Penguins off to fast start after strong opening weekend

The Pens opened up the 2012-13 season with two straight on the road, in Philadelphia on Saturday and in New York on Sunday.

They came away with four points, and even better, won both games in regulation (meaning, they prevented their division rivals from earning any points).

Things went about as well as you could hope for - here are the positives I took away from the first two games:

• No injuries -  Seriously - this is #1 for me given that these guys had almost no training camp and most of them were not used to game speed just yet.  I don't know if it's just me, but I still get nervous every time I see Sid get hit hard.  Not sure that feeling will ever go away.
• Distributing the minutes for the forwards - Every forward played less than 20 minutes in both games.  Geno only played 16:50 in each one.  Admittedly, it is much easier to roll the lines when you have a lead, but for the opening weekend, it was good to see everyone get into the flow.  The lowest minutes total for either game was Dustin Jeffrey in game 1 with 8:49.
• Glass - Tanner Glass has fit in very well with the team so far.  I don't think people realized what the Pens were getting when then signed him, ostensibly to take Aaron Asham's spot on the roster.  Glass is the #5 forward on the penalty kill (Adams, Cooke, Sutter and Dupuis are the top 4), and he brings a physical presence.  He also plays much more than Asham did and is a much better overall hockey player.
• Goaltending - Fleury and Vokoun give the Pens an excellent 1-2 punch in net.  There's no question in my mind that Flower is your #1 guy, but Vokoun gives them the best backup they've had during Crosby's tenure with the team (no disrespect to Brent Johnson, but he's no Vokoun)
• Power play - Remember all the talk before the season about James Neal on the point, and how disjointed the power play looked?  Starting out by converting four times on eight chances kind of kills that line of thought, doesn't it?  Even if one PP goal was a empty-netter, and two others were by the second unit and / or off of the rush (Dupuis' goal).

All things considered, you probably could not have scripted a better start to the season for the Pens.

The Maple Leafs will be in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.  Hope the magic continues.

What does history tell us about a large margin of victory in the playoffs?

Since the end of the lockout in 2005, there have been 9 playoff series where a game was decided by a six or seven goal margin (all were six other than the Bruins win over the Canucks in the Cup Finals last year).

In all but one of those series, the team that lost by 6 or 7 goals in any game lost the series.

Or, to put it another way, the team that won by 6 or 7 goals in a game won every series but one.

I think the Pens still have a big hill to climb, and their chances aren't good, but at least this gives us something to hang our hats on until Friday night.

Here's the list of prior teams who lost big in a game (the loser is first):

• 2011 Pens vs Lightning
• 2011 Canucks vs Bruins
• 2010 Sharks vs Red Wings (Sharks won series)
• 2010 Canadiens vs Flyers
• 2008 Avalanche vs Red Wings
• 2008 Flyers vs Penguins
• 2007 Thrashers vs Rangers
• 2006 Flyers vs Sabres (x2)
• 2006 Devils vs Hurricanes

Penguins adapt, force Game 5

Real life still removing time to blog, but this one was too much fun to pass up.

There were two really encouraging signs to point to from this game:

• Flower improved as the game went along, looking much more like his normal self in the later part of the second and the third period.  The team played much better defensively as well.
• The Pens adjusted to how the refs were calling the game.  After the first period where the Flyers scored three times on the power play, the Pens were not short-handed the rest of the night.  The Flyers took four more penalties in the second period before they learned, but the Pens had built a four-goal lead by that point.

Game 5 is on Friday night.  It won't be this easy, but I think they'll find a way to force a Game 6.

Flyers 4, Penguins 3 (OT)

Inconsistency has been the hallmark of this team in over the past month.  That was the defining characteristic again last night.


The first period was excellent.  After that, things were not so good.

The Pens jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period.  They dominated the game over the first 10 minutes, scoring twice and forcing Laviolette to call timeout.  I thought when the Pens scored late in the first to make it 3-0 that they were on their way.

It was not to be, however.  Danny Briere scored on a breakaway, though he was clearly offside.  He scored again in the third period on a flukey goal from the half-wall when Sid screened Fleury and neither could stop the shot.  That was when you had an idea that things might not work out well.  Briere also was plastered by Brooks Orpik, drawing the Flyers only power play chance, which they converted to tie the game at 3-3.

