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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

Playoff Game #7 - vs Montreal Canadiens

Playoff Game 7

Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins

First game of Round 2

Why does it matter?
The Pens caught a break in getting to face the 8th seed. Time to get the series off on the right foot.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Take a deep breath after the Sens pushed them further than you thought they could.
  
• Canadiens - A magical win over the Caps made history on Wednesday night.

Questions to be answered

• Will the longer layoff for the Pens affect their start in tonight's game? The Pens have been plagued with slow starts several times recently.
• Can Fleury hold the fort while the Pens try to get to Halak? Flower can be great at times, but he really needs some consistency to his game against the Habs.
• Can the Pens walk the delicate "quality not quantity" line? Given that Halak can stonewall a strong offensive team like the Caps, the Pens will try to be a bit more patient. Will that patience turn into a reluctance to shoot that we've seen at times this year? It will be a head game, for sure.

Keys to the game

• Watch out for match ups. You don't want to see Jay McKee as the last defense trying to slow down one of the quick Montreal forwards (like Cammalleri, Gomez or Gionta).
• Start out strong. The Habs played well on the road in Round 1. Get the legs going early and take control of the series from the outset.
• Score on the power play. The Habs completely dominated the Caps power play. The Pens can take the air out of their sails with a few tallies on the man-advantage.

Playoff Game #6 - at Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 6

Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators

Penguins lead series 3-2

Why does it matter?
Because the Pens want to avoid a Game 7, where anything can happen.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - One bounce in OT sent the series back to Ottawa.
  
• Senators - One bounce in OT has the Sens feeling like they're back in the series.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens avoid the slow start that has plagued them in both of their losses in this series?
• Can Fleury not allow a soft goal? I'm calling Regin's third period goal soft - he was out near the blue line and beat Fleury cleanly without any screen I can remember.
• Can the PK get through a game without allowing a goal?

Keys to the game

• Keep firing on Leclaire. He looks susceptible to rebounds since he seems to wind up sitting on his backside frequently.
• Keep it simple early on - north and south with an emphasis on finishing checks.
• No dumb penalties (I'm looking at you, Mike Rupp and Matt Cooke).

Playoff Game #5 - vs Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 5

Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins lead series 3-1

Why does it matter?
Because the Pens have a chance to finish off the Sens and get some rest heading to the second round.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Things looks a bit iffy heading up to Ottawa. Sure is a different picture now, isn't it?
  
• Senators - if I'm the Sens, I can't be too disappointed. It's not as if they've been really bad, other than parts of Game 4.

Questions to be answered

• Now that they have the chance, will the Pens show the killer instinct?
• Can we have a stop to the dumb penalties, and can we get some good results by the PK?
• Assuming that Fedotekno plays, how will he respond to being scratched? He could be valuable to the Pens going forward.

Keys to the game

• Whichever goalie plays for Ottawa, get to them early and make them uneasy.
• No let down if you get a lead.
• Keep rolling the lines. Now that there's a reasonable certainty that the Pens will take this series, keeping the top guys from wearing out will pay dividends down the road.

Playoff Game #4 - at Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 4

Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators

Penguins lead series 2-1

Why does it matter?
The Sens will have themselves convinced this is their last stand: win or hear the fat lady warming up. They'll probably play like it, too. The Pens need to be ready, because they won't have seen desperation like this since last year in the playoffs.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Just rounding into playoff form, and looking really sharp.
  
• Senators - I think they're done - they can't generate enough offense and aren't deep enough.

Questions to be answered

• Can Fleury keep playing at a high level?
• Can the PK shut down the Sens?
• Can the Pens keep their cool when the Sens try to ratchet up the nonsense?

Keys to the game

• Stay consistent. The Pens have established a good groove. They need to keep it simple and keep it going.
• Don't worry about the match ups. While Sid has been frustrated, he has been able to find ways to produce.
• Secondary scoring. The quickest way to take the Sens out of the series is to get some offense from the third and fourth line.

Playoff Game #3 - at Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 3

Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators

Series tied 1-1

Why does it matter?
Remember how the Senators wanted to win one game in Pittsburgh? The Penguins can undo all of that damage today with a win in Ottawa. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that a win today would be a big dagger in the Sens chances in the series.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Game 2 was more reflective of recent Penguins playoff hockey.
  
• Senators - They can't be feeling good about their chances unless they can find a way to ramp up the offense.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens keep up the physical pace they set in Game 2?
• Will HCDB be able to avoid the Phillips / Volchenkov match up? Better yet, do they care about avoiding it?
• Can Flower put together strong starts in back to back games?

Keys to the game

• Withstand the storm - the Sens are going to bring it early in the game. Get through the first 10 minutes and then go to work.
• Keep hitting - even if the Sens can match up better, that sets up well for the Pens with Kunitz and Guerin being able to forecheck, and punish, Phillips and Volchenkov.
• Second line scoring - Geno's line needs to produce at even strength if the Sens get the match up they want with Sid's line.

Playoff Game #2 - vs Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 2

Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins

Ottawa leads series 1-0.

