Wings Blank Pens Again, Up Series Lead to 2-0
by FrankD on May 27, 2008 12:33 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintTwo consecutive shutouts - not how Pittsburgh anticipated this series to go. Therrien shuffled up the lines, scratched Laraque and brought in some veteran leadership with Roberts; but alas, it was all for none.
This isn't helping matters much...
"We took two penalties tonight on the goalie," Therrien said, turning up the heat on Osgood. "We never take penalty on the goalie in the playoff. I'll tell you something, I reviewed those plays. He's (Osgood) a good actor. He goes to players and he's diving. Took away our power play. (We've) got to get focused. I know our players are frustrated right now. It's tough to play the game."
The Penguins need an improvement and they need it now. Chris Osgood has been playing stellar, but he's hardly been challenged. 41 shots in two games? Come on, that's a little over the average goaltenders nightly workload. Challenge him and get to the net.
Easier said than done I suppose. Detroit does an excellent job of shutting down the lanes, blocking shots and controlling the neutral zone. So in reality, you can't make it to the net if you can't see the net.
While we're on the topic of Osgood, I'd just like to say that blogging for the Penguins has been a hobby, privilege and source of entertainment for the past year. I've seen/heard/had e-mails sent in regards to Crosby's diving, Malkin's slew-footing and Ruutu's 'questionable' play - but come on Osgood. If you can't take that little love tap from Sykora late in the third you shouldn't be playing hockey. You embellished against the Stars and now you're trying to tag a player in the box when you clearly have the win. Classless.
And hey, I'll be the first to admit that Roberts acted way out of line on that Franzen hit. While I don't doubt Franzen was seeing lil birdies over his head, the entire situation/hit was pointless. So I can dish it, take it and critique myself - that was uncalled for.
But let's get back to the topic at hand; Pittsburgh's inability to score. Is it Malkin trying to finesse, Crosby trying to drive or Gonchar's desire to slap from the point that is destroying this team's chances of scoring? Rather then play as a team it seems like the Pens are trying to do it as individuals. That isn't going to cut it in a Cup run.
When you really break it down, here is the solution to Pittsburgh's problems.
MORE SHOTS
12-3-4 in Game One, 6-6-10 in Game Two. A good majority are being blocked, a ton of passes are missing the mark and the close calls wither away in a quick Detroit rush down the other end. Detroit's transition game is incredible; Pittsburgh can't crash the D-men on offense and get back in time to stop a rush. And so we see Pittsburgh's forwards unable to control the puck in the zone, cycle around and get a shot off. Towards the end of the game - you know, where it didn't matter anymore; Pittsburgh was really starting to look like they were gelling. Swift passes, shots on goal and just this sign of control. It was the one thing that stood out as a sign of hope in Game 2. What didn't help was a statistic that said Detroit kept the Malkin line shot-less. Shot-less (obviously) means they were a scoreless line, something you hope to at least muster up from the second line
LESS PENALTIES
Just like how you can't take yourself off the power play with a penalty of your own, you can't give Detroit a PP chance when you're down by two and looking to at least make SOME sort of comeback. Game One was nothing compared to Monday's game, where Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts spent more time in the box than on the ice. Tally eight minutes for Malone, 14 for Roberts and a total of 46 for the team. Amazingly, despite EIGHT power-play attempts, Pittsburgh's PK units kept Detroit scoreless.
SHORTER SHIFTS
Guys are getting burned. Gill is doing what he can with his size in the slot, but outside of that he's getting schooled left and right. When you mention something about the defense breaking down (which was key in Game 1) you first have to factor in exhaustion. With Pittsburgh's inability to control the puck in Detroit's zone and their own inability to clear the zone, you have guys skating marathon-like shifts out there. The only time they can catch a breath is when Detroit celebrates a goal.
In the end, at least the Pens are heading back to Pitt for Game 3. Optimistic Pens fans would pray that Pitt gets their footing (skating?) back and heads back to Detroit in a 2-2 series tie. The chances are there, yet just out of Pitt's reach when it comes time to capitalize.
Hey, I'm only the guy running this blog and writing this article, but it's as much your as it is mine.
What do you think Pittsburgh has to do to turn things around in Game 3? Is the change inward as mentioned, or should they consider looking at Detroit and doing something about that?
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What the hell?