I won't even talk about the OT.

The power play let them down as well.  The Pens had three chances but weren't able to generate a serious threat.  They look good on the rush, but if the Flyers sit back and force the Pens to set up and make a play in the zone, they're not able to do it.  That needs to be better.  It was what killed them last year against the Lightning.

The main problem is that the Flyers focused on playing hockey and the Pens weren't able to match them in the latter two periods.  That's the key for the rest of the series - can the Pens find a way to dictate the play?  When they do, they put themselves in a great spot to win games.  When they don't, like last night, things don't go well.

If they aren't able to figure it out, this series won't go very well either.

Final playoff seeding and what about Saturday?

With the win over the Rangers last night, the Pens will have the #4 seed, giving them home ice in the first round.

The Flyers, by virtue of their win over the Sabres, will be the #5 seed.

What does that mean for the game tomorrow?  I have some questions:

Do you play Crosby and Letang?  Both players have had multiple incidents with concussions.  It wouldn't be worth it to lose one of them over something stupid.  If there ever were a team that would try something stupid, it would be the Flyers.

Does Malkin play?  I think this is more likely.  He's going for 50 goals, and he usually takes care of himself pretty well.  I'd put him out there in limited minutes, and in offensive situations like the power play, offensive zone draws or after the Flyers ice the puck.

Is this a Brent Johnson game?  I think that's much more of a no-brainer.  Fleury has played a ton of games this year, and he's your horse in the playoffs.  I think you give Johnson another game.  The only problem I see with this is that Fleury will have played just once in 10 days leading up to Game 1 (assuming it is Wednesday or Thursday).

Does the outcome matter?  If the Pens play their horses and win, does it change the feeling of the Flyers heading into Round 1?  Worse yet, if they play everyone and lose, does it deflate the Pens at all?  I'd be much more worried about the latter.

Will the Flyers use the meaningless game to respond?  Given how upset they supposedly were over Vitale's hit the other night, will they try a bunch of dumb stuff when the outcome doesn't matter?  He's a clue to watch out - Jody Shelley and Zac Rinaldo line up for the opening faceoff.

The Third - Flyers 3, Penguins 2 (OT)

So what happened?

First off, the reason for "The Third" - I'm suggesting that's the new name for Scotty Hartnell.  At least twice yesterday, he jumped in as the third man on a confrontation.  Coming from the man who won't fight Arron Asham, that takes tremendous courage.  Congratulations, Scott Hartnell The Third, you have the heart of a lion.

If you had said that the Pens would play the Rangers, Devils and Flyers, all on the road, and come out with 5 points (out of six possible), I would have taken that any day of the week.

Unfortunately, when the only loss comes at the hands of the Flyers, in the last part of those three games, it leaves a foul taste in your mouth.

That's a good thing.  The Pens will now have some things to correct and some extra motivation going into a slightly easier part of the schedule.

As for the game itself, the Pens jumped out to a 2-0 lead.  It would have been worse, but Bryzgalov was excellent between the pipes (as was Fleury, for that matter).  I can't believe Bryzgalov wasn't one of the three stars for the game.

The Flyers scored twice in the third period to tie the game, and again with one second left in OT to earn the extra point.

The Flyers goal in OT was one that should not have happened - James Neal had a chance to get the puck deep in the Flyers zone.  Instead, he and Dupuis tried to make a play and wound up coughing up the puck.  That led directly to the Hartnell goal.

Who scored?

Adams (5), Malkin (41)

The Good?

• The first two periods were more of the same from the Pens.  Domination in terms of possession, zone time and shots.
• You could make a case for Kris Letang as Team MVP.  Things are that much different when he's playing.
• Geno had a great individual play on his goal.  Nice to see him keep pushing.
• Sid seems to be slowing stepping up his level of play, including getting more involved down low and going to the dirty areas (like the front of the net).

The Bad?

• The third period.  The Pens couldn't keep their system when the Flyers stepped up their play.  It was a good test for the Pens, and right now this time they didn't earn a passing score.

