Monday, April 25, 2011

Lightning 4, Penguins 2

So what happened?
The Pens were down 2-1 heading to the third period. Then they did something unusual - they tied the score in the third. Just a few seconds later, Max Talbot and Chris Conner combined for three attempts point-blank on Roloson. He stopped all three.

The Pens have to score there. Have to. When you're having as much trouble as the Pens are with scoring goals, you have to convert there. I haven't even mentioned the five chances on the power play or the penalty shot by Conner.

The Lightning, despite only managing 21 shots, were opportunistic in their scoring. The had a breakaway that Malone converted to seal the game. They had a "blind squirrel finds a nut" pass from Moore that Bergenheim scored on. In short, they made the most of the chances they had.

The Pens didn't. That was the difference in the game.

Who scored?
Dupuis (1), Staal (1)

The Good?
  • They fought back and tied the score in the third period.
  • The Pens scored first.
  • Roloson looks awfully shaky handling the puck sometimes. Keep giving it to him in Game 7.
  • There is still a Game 7. As much as this feels like the end of the world, the Pens still have a good chance to advance.
The Bad?
  • The power play. Zero goals in five chances. Really poor. They have to convert, plain and simple. Someone has to find a way.
  • Fleury wasn't bad, but he wasn't good either. Roloson found a way to make key saves - Flower didn't. He also allowed too many rebounds in my opinion.
  • Faceoffs - the Pens were smeared.
The Ugly?
  • Did I mention the power play?
Any Surprises?
  • No - this went pretty much how you hoped it wouldn't from the Pens perspective.
What's the series at now?
Tied at 3-3.

When is the next game?
One more shot at the Bolts, on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

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