Why can’t they score? Why do they take stupid penalties? Why did OsCRAP dive? These are all questions that need to be answered. What do I think Pittsburgh has to do? Well you said score – that’s OBVIOUSLY key. You said less penalties. That’s another big one. How about win? Did you say that? If not that’s my suggestion.
If they plan on looking at Detroit for answers they’re just going to get frustrated. It’s the tortoise and the hare out there. Only instead of slow and steady Pittsburgh is slow and sloppy with no signs of redemption.
I was thinking winning was just understood, but I like the way you think. Pittsburgh can’t play Detroit’s game. They have to speed it up and play it their way. That is, unfortunately, hard to do when you’re shorthanded. Plus, it’s much easier to force another team to play a slower paced game than it is to speed things up, something that happens to be Pitt’s style. Either way, Detroit’s transition game is incredible. They can go from 0-50 in no time at all and switch from a dump-and-run offense to a run-and-gun before you know it. Very dangerous.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I think
Detroit has gotten in their heads. They just look so frustrated all the time. They need to stay calmer, so they don’t end up on a ridiculous parade to the box. I’m pretty sure it was just last week when we proposed that “No More Penalties” be the Pens new motto. Now would be a good time to implement that.
Of what I saw, Crosby at least looked like he was trying to stay on the puck (unlike some other players who just seemed to skate into trouble every single time they crossed the line), but he had zero space to get anything going.
If we’re going for another line change in the next few days can I suggest Kennedy, who at least has the speed, and Crosby, who can at least keep the puck, play together. Just for a few shifts? Just to appease me?
Solid suggestion with Kennedy and Crosby. Perhaps Kennedy-Crosby-Hossa would make for a solid line. Malkin-Malone-Sykora on 2. Either way you put it they just need to shoot the puck more. You can’t have your second best scoring line held shot-less on the game. That accomplishes nothing.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
In my opinion the Pens are trying to do too much on their own, as Frank said. But at the same time they’re getting out hustled, and beaten to most of the free pucks.
Detroit has been doing a great job of having Pittsburgh play Detroit’s game. Detroit is succeeding in what Philly attempted to do. I think Detroit has frustrated Crosby, Malkin, etc. to the point where they feel like they need to put then entire team on their back and score . . . instead of playing our team game. And Malone has been non-existent, except for penalties. If he was able to at least get a stick on that pass from Crosby at the beginning of the game it may have been the spark the Pens needed. Pitt just has to believe/realize they can play with these guys. But one thing is for sure, Detroit has a bunch of “crafty” veterans.
I agree with the comment about the Wings making us play their game. The only two games we had lost in the playoffs were when the Rangers and Flyers were able to slow us down and force to play their style. I know it’s an obvious comment but I really do think we have to score first in game three to get the win…
HAHA
Kudos on the John Madden reference. I also like “When you throw the ball the guy catches it, when he catches it he scores – that’s how you win football games.”
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I also like
“What he did there was tackle the guy with the ball. If you don’t get tackled you score. That’s how you keep points off the board.”
by PensFanJohn on May 27, 2008 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Fleury
Notwithstanding the rest of the Pens, does anyone think Fluery looked a little sloppy in Game 2?
I’m not saying that the goals were necessarily weak, but I think that if he was on his game he would have stopped at least the first and second goals, and possibly the third. It’s possible that he didn’t even see the first shot, so maybe I’m not giving him enough credit. Thoughts?
Oddly enough, I feel as if he showed more poise in Game 1 when he gave up 4 goals than in Game 2 when he gave up three. That first one from Stuart should’ve been saved. I can almost excuse him on the Fillipula goal based on sheer WOW factor alone – although I think his D-man (Whitney?) should have picked him up and cut the angle to avoid that crossover. Heck, now that you got me thinking about it the Holmstrom goal should’ve been stopped too. That thing just tickled into the net from the Zett shot and got love-tapped in by Holmstom.
If you needed a definition for the cliche “good bounces” argument hockey players make, then Detroit’s goals in Game 2 are prime examples.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I think
Fleury is not to blame. Frank mentioned the shorter shifts and I think that’s key. The D men are fizzing out when Detroit has a fresh set of legs. Any team, no matter how good the players, will give up goals if exhausted. And Fleury can’t do it by himself either. But I think he could’ve stopped his share of goals last night as well.