The Ugly?

• Just your usual stupid thuggery by the Flyers.

Any Surprises?

• The music people at the arena - usually when they play the musical line where the crowd chants "Crosby Sucks!", the folks in Philly drop the drum beat so as not to dilute the crowd chanting.  This time, they didn't tacitly endorse the chant by playing the full thing, so the drum was playing over the crowd chanting.

What's their record now?

The Pens are 44-21-6.  They are all alone in fourth place in the conference, two points ahead of Philly and just one point behind the Rangers.

Who's next?

Winnipeg comes to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.  Four of the next five games are on home ice for the Pens.

Game #71 - at Philadelphia Flyers

2011-12 Game 71

Pittsburgh Penguins (44-21-5, 93 points) at Philadelphia Flyers (41-22-8, 90 points)

I think this card says it all.  Cup foursomes, indeed.  Go Pens.

Why does it matter?

You figure the Pens have to come down to Earth sometime, but man, I sure hope it isn't against the Flyers.  After the Ranger's loss to the Avs tonight, the Pens can tie the Rangers for the #1 spot in the East by earning two points in Philadelphia tomorrow.  It will be Sid's first trip back to Philly (where he usually gets fired up), as well as a key divisional game.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - If they can keep playing this way, I'm not sure anyone can beat them right now.  Eleven wins in a row.  Wow.
• Flyers - After losing to Boston in a shootout, the Flyers are 7-1-1 in their past 9 games.

Questions to be answered

• Do the Flyers finally have a goalie?  Over his past 9 games, Bryzgalov has allowed just 10 goals.  Pretty sharp.
• Will the Flyers be dumb enough to get Sid and Geno fired up?  If I'm the Flyers, I let sleeping dogs lie and stay away from the dumb stuff.  I can't see the Flyers being that smart.
• Can the Pens simplify things and adjust to play a defensive style against the Flyers?  It will be needed, as the Flyers are the top scoring team in the NHL (the Pens are #2).

Keys to the game

• Discipline, both around the stupid stuff you know the Flyers will try, and (more importantly) against the high-powered offense.  Nothing dumb in the gray areas (neutral zone and near the blue lines).
• Stick up for each other.  I don't think this will be a problem, but everyone needs to pay special attention tomorrow.
• Roll the lines.  The Pens may be working on some tired legs, especially after getting the Newark monkey off of their backs.  Keep everyone fresh as much as possible.

Exhilarating - Penguins 6, Flyers 4

So what happened?

Wow - I don't know where to start with this one.  Let's start by saying this may have been the worst effort by the Pens all season in terms of their discipline in staying out of the box.  While the refs were still blowing their whistles (which stopped after the second period), the Pens handed the Flyers multiple power play chances.  Some of them were mystifying, like the hooking call on Brooks Orpik, but most of them were just dumb, like the slashing call on Paul Martin.  The Pens were fortunate the Flyers were unable to capitalize more then they did (the Flyers scored just once on the power play).

Anyway, long story short (since the Pens play again in about 90 minutes in Buffalo), this was a heated rivalry kind of game that we've come to expect against the Flyers.  The Pens used two short-handed goals to keep themselves in the game (it was tied 3-3 going into the third period), and then scored three times at even-strength to blow the game open in the third.

The Flyers biggest problem was their play between the pipes.  Both Bryzgalov and Bobrovsky were terrible (Bryzgalov looked as bad as I've seen any goalie look all season on those short-handed goals).  It's nice to see the questionable decision to spend tons of money on Bryzgalov backfire to this point.

The Pens weren't really doing much in the first two periods, aside from killing penalties and scoring short-handed.  They managed just 15 shots through two.  Once the special teams play stopped in the third, however, the Pens simply dominated.  They out shot the Flyers 15-8 in the third and put the game out of reach, basically by the time Pascal Dupuis scored just 2:09 into the third.

This is one of the few games that actually had me yelling and cheering while watching.

Who scored?

Cooke (10, 11), Staal (18), Jeffrey (4), Dupuis (13), Neal (30)

The Good?