Why does it matter?
The Pens badly need a win at home to even the series before going back to Ottawa on Sunday. The hole has been dug - now the Pens have to find a way out of it.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - An inconsistent effort in Game 1 that left most disappointed.
  
• Senators - They have to be feeling like they stole Game 1, given how shaky Elliot was. They did lose Michalek for the rest of the series, which will further reduce their depth.

Questions to be answered

• How long is the leash on Flower? Can you get away with yanking him in the playoffs given how often he was yanked this year?
• Can the Pens lock down the PK? I know one of the Sens power play goals was a fluke, but still, they netted two in three chances. That's the game right there.
• How will the Pens respond to adversity?

Keys to the game

• Don't lose focus.
• Step up the energy level and keep it going for 60 minutes, especially on the dump and chase (which is necessary because of their trap).
• Don't be too worried. Four goals against a team playing the trap will win the game most times. Lock down the defense a bit and keep going.

Playoff Game #1 - vs Ottawa Senators

Playoff Game 1

Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins

Why does it matter?
This is the Pens chance to show that the inconsistency that plagued them this season was nothing to worry about. The Sens were on the other extreme - they were either consistently good for a stretch or consistently terrible. Let's hope the latter holds for this series.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Trying to get everyone healthy to start the playoffs. It looks like everyone will go, with Kunitz being the question mark.
  
• Senators - They will be without Kuba and Kovalev. The loss of Kuba hurts, as he was their ice time leader during the regular season.

Questions to be answered

• Which Fleury will show up? Can he regain his playoff form from the last two seasons?
• Can the Pens stop Alfie and Spezza?
• What happens if they drop one of the games in Pittsburgh? How will they react to adversity?

Keys to the game

• Get to Elliot early. Don't let him get comfortable back there.
• Don't get wrapped up in any nonsense. I know you see less of that in the playoffs, but if Ruutu or Neil get you thinking about them instead of winning the game, you're losing the battle.
• Focus on the details. Finish the checks all game long. Make sure on line changes before jumping on. Make the extra effort on the back-check. These are the things that can win the series.

Game #82 - at New York Islanders

Game 82

Penguins (46-28-7, 99 points) at Islanders (34-37-10, 78 points)

Why does it matter?
It doesn't, really. The Pens have nothing to play for. They're going to be the 4th seed in the East and will play Ottawa in the first round. The only thing that matters is watching to see if Sid can score two goals to pass Ovechkin, who did not score in the Caps season finale.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A disappointing loss to the Thrashers put the Pens securely in the 4 spot.
  
• Islanders - To say they've been smacked around lately would be kind. They've lost two straight, giving up 7 goals in each one.

Questions to be answered

• Will Sid hit 50 goals? He has 15 points (4 + 11) in his last 7 games.
• Can the Pens avoid injury to anyone else? Orpik, Cookie and Kunitz are all dealing with ailments of various sorts.
• Will we see the debut of Eric Tangradi?

Keys to the game

• Just get through the game - get some work in and don't get hurt. Think of this as a scrimmage to help as a tune-up for the Sens.

Game #81 - at Atlanta Thrashers

Game 81

Penguins (46-27-7, 99 points) at Thrashers (34-34-13, 81 points)

Why does it matter?
It's looking likely that the winner of the Atlantic division will have the #2 seed. That should be the focus - home ice through two rounds (should they make it through the first round).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Pens took care of business in exemplary fashion against the Isles on Thursday.
  
• Thrashers - Atlanta wilted down the stretch (7 losses in 9 games) and cost themselves a playoff spot in the process.

Questions to be answered

• Will Sid hit 50 goals? He has 15 points (4 + 11) in his last 6 games.
• Can the power play keep going? Don't look now, but they have 5 goals in 15 chances over the last three games.

Keys to the game

• No mental lapses!
• Simplify the game. Go north and south, get pucks to the net and crash. That will be what drives success in the playoffs when teams tighten up.

Game #80 - vs New York Islanders

Game 80

Islanders (34-35-10, 78 points) at Penguins (45-27-7, 97 points)

Why does it matter?
Winning the division would be a good idea. Three wins to close out the season is critical to doing that.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The results just weren't there against the Caps on Tuesday.
  
• Islanders - Five wins in their past six games. They play well when there's no pressure.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens take care of business? This is a team they should beat.
• Is this a good time for Flower to regroup? Fleury has been strong against the Islanders this year.
• Can Sid step up? He has 8 points (3 + 5) in four games against the Isles this year.

Keys to the game

• Win at even strength. The Isles have done nothing special on special teams recently, but they have been winning.
• Realize what's at stake. The Pens need to keep their intensity even if the Isles don't have it.
• Get healthy for the playoffs. As important as the #2 or #3 seed is, it's not as important as having everyone at full strength for next week.

Game #79 - vs Washington Capitals

Game 79

Capitals (52-15-12, 116 points) at Penguins (45-26-7, 97 points)

Why does it matter?
Pens. Caps. That's enough, isn't it?

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A tenacious comeback win over Atlanta.
  
• Capitals - Three straight wins amid a blueprint for defeat handed out by RJ Umberger.

