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.

Penguins 6, Canadiens 3

So what happened?

The Pens were too much offensively for the Habs. Scoring four goals on four power play chances? That's the kind of thing we've been waiting to see for a few years.

The scoring was nicely distributed with three goals from the blue line and three from the forwards. Everything was working for the Pens.

Halak just didn't have it tonight. Listening to Versus and hearing Elliot say he would have started Price had to be one of the dumber things I've heard in a LONG time. On the Goligoski goal, it almost looked like Halak tried to scoop the puck up with his glove and simply missed it. With any luck, this will be a problem for Halak all series long.

Does this remind anyone else of the Carolina series last year?

Who scored?
Gonchar (1), Staal (2), Letang (3), Adams (2), Goligoski (2), Guerin (3)

Any surprises?
I was surprised the Pens were out shot when I looked at the box score. I don't think Montreal had many quality scoring chances, and I think the Pens were trying to be patient.

Where do we go from here?
Game 2 is on Sunday afternoon in the Burgh.

Notes:

• Do you start Halak or Price on Sunday?
• Hopefully Staal is okay.
• The Habs aren't this bad. The Pens need to expect a tougher game on Sunday.
• Nice to see a team pay for dumb penalties (jumping Cooke after the clean hit on Markov was a dumb penalty).

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.

Penguins 4, Senators 3 (OT)

So what happened?

Another epic game. This series sure did turn into a good one at the end, didn't it?

The Sens held a 1-0 lead after one period, and it was obvious that the Pens simply were not ready for the start of the game again. They were tentative with the puck and not aggressive with the dump and chase.

Things got worse in the second, and when Alfredsson scored about halfway through the period, the Sens were up 3-0. I was muttering and planning for a Tuesday night hockey game.

Matt Cooke scored about a minute later, and from that point on, the Pens largely dominated the game. The Sens, who had out shot the Pens 23-21 through two periods, suddenly tried to turtle and hope for the best. The Pens out shot the Sens 18-4 in the third period, and the boys from Ottawa got what they deserved. They couldn't protect the lead well enough with that dumb trap and the Pens tied the game.

Despite a few tense moments in OT, the Pens largely carried the play there too. Dupuis put them out of the misery with the series winning goal in OT, which immediately reminded me of Darius Kasparitus (in that they've both won a series in OT for the Pens).

Who scored?
Cooke (2,3), Guerin (2), Dupuis (1)

Any surprises?
I was honestly surprised the Pens had it in them to come back like they did. I thought after the OT game and falling behind 3-0 that we'd be in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Where do we go from here?
Wait and see who wins the other two series. If the current leaders hold, the Pens will play Boston. They only team they cannot play is Washington.

Notes:

• Leclaire was good in making a bunch of saves, but what happened to the Ottawa defense that had become so good at gumming up the works? The Pens blasted them with shots, especially over the last three games.
• Flower wasn't spectacular, but he made most of the saves he should and made several big saves at the right time.
• The PK came up big tonight, killing off both of the Sens chances.
• Gonchar deserves a nice rest after another 30 minutes of ice time tonight.
• I still can't get past 18-4 in the third period. That isn't playing like you want to force a Game 7.

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).

Senators 4, Penguins 3 (3 OT)

So what happened?

Epic game. It had something for everyone. Ottawa jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Pens battled back and took a 3-2 lead in the third. Regin blasted one past Fleury to tie the game and we went to OT. There was a goal by the Sens that was disallowed (kicked in), and Geno hit the post later. In the third OT, Carkner took a shot from the point that hit something on the way in and found it's way past Fleury.

Sucks to lose one like this.

Who scored?
Letang (2), Kunitz (2), Crosby (5)

Any surprises?
Once Sid scored to give the Pens the lead, I thought they were going to roll. It was surprising to see the Sens tie the game.

Where do we go from here?
A tough Saturday night match in Ottawa.

Notes:

• I'm exhausted after watching this game. I've got nothing.

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.

Penguins 7, Senators 4

So what happened?

The Senators managed to generate some offense, but it was too little, too late. The Pens simply have too much firepower for Ottawa to contain.

The first period was tight, with only Geno's power play goal giving the Pens a 1-0 lead. Elliot was playing well and it was a one-shot game. Then the wheels fell off of the wagon for Brian Elliot. The Sens allowed three goals in about 150 seconds. Elliot was yanked, trailing 4-0.

Leclaire didn't do much better, and while the Sens made a little bit of noise, they could never get closer than a two goal deficit. They needed some miraculous goaltending, and what they got from Leclaire was anything but.

I was disappointed to see Cory Clouston put Chris Neil and Jarkko Ruutu on the ice with 90 seconds left. Everyone in the building knew why they were out there. That's the kind of stupid stuff that needs to be kept out of the game of hockey. Maybe in the playoffs, penalties at the end of games need to carry over to the next game, or at least any misconduct penalties should carry over (Neil, Ruutu and Carkner all received 10 minute misconduct penalties).

Who scored?
Malkin (4), Crosby (3,4), Cooke (1), Talbot (1), Kunitz (1), Staal (1)

Any surprises?
The forwards were not taking long shifts tonight. Great job by HCDB to roll the lines.

Where do we go from here?
A chance to put the Sens out of their misery on Thursday.

Notes:

• Talbot played a great game. He's really rounding into shape.
• Hopefully Kennedy is okay.
• Great goal by Kunitz, absolutely ripping a Crosby pass from the goal line past Leclaire.

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.

Penguins 4, Senators 2

So what happened?

I think the Pens have flipped the switch for good on the Sens. There were some stretches where the Sens brought some pressure, but most of the game was slanted towards the Pens. They finished their checks, they were relentless in both the offensive and defensive zones, and they converted on their chances. The Senators simply could not match the offensive output.

I'm not going to say this series is over, but if the Sens don't find a way to generate some offense, it won't go past Thursday.

Who scored?
Ponikarovsky (1), Malkin (3), Crosby (2), Guerin (1)

Any surprises?
The ice time leader for the Sens? Erik Karlsson. That's an awful lot of pressure to put on a 19 year-old defenseman. It also says a lot about the state of the blue line for the Sens.

Where do we go from here?
A win on Tuesday essentially finishes off the Sens, if they're not done already.

Notes:

• Ponikarovsky still hasn't found his niche. He's not playing many minutes, and when he does get on the ice, he's not there for long. I'm guessing HCDB doesn't trust him defensively yet.
• The Pens did allow two more power play goals. They need to toughen up the PK if they want to go deeper than Round 2 in the playoffs.
• Fleury sure isn't doing much to help us remember Game 1 - that seems like a different goalie out there.
• Great game by GoGo, logging over 8 minutes of ice time in the third period when the game mattered the most.