• See the other four names that aren't Malkin or Neal that scored goals?  That's really good.
• Zac Rinaldo was not in this game.  That's also good, because I think he would have tried to hurt someone.
• We found out that Scott Hartnell is afraid to fight Engelland.  Claude Giroux was leveled on a clean check by Deryk Engelland early in the first.  Hartnell immediately went up as if to challenge Engelland, but never dropped the gloves (which Engelland certainly would have done with Hartnell).  Scott didn't try to fight until late in the game when he managed to get close to Joe Vitale, who is about 3" shorter and 10 pounds lighter than Hartnell.  Vitale, I have no doubt, would have dropped them with Hartnell if the linesmen hadn't already been involved.  You want to know the problem with the Flyers?  When it comes right down to it, they're gutless.
• The PK scoring twice was great.  Cooke's goal was against a 5-on-3.
• Flower made several key saves when the Flyers were still in the game.  He wasn't great all day, but he did make the big saves when it counted.

The Bad?

• Bad decision to pinch by Kris Letang on the first Jagr goal.  He can't take those chances in a four-on-four situation.
• Lack of recognition by the Pens that Jagr likes to shoot that wrist shot from anywhere near the circle. I think anyone that has seen Jagr play more than a few times knew what was coming, and Jagr burned the Pens twice in a row with that shot.

The Ugly?

• The stupidity of the Flyers.  Coburn's cross-check on Malkin in neutral ice with the puck nowhere near?  STUPID!  JVR slash to the hands / wrists of James Neal after the whistle in the middle of everyone (and in response to a light shove from Neal)?  STUPID!  In fairness, Paul Martin's slash after taking a slightly late hit?  STUPID!  Discipline is key.

Any Surprises?

• The refs were surprising, and not in a good way.  They made some of the most bizarre calls against both teams, and the result was an inconsistent mess.

What's their record now?

The Pens are 33-20-5.

Who's next?

A trip to Buffalo for a Sunday afternoon game against the Sabres.

Game #58 - at Philadelphia Flyers

2011-12 Game 58

Pittsburgh Penguins (32-20-5, 69 points) at Philadelphia Flyers (32-18-7, 71 points)

Giroux is taking his place among the game's best players.

Why does it matter?

The Pens have a chance to take over second place in the division and the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with a regulation win over the Flyers.  That would be a strong step towards earning home ice in the playoffs.  Oh, and winning in Philadelphia is always nice.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - The Ducks made road kill out of the Pens on Wednesday.
• Flyers - They've struggled lately, especially in the division, but they just blasted the Sabres on Thursday.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens start to win consistently in their own division?  They'll need to if they want home ice in the playoffs.
• Can any line other than the first one generate pressure?  That was non-existent on Wednesday against the Ducks.
• Will the Pens be able to shut down all of the scoring lines from the Flyers?  At least the top three lines are a consistent threat to score, and the Flyers are tops in the NHL in goals per game.

Keys to the game

• Use special teams to your advantage.  Buffalo game aside, the Flyers have been inept recently both on the power play and the penalty kill.  The Pens need to encourage them to return to those ways.
• Limit their chances.  The Flyers like to rack up the shots, but the Pens have had some success in keeping them in check.
• Make smart line change and match up well.  It will be important not to get the wrong line trapped out there against Giroux.

Bad Script - Flyers 4, Penguins 2

So what happened?

Jordan Staal scored just 44 seconds into the game.  That was the high point for the entire evening.

The Pens were undisciplined, taking three minor penalties in the first period.  This did two things - first, it allowed the Flyers to tie the game at 1-1, and (more importantly) it kept the Pens from developing any kind of offensive game.  That was the story for the entirety of the evening.  The Pens simply couldn't get anything going.

Jagr scored on a backhand that went off of Orpik's stick, and Talbot added an empty net goal at the end.  That was the bad script I mentioned in the title.  It wasn't a good way for things to go from the Pittsburgh perspective.

Who scored?

Staal (15), Kennedy (5)

The Good?

