on the far side of the ice coming across the blue line. Unfortunately, Max lost track of Cammalleri briefly, and Mike used the chance to cut across the middle, taking the puck and getting off a perfectly placed backhand that went in because Flower was off his angle ever so slightly. Everything had to be perfect, and the Habs were able to execute. The Pens also were guilty of two small mental mistakes, and it cost them dearly.

The Habs added two more, and the fourth goal would prove especially costly, as the Pens would score with about 90 seconds left to pull to within one goal. They didn't seriously threaten after that, however.

Who scored?
Crosby (6), Letang (5), Guerin (4)

Any surprises?
More long shots on Halak, more goals. I think if the Pens can lock down the Habs defensively, they can get one or two past Halak.

Where do we go from here?
Wednesday night is Game 7 at the Igloo.

Notes:

• Not very often you see a shot from the point go along the ice and go in. Spacek's goal was a change of pace, for sure.

Playoff Game #12 - at Montreal Canadiens

Playoff Game 12

Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens

Penguins lead series 3-2

Why does it matter?

A third consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Finals is available to the Pens with a win tonight in Montreal.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens got some timely goal scoring and Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up on Saturday.
• Canadiens - They couldn't get the big goal (or big save) when they needed it in the Game 5 loss.

Questions to be answered

• Where is Halak at, mentally, right now? Is he getting flustered or frustrated? Something is happening, because the Habs aren't doing a good job of keeping people out of his line of sight, and he is getting beat on long shots.
• Can the Pens show the killer instinct? Will it be easier to do since they're on the road?
• Can Sid and Geno take over the game and propel the Pens to the series victory?

Keys to the game (normally I'd write new ones, but these Keys from Game 4 are better than anything new I could write)

• Withstand the storm... again. You know the Habs need this game, and you know they're going to be desperate.
• Don't give the refs an excuse to make a call. You know the fans in Montreal are going to cry every time an Hab falls over. That will put pressure on the refs to blow the whistle. Don't give them a reason.
• Get someone in front of Halak as much as possible. The Pens have had the most success when someone is parked at the top of the crease (think about Sid on Geno's goal in Game 3).

Penguins 2, Canadiens 1

So what happened?

The Pens took advantage of a first period power play to take a lead which the Habs couldn't overcome. Gonchar added an insurance marker midway through the second period. The Canadiens were the beneficiary of Orpik kicking the puck into the net with 30 seconds left, but never really threatened to tie the game in the last 30 seconds.

Fleury was excellent, and the defense was good enough to bail out Flower the few times he left a rebound hanging.

The interesting thing is that Halak is getting beat by long shots. I know there was traffic in front of him on both goals, but it looks like the Pens have found a hole they're exploiting.

Who scored?
Letang (4), Gonchar (2)

Any surprises?
Goals from the blue line are always a nice surprise.

Where do we go from here?
The Pens can end things in Montreal on Monday. That would be very satisfying.

Notes:

• Great determination on the part of Flower and the five guys in front of him to keep the puck out of the net on several of those scrums in front of the cage.
• There were several nice surges in the offensive zone by the Pens, keeping the Habs locked down in their own end. This started with the very first shift of the night.
• I would love to have seen Letestu score on his mini-breakaway. I like what Letestu brings, and he seems much more willing to do the little things than the scratches last night.

Canadiens 3, Penguins 2

So what happened?

The explanation is very simple. The Pens had all the momentum in the world in the first period and had several golden chances to build a big lead on Halak and the Habs. They were only able to get out of the first with a 2-1 lead (it could easily have been 4-1). The Habs got a few bounces in the third, most notably on the game winner, which deflected off of Letang's skate, and pulled out the win.

It was a classic playoff game, and one that you hate watch your team lose.

Who scored?
Talbot (2), Kunitz (3)

Any surprises?
The Pens were unable to withstand the charge that came in the third period. After allowing just 9 shots in the first two period combined, the Habs threw 16 at Fleury in the third. Not good enough.

Where do we go from here?
It's a best of three, with two of the games being in Pittsburgh. I like the Pens' chances.

Notes:

• Seriously, Montreal fans, you're embarrassing yourselves. It's really ironic that a Montreal reporter would publish a story calling Sid a "whiner" when the arena is full of thousands and thousands of them.
• Since we're being cheerful, Versus was poor tonight too. No replays of key moments, including Geno's breakaway late in the third.
• I still like what the Pens are doing, and I still think their chances are good. Cut down on the mental mistakes (helloooo Flower) and they'll be okay.

Playoff Game #10 - at Montreal Canadiens

Playoff Game 10

Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens

Penguins lead series 2-1

Why does it matter?
Because a win tonight would do two things:

1. It would all but put the lights out on the Habs
2. It would provide days of entertainment as we listen to everyone in Montreal say "this is what happened in Round 1".

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Fleury was The Man in Montreal on Tuesday.
• Canadiens - After a great first period in Game 3, they disappeared offensively (other than two great chances in the third).