Oh well, back to Pitt where he can prove it.
by PensFanJohn on May 27, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree about the tired D, and that Fleury isn’t ultimately to blame. I think Fleury is a goaltender, I just feel like he wasn’t all there last night. I agree with Frank, in that I think Fleury actually looked better in game one. Each one of the goals in game two could/should have been stopped (not that I’d call any of them “soft” goals.)
curious about officiating at the Mellon
Whether or not the home ice advantage will be extended to the penalty box parade might have an impact on how much further this series goes. The first couple of games, Detroit’s just been outworking the Pens, making those good bounces possible.
Pittsburgh hasn’t been living up to the hype that made me think they’d win in 6 prior to teh series.
As far as Osgood….I think the first one was a legit penalty, the second one he helped. I kinda agree with whoever said he might have taken a few pointers from Hasek along the way.
That said, if the series ends up in detroit’s favor, he’ll have 2 Cups of his own, a third where he was a significant factor in getting the Wings there, and a ton of wins along the way, near Hall of Fame credentials, which is amazing for a guy that’s been as maligned, even by his own fans, as Osgood has been throughout his career. Yes, Detroit’s defense has been instrumental in keeping Crosby and Company away from where they can do Osgood damage, but he does deserve some credit in his own right….
A few thoughts:
Osgood: I don’t think either of them were really penalties, the first one was a love tap where Osgood had hsi glove out. There is no way that a goalie, one of the better skaters on the team, falls on his face from a love tap. It was embellished. That being said, I don’t really have a problem with it . . . it’s the game. The 2nd penalty was just odd, Malone wasn’t even near the crease, he was beside the goal. And again, Osgood didn’t have to fall on his face . . . but to me that was more of a penalty than the first one.
Detroit’s D: I think their D has been outstanding. There hasn’t been any space in the neutral zone to do anything. But having said that, I also think Crosby, Malkin, & Co. are trying to do too much individually. You can’t generaly skate through any NHL team’s defense on your own, even when you are a superstar. The Pens just need to stick to Pens hockey, solid passing, and solid skating without the puck to find the open space.
Agreed
They’re not playing as a team. And even when they are it results in ridiculous passes (minus the lead-pass to Malone at the beginning of the game) and erratic puck control. Jordan Staal had that wide open shot on Ozzie fairly early in the game but panicked and shot it wide. He had plenty of time to control the puck and maybe even enough time to get a deke in. But at this point I agree with anyone who says Osgood might have gotten inside the Pens’ heads – that is solid evidence of it right there.
The defense has been impressive and the real reason why Osgood is looking so good. Of course when you shoot the puck right into his chest you’re not making it all that difficult either.
As Dayna and I agreed on last week – Stay out of the box is a great slogan for the team to motivate behind.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
Crosby hasn’t had much luck with skating through teams’ defense this season. Blame it on the ankle or the level of expectancy these teams have of him now. I mean, you can only triple deke so many times (Might Ducks reference #1).
I agree – Osgood deserves credit when credit is due. He’s earned it, no doubt. But it’s when he takes a lil flop like he did last night that really bashes his reputation as a solid and professional player.
Besides, the Pens can still win in 6. ;-)
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
Firstly, Coach Bombay would be proud.
Secondly, I’m not sure if it is Osgood getting in Staal’s head or the defense. He may have just been surprised that he actually had time. It’s kind of like when a shortstop gets a sharp groundball, double clutches because he has a lot of time, and then air-mails one into the second row of seats.
Also, with the flopping business. I said earlier “I don’t really have a problem with it, it’s the game.” Well that’s kind of a lie, I don’t like it, especially if one of our players does it. But it shouldn’t keep us from winning a game. I think it just added to our “frustration factor,” and the team just needs to play our game. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, stick to Pens hockey and stay away from Rangers/Redwings/Flyers hockey. Osgood, Isgood, but he’s not that good, time to burst his bubble.
Good analysis of Staal.
The flopping/phantom hits crap puts all Pens fans in an awkward position because everyone wants to turn to us and say “now YOU’RE complaining about diving?” Sid’s had some interesting altercations this year, some of which came off to me as blatant attempts and drawing a penalty. But I’ve always said he’s better on his skates and frankly that’s where he’s better off staying. He can draw a hook by charging up the middle just as easy as he can ‘slipping’ on that stuff called ice.
Basically what I’m saying is, stick to the Flying V and hope we don’t draw Iceland.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
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