• Rinaldo was scratched.  That probably kept anyone from getting hurt.
• Nice start with the Staal goal early on.  Kennedy used his speed to bust in and steal the puck behind Bobrovsky.  He got it out in front to Staal, who did the rest.  This is how the Pens needed to play all night long, and it just wasn't there.
• Faceoff domination.  The Pens went 37-17 as a team off the draw.

The Bad?

• A total inability to get the puck in behind their defense and go to work.  After the Penalty Box Parade in the first, things never got in sync.

The Ugly?

• James Neal was unable to bury a puck sitting in front of a wide-open net.  I think that would have completely changed the game, as it was just past the mid-point of the first period.

Any Surprises?

• No - considering the recent history against the Flyers in Consol, this should not have been a surprise.

What's their record now?

The Pens are 21-12-4.

Who's next?

A quick trip over to play the Devils for a New Year's Eve matinee.

Game #37 - vs Philadelphia Flyers

2011-12 Game 37

Philadelphia Flyers (21-10-4, 46 points) at Pittsburgh Penguins (21-11-4, 46 points)

Regardless of what happens in his first appearance at Consol, let's not forget that Jagr is one of the all-time greats for the Pens.  Nothing can change that.

Why does it matter?

It's the return of Jagr and Talbot to Pittsburgh, but that's not the important story.  This game is a great match-up of two top teams in the Eastern Conference.  The Pens have a decent record in their division (5-2) but lost their only game so far against the Flyers.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A four game winning streak, with a totally dominant offensive performance in their most recent outing against Carolina.
• Flyers - They're going through a power outage right now, with four losses in their past five games.  It makes for great drama on HBO, right?

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens forget that the Flyers are struggling?  I ask that because the Flyers peripheral numbers are still very solid.  They're doing OK on the power play, they're out shooting the opposition and they're largely staying out of the box.  These things will lead to wins, and they'll kill the Pens if they don't take them seriously.
• Will we see Bobrovsky?  He has the last two wins for the Flyers.  Of course, this is the last game before the Winter Classic for Philly, and I'm sure they'll want Bryzgalov to be in good form for that outing.
• Can the Pens slow down Danny Briere?  He has torched the Pens the past few seasons, with 11 points in 13 games.

Keys to the game

• Special teams, again.  The Flyers have spent more time on special teams than anyone in the NHL (they lead in power play chances for and against).  Both their PK and PP are streaky.  The Pens need to win this battle.
• Paul Martin.  The Pens need another strong defensive guy to help contain the multiple lines the Flyers can throw at you.  Hopefully he can return.
• Ignore the booing of Jagr and (possibly) Talbot.  It will only be a distraction from the important goal, which is two points.

Inconsistent - Flyers 3, Penguins 2

So what happened?

Crosby or no Crosby - the Pens have had two good indications over the past two games that they have some work to do if they want to be considered one of the top teams in the East.

The Pens started out well for the first few shifts, and then the wheels fell off of the wagon.  By the time the wagon was repaired, the Pens were down 3-0 and had a hole to climb out of.  They almost made it to the top, but couldn't quite get there.  Against a team like the Flyers (and a goalie like Bryzgalov), you can't get down like that and expect to come back.  It just doesn't happen very often.

What I'd love to know is, how do we get 11 minor penalties called in the first two periods and then ZERO in the third?  Did the guys suddenly tighten up their play to avoid the calls?  I doubt it.

The Pens and Flyers both had ample opportunities on the power play, and each team cashed in once.  The Pens, however, had a far bigger chance when they failed to score on a five-on-three during which two Flyers broke their sticks.  That's right - the Flyers had just one guy with a stick (plus the goalie).  The Pens didn't realize it and weren't able to capitalize.  Not scoring on the five-on-three is a rally killer, and seems to be a habit for this team.

Nice work in the third period to really carry the play.  Would have been nice to see some of that during the first period too.

Who scored?

Neal (15), Malkin (10)

The Good?

• Tyler Kennedy went right after Harry Zolnierczyk to hold him accountable for crashing into Marc-Andre Fleury.  That was nice to see.
• Dominating the third period, out shooting the Flyers 14-7.
• Scoring quickly on the power play after Zac Rinaldo, the latest in a long line of Flyers goons, took a cheap shot at Robert Bortuzzo.  That was the best way possible to stick it to Rinaldo.
• Paul Martin logging big time minutes, especially after Bortuzzo went out.  Martin has been around 28-30 minutes every night for the last four gaems.