Questions to be answered

• Was Umberger right? Will a team that bottles the Caps up in their own end have the upper hand? We won't get the answer today, but we will in about a week...
• Which PK will show up for the Caps - the one that has killed 9 straight chances over three games, or the one that allowed 6 goals over 16 chances during the previous four games?
• Can the Pens keep winning to keep the pressure on Jersey?

Keys to the game

• Keep your heads up. You know O-Face will be running around.
• Take it seriously - this is the last good warm up for the playoffs (the next three opponents are the Isles, the Thrashers and the Isles again).
• Get the puck deep and keep it there. The Caps, per Umberger, like to float and poach. Try ill advised passes just inside the blue line (Geno) and you're going to be chasing someone on a breakaway.

Game 78 - vs Atlanta Thrashers

Game 78

Thrashers (34-32-12, 80 points) at Penguins (44-26-7, 95 points)

Why does it matter?
The Thrashers are playing for their playoff lives, and their schedule looks to be preventing them from getting into the playoffs. After today's game, they play the Devils and Caps before finishing up with the Pens again, this time in Atlanta. That means they'll be desperate to earn two points today. That's actually good news for the Pens, who need to find a way to match the intensity of their opponent. That has been lacking in their game for a bit now.

Also, the Pens are all tied up with the Devils with each team having 5 games remaining. They cannot finish in a tie, because the Devils would win the tie breaker (since they've owned the Pens this year).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A very lethargic effort against Tampa resulted in a shutout loss.
  
• Thrashers - Recent losses to Carolina and Toronto make it seem like they're not ready to get into the playoffs.

Questions to be answered

• What is the mental state of this team? Are they ready for the post season?.
• Will Geno and Sarge return? It looks like they'll play today.
• Which forward do you sit? Mike Rupp? Max Talbot?

Keys to the game

• Get into the game early. I don't know if a fight would help, or just hitting anything that has the puck, but they have to do something to get into it.
• With Sarge back, get some production out of the power play. The Thrashers have been excellent on the PK lately, so this will be a good test.
• Look for Sid when there's a chance to score. The Rocket Richard trophy would be nice.

Game #77 - vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 77

Lightning (30-34-12, 72 points) at Penguins (44-25-7, 95 points)

Why does it matter?
Because it should be two points in the bank. The Lighting are playing out the string, they're not good on the road to begin with, and the Pens are in the driver's seat for the Atlantic division. If they win their remaining games, they will earn the crown (and either the #2 or #3 seed).

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The first two games into the 6 game home stand have yielded four points.
  
• Lightning - They're not technically eliminated, but they sure are playing like it.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens stay up for this game? Allowing four goals to the Leafs at home on Sunday was not a good sign.
• Will Geno and Sarge return?
• Can we get some consistency on the defensive side? The goals against totals for the past while have been all over the map.

Keys to the game

• Take them seriously. The Lightning would love to make playoff teams unhappy, especially when home ice could be influenced.
• Get the power play onto the ice and then execute. This is a must heading into the post-season.
• Get Fleury some support. No mental mistakes like unmarked men in front of Flower or bad line changes.

Game #73 - at Detroit Red Wings

Game 73

Penguins (42-24-6, 90 points) at Red Wings (35-23-13, 83 points)

Why does it matter?
It's the Red Wings - even though Detroit is down a bit in the standings, this match up still has the glamor of being a Cup Finals rematch. The Pens, as usual, also badly need two points.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -Optimists would say 6-2-2 in the past 10 games. Pessimists would say 4 losses in the past 6. Realists would say 2-2-2 in the last 6 won't earn the #2 seed, so win the game!
  
• Red Wings - The old men seem to have finally heard the alarm ringing, because they're 8-2-1 in their past 11 games.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Wings be scored on when they're down a man? They've allowed power play goals in just two games since the end of January. They also don't take penalties much at all.
• Will Sid step up? He has been quiet lately.

Keys to the game

• Win the battles at even-strength.
• Find a way to get onto the power play and then crash the net like there's no tomorrow.

Game #72 - vs Carolina Hurricanes

Game 72

Hurricanes (29-33-8, 66 points) at Penguins (42-24-5, 89 points)

Why does it matter?
Another chance for two points, and another chance to keep the pressure on the Devils to win. Also, a chance to even the wins against the Canes, who have beaten the Pens twice this season.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens -Glass half full - if you ignore the games against the Devils, the Pens are 6-0-1 since the break.
  
• Canes - Since the end of January, the Canes have been one of the better teams in the NHL.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens get to the power play? The Canes don't take many penalties, but they allow goals when they do.
• Will the same effort be there from the last game against the Canes, but with better goaltending this time?
• Will Geno play? He skated yesterday and might play. If I'm HCDB, I sit him one more game - you have Detroit and Washington as your next two opponents.
• Finally! Fleury got the shutout! I removed my long-standing question!
  

Keys to the game

• Stop Staal and Whitney. They always seem to kill the Penguins.
• Control the boards and dominate the offensive zone time. The goals will go in if the effort is there.
• Clean up the mental mistakes - again. This is an ongoing process - get the mind into the playoff mindset so you're ready when they arrive.