Questions to be answered

• Can Fleury do it again? Nothing would end this series quicker than Flower getting on a roll.
• Can the Habs generate offense consistently? It's not so easy to play the defensive game when you don't have a lead.
• Can the Pens put some goals on the board at even strength? One goal in two games isn't great.

Keys to the game

• Withstand the storm... again. You know the Habs need this game, and you know they're going to be desperate.
• Don't give the refs an excuse to make a call. You know the fans in Montreal are going to cry every time an Hab falls over. That will put pressure on the refs to blow the whistle. Don't give them a reason.
• Get someone in front of Halak as much as possible. The Pens have had the most success when someone is parked at the top of the crease (think about Sid on Geno's goal in Game 3).

Penguins 2, Canadiens 0

So what happened?

The Pens withstood the storm in the first period, when they only managed three shots on net. The Habs had their best period of hockey so far this series. Unfortunately for them, they didn't have anything to show for it.

The Pens came out in the second period as a different team. They carried the play and dominated. It paid off at the end of the period when Sid, Dupuis and someone else (I can't remember - Kunitz?) had an extended shift in the offensive zone, culminating in Gill taking a penalty.

The Pens used the ensuing power play (most of which carried over to the third period) to take a 1-0 lead on Geno's blast on the short side past Halak.

The Habs had two or three golden chances throughout the third, but Flower was at his best and shut them down at every turn.

Dupuis added the empty net goal to seal things.

Great win, and great playoff hockey.

Who scored?
Malkin (5), Dupuis (2)

Any surprises?
Fleury outplayed Halak. What a pleasent surprise.

Where do we go from here?
The Pens can't shut the lights out, but they can dim them quite a bit on Thursday in Montreal.

Notes:

• Do the Habs have the world's most annoying fans? I know that's almost cliche at this point, but sometimes enthusiasm can go a bit over the top. The best comparison I can come up with is that Heineken commercial with the guys screaming about the beer room.
• Great job by HCDB to roll the lines.
• Letestu was solid at the third line center. I'd expect that we'll see him in that role again. Not sure what they'll do when Guerin comes back... do you want Fedotenko on the fourth line or Letestu on the third?

Playoff Game #9 - at Montreal Canadiens

Playoff Game 9

Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens

Series tied 1-1

Why does it matter?
The Pens need to win one of the two games in Montreal. Winning the first one would be a good start.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - They couldn't find a way to overcome a hot goalie on Sunday.
• Canadiens - Halak stole the game, plain and simple.

Questions to be answered

• Which power play will show up, the one that was 4-4 or the one that was 0-3?
• Which Halak will show up? This is probably the most important question of the series. If he's on his game, the Habs have a chance. If he isn't, they really have no chance.
• Can Sid and Geno carry the team if Halak is still hot?

Keys to the game

• Cover your own end vigorously. The Pens will get their shots on Halak, but they can't afford to allow goals like Gionta's tally on Sunday when Orpik didn't get the man or the puck.
• Don't lose faith. The ice was slanted on Sunday, but the team that carried the play didn't win. The Caps were singing the same song, but I think the Pens have a better team.
• Have Flower shut 'em out. Seriously - time for Fleury to step up and give the Habs a taste of their own medicine. He has the talent and we've seen it before.

Canadiens 3, Penguins 1

So what happened?

Some timely scoring by Montreal and three failed power plays by the Pens when they needed it most. It boils down to being that simple.

Halak was great. Fleury didn't see many shots.

The Pens need to find a way to score.

Who scored?
Cooke (4)

Any surprises?
Not really - Halak was great, and what you thought might happen (if he was great) is exactly what did happen.

Where do we go from here?
Game 3 in Montreal on Tuesday. The Pens need the same mantra the Habs cited here in Pittsburgh: "We want a split".

Notes:

• Sid and Geno? Puck --> Net?
• We need a signature game from Fleury. How about a shutout on Tuesday?

Playoff Game #8 - vs Montreal Canadiens

Playoff Game 8

Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins lead series 1-0.

Why does it matter?
Holding serve at home is important. It puts all of the pressure on the other team when you go back to their building.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The power play took over in a big way with four goals in four chances.
• Canadiens - Halak played poorly and the Habs suffered because of it.

Questions to be answered

• Can the power play stay hot? We've seen spurts from this group before, but not anything that could be considered consistent.
• Can Flower stop allowing one on the softer side as a precursor to some great saves? Can't we just skip to the great saves?
• Which team will miss their injured players more - the Habs with Markov or the Pens with Staal? My money is on the Habs. They don't have an overwhelming offense to begin with, so while Staal's absence will hurt, I think the Pens can overcome that.
• Which goalie will play for the Habs?

Keys to the game

• Win the battle at even strength. You can't count on scoring multiple power play goals.
• Be disciplined as a unit. With Staal missing, everyone will need to put some more emphasis on defensive responsibilities. Also, the PK will see a new regular member.
• Avoid the slow start. One of these days, allowing the first goal is going to burn the Pens.