The Bad?

• Paging Steve Sullivan and Chris Kunitz - where are you during these big games?  Between Monday and this one, these two combined for two shots total.
• Geno on the faceoffs during the third period - 0-5 - that hurts.

The Ugly?

• Five-on-three with two penalty killers that had no sticks - no goals, ONE shot.  Doesn't get any uglier than that.

Any Surprises?

• Seeing Jagr for the first time this season, I was surprised by how fast he looked.  I don't remember that level of effort from the previous times we saw him.

What's their record now?

The Pens are 16-9-4.

Who's next?

Saturday night on Long Island, without Sid.

Game #29 - at Philadelphia Flyers

2011-12 Game 29

Pittsburgh Penguins (16-8-4, 36 points) at Philadelphia Flyers (16-7-3, 35 points)

Matt Read is the best Flyer you've never heard of.  He's a rookie who has 11 goals in 23 games.

Why does it matter?

As daunting as the game looked on Monday night against the Bruins, this one might be worse.  The Pens will play without Sidney Crosby, and they'll face a team that has 7 forwards with at least 7 goals, and they're all healthy.  Jagr is playing again, as is van Riemsdyk.  If the Flyers use Bryzgalov, it only gets worse, because he has been excellent against the Pens while with the Coyotes.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - They were steamrolled by a hot team with a hot goalie at home on Monday against the Bruins.
• Flyers - They've won three straight and five of their past six, though they did have to come back from a 3-0 deficit in the first period last night.

Questions to be answered

• What will it be like to watch Max Talbot in a Flyers uniform?  He's doing well for them - he has 13 points (7 + 6) in 26 games and is on pace for over 20 goals this year.
• Can the Pens beat whoever the goalie is?  The Flyers are not near the top of the league in goals against, so the opportunity is there.
• Will we see the excellent defensive team hockey since Sid is out?  That's the #1 way I think the Pens can come out with two points.

Keys to the game

• Defensive diligence by the forwards.  They have to help out with the firepower the Flyers can bring, especially considering the Pens will still likely be starting Picard, Bortuzzo and Despres.
• Limit their chances.  Stay out of the box and keep them locked down.  You don't want to get into a shootout against these guys.
• Keep skating.  The Flyers will put you on the power play if you use your legs.  Daniel Briere has 30 PIM in just 24 games.  Hartnell has 28 in 26.  Out work them and get to the power play.

Flyers 5, Penguins 2

So what happened?

The results were not there tonight for the Pens. Their effort was inconsistent too.

The first period was great, and when Tyler Kennedy scored to make it 2-1 in favor of the Good Guys about midway through the second period, you had to think things were looking up.

Unfortunately, a bad penalty taken by Paul Martin (the call was highly questionable, not so much the actions of Martin) led to a game tying goal by Hartnell. Giroux followed that up with what seemed like his 34th goal against the Pens this season, and that was all she wrote.

The problem was that the effort was not there for 60 minutes. When the bounces aren't going your way (and they weren't tonight) and the goalie is struggling (and he was), the effort has to make up for it. Tonight it didn't for the second half of the game, and it likely cost the Pens a chance at the division title.

Who scored?

Kovalev (16), Kennedy (19)

The Good?

• Kennedy had another goal, which is nice. The only thing about him is that for all the talk about how well he's playing, he's really not doing anything extraordinary. If he were on the Flyers, he'd be tied for sixth with two other guys in goals. It is a career year for him so far in his young career, however.
• Kovalev scored, downshifting and using his time-warping powers to drag everything around him to a halt (maybe like bullet time from the Matrix).

The Bad?

• The PK. While it will only be credited with allowing one goal, there were really two that went in (Carter's goal happened just as the penalty expired). If the PK can find a way to shut down the Flyers, this is a totally different game.
• Kovalev, Letestu and Neal looked out of sync for much of the night. I don't know which center you can play with Kovalev right now.
• Flower was not on top of his game, to say the least.

The Ugly?

• As noted above, the inconsistent effort level can't happen once the playoffs arrive. The Pens peaked in hits in the first period (13 out of their 29) and had just four hits registered in the third period. That is a direct indicator of willingness to work and isn't going to cut it against better teams.

Any Surprises?

• No, not really. I was mildly surprised the Pens were rolled like this, but that's what happens when you miss chances and the bounces go against you.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 45-24-8.

Who's next?

A trip to Tampa with a chance to either lock up fourth place (and home ice in round one) or throw that seeding into disarray.

Game #77 - vs Philadelphia Flyers

Game 77

Flyers (45-20-10, 100 points) at Penguins (45-23-8, 98 points)

Why does it matter?
Game of the year so far. This will have a large impact on which team finishes first in the Atlantic division.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Seven wins in nine games has the Pens streaking towards the top of the Atlantic, and maybe the East.
• Flyers - The good news? They have points in nine of their past ten. The bad news? Five of those ten games were losses, and the wins were over Edmonton, Florida, Toronto, Dallas and the Islanders. It has been over a month since they beat a playoff team (the Rangers back on February 20th).

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens take the pressure? Now that first place is within reach, will they tighten up?
• Will the Flyers be interested in playing hockey, or will we see a repeat of the previous meeting where the intensity wasn't there? I hope they bring it, because it would be a good measuring stick for the Pens.
• Can Flower continue to carry this team given some of the offensive challenges (especially on the power play)?

Keys to the game

• Smooth it out. Coming out like gangbusters and falling off is playing right into the Flyers hands. Make a consistent, concerted effort for 60 minutes.
• Be diligent on the backcheck. The Flyers are really deep offensively and can score quickly. Defense needs to be a team effort.
• Get pucks to the net and crash. I think the Flyers goaltending is shaky at best. Give either goalie something to think about.

Penguins 2, Flyers 1 (OT - SO - 2-1)

So what happened?

A great road effort by the Pens against a top team in the East. The real story tonight was the team defense that the Pens put forth, limiting the Flyers to just 20 shots. That tied the Flyers' low water mark for shots on the season (though it was the third time in March the Pens have held an opponent to just 20 shots).

The only blemish is that the Pens were unable to win this one in regulation. That was due entirely to the play of Sergei Bobrovsky (or, as Bob Errey seems to pronounce it, Bob Rovsky). He was really good, and the Pens were unable to pick the corners up high when they had the chance.

The power play scored a key goal, and the PK didn't allow one, so you'd have to say things are looking up.

Who scored?

Kennedy (18)

The Good?

• Two out of four shooters scored in the shootout, including a great move by Kovalev. Bob Rovsky seems to overreact to shots, since Kovie and Kunitz were able to beat him with good fakes.
• Dupuis had a strong physical game, taking the body more consistently than I can remember in recent history.
• Flower was solid, especially in the shootout. The goal that went in (from Richards) was a fluke.

The Bad?

• I'd say it's a bad thing that the Pens just can't find a way to bury a puck right now. They had several golden chances to score in regulation and have been unable to find the twine.

The Ugly?

• Dustin Jeffrey seems to have a knee injury. If he's out, the Pens will have four centers sitting on the shelf. Ouch.

Any Surprises?

• There was no urgency or intensity from the Flyers. I know the Pens were playing well as a team, but there didn't seem to be much effort from the Flyers in the third.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 43-23-8. They have opened up a 5 point lead over Tampa for the fourth spot in the East.

Who's next?

Back home for three straight, starting tomorrow night against New Jersey.

Game #74 - at Philadelphia Flyers

Game 74

Penguins (42-23-8, 92 points) at Flyers (44-19-9, 97 points)

Why does it matter?
The Pens have two contests left with the Flyers, and maybe more than any others, these two will go a long way towards determining if the Pens can catch the Flyers for the Atlantic Division. It's a long shot, but the chances would be greatly bolstered by two points in this one.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - A near collapse against the Red Wings, but the Pens cranked out two points. Maybe a turning point in holding the leads?
• Flyers - They've earned at least a point in 8 straight, but they've also traded wins and losses for the past six.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens take advantage of the Flyers relatively weak goaltending?
• Will the Pens have the depth to match up with the multitude of scoring lines the Flyers can throw at you? They have five 20 goal scorers while the Pens will have just one in the lineup.
• Will Hartnell get hungry again? What happened to the Flyers who pulled all kinds of nonsense? I can't say I like the positive influence that Laviolette seems to have.

Keys to the game

• Keep the pressure on. The best way to keep that goal scoring from producing for the Flyers is to keep them bottled up. Dump the puck in and go to work.
• Stop Claude Giroux, who has four goals in four games against the Pens this year.
• Initiate - don't retaliate. No more dumb penalties!!

Flyers 3, Penguins 2

So what happened?

The Flyers were the better team tonight. If not for the blasts by Geno on the power play, this would have been a serious exercise in futility. The Pens could not mount any sustained attack or offensive zone presence. They also couldn't make the Flyers pay for a completely idiotic penalty taken by Powe with just over two minutes left (seriously - why go anywhere near Fleury if you're Powe?). All in all, it was a very disappointing effort - too much time hemmed into the defensive zone and no consistent pressure when they did get the puck deep.

Who scored?

Malkin 2 (9, 10)

The Good?

• The power play managed two goals, driven entirely by Geno's shooting.
• Fleury was excellent for most of the night. Two of the three goals that went in were deflections that went up high on him - he had no chance.
• No one was injured (seriously - that's all I can come up with).

The Bad?

• 13 shots at even strength for the entire game. That isn't going to get it done.
• Kunitz was scratched. Hopefully he isn't injured too badly.
• The PK allowing the crucial goal in the third period was not good.

The Ugly?

• The last two minutes or so of the game... on the power play... over 60 seconds with Fleury pulled... you know how many shots went on net? ZERO!! At least get one to the goalie, let him freeze it, and call timeout to get your troops rested. That was the most disappointing part of the entire evening for me.

Any Surprises?

• Kunitz not playing was a surprise.

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 21-9-2. The Flyers have vaulted over the Pens and now lead them by one point for the Atlantic (and NHL) lead.

Who's next?

A chance to bounce back quickly against the Rangers in Pittsburgh.

Game #32 - at Philadelphia Flyers

Game 32

Penguins (21-8-2, 44 points) at Flyers (19-7-5, 43 points)

Why does it matter?
Not only is this a Pittsburgh / Philly game, it is also a game between the top two teams in the NHL right now. I'd call it mandatory viewing.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - 15-1-1 in their past 17 games. Everything has been going well for the Pens, obviously.
• Flyers - 4-0-1 in their past 5 games. The Flyers have been largely staying out of trouble (except for Jody Shelley, who is suspended for two games).

Questions to be answered

• Boucher or Bobrovsky? I'm thinking the Pens can take advantage of either one with the way they're playing right now.
• Will someone do something dumb to get Sid going? "Someone" includes the crowd, with their moronic "Crosby Sucks" chant. That chant is starting to sound like music to my ears, because every time Sid hears it, he seems to kick it up another gear.
• Is this the right game to bring Geno back? Even though the Flyers have largely been on good behavior, you don't really want to go into a game with them if you're not 100%.

Keys to the game

• Special teams are key. The Pens have been leaky on the PK and quiet on the power play. The Flyers have largely stayed out of the box. The teams that converts on their chances will win this game.
• Initiate, don't retaliate.
• Be tenacious around your own net with boxing out the Flyers after a shot. Protect Fleury (who I assume will start tonight).

Flyers 3, Penguins 2

So what happened?

I only saw the last 10 minutes of the game, so all I know is that they were unable to get enough pucks on net and unable to get any good amount of traffic in front of Bobrovsky. The penalty kill let them down at a critical time and they were unable to recover. If you want an example of what a Penguins goal should look like right now, look at the Flyers power play goal in the third period.

Who scored?
Letang (3), Kennedy (2)

What's their record now? Any important move in the standings?

The Pens are now 5-5-1. They are tied for first place in the Atlantic.

Who's next?

A quick turnaround with a game tonight against Carolina on the road.