Game 3 recap; The first goal matters?
by mjsst61 on May 23, 2009 10:18 PM EDT
6 comments
The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially put the Carolina Hurricanes on the brink of elimination with a remarkable 6-2 win tonight in Carolina. Every announcer and analyst in the hockey world talks about how important the first goal of a game is but the Penguins are making a counterargument this postseason.
Let's take a look at the games the Pens have won. Two out of the four games that the Pens beat Philadelphia, the Flyers scored the first goal. Two out of the four games that the Pens beat Washington, the Caps scored the first goal. And tonight the Carolina Hurricanes scored the first goal.
The Canes came out of the gate strong tonight which was expected with them being at home. They actually outshot the Pens tonight for once and Matt Cullen put them on the board first just four minutes into the game. The turning point was at the end of the first period. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored back to back goals, 31 seconds apart, with less than a minute left in the first. That took the energy out of the high octane RBC and they never really recaptured that energy.
Fatigue has to be believed to be the big factor. Even after Sergei Samsonov brough the Canes within one goal in the third period, the Pens just had more in their legs. Joe Corvo, Joni Pitkanen, Dennis Seidenberg, and Eric Staal all played 22+ minutes again tonight while the Pens only had three guys over 20 minutes and Crosby was the only one to even get to 21.
The big guns are tired for Carolina and it's being shown by the scored. Matt Cullen is the leading scorer for the Canes with three points this series. Evgeni Malkin is the leading scorer for the Pens with triple the points at nine. Yes, that's Malkin being spectacular. It's also the Canes being lackluster.
Food for thought. Does anyone remember how much Evgeni Malkin got scrutinized last year for being non-existant in the Conference Finals. He was considered to be someone that choked in the playoffs. I think we can throw that theory out the window.
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heh
To your last point about Malkin: yes, when you’ve scored 28 points in 16 playoff games you’re officially not a choker.
Our little boy’s all growns up.
P is for Latrobe.
by holiday park on May 23, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hes still gotta coupla years of maturation to go through :D
" I AM CAPATIN CHAOS, and this is my trusty Sidekick cato. Say hello Cato"
Dom Deluise 1933-2009, Cannonball run
by oldtimehockey09 on May 23, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and that thought just makes me giddy
how much more can Malkin and Crosby imrove???? they are so young, but with the level that they are playing right now, it’s somewhat frightening to think that they can will get better in the years to come!
"You can park wherever you want!" BWW09
"You want a donut, go to Dunkin Donuts. You want a linebacker, you go to Penn State."~Chris Carter
by amandakt on May 24, 2009 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the other day I said the following about needing to score first in Carolina:
Against New Jersey, the team with the first goal in Carolina went undefeated. Game 3’s winner being the Devils in OT; their lone win in Carolina.
Against Boston, the team scoring first in Carolina won 2/3, with the lone let down of this stat being another Game 3 OT finisher, this one swinging the way of the Canes.
Well, that changed, as well as the Game 3’s in Carolina going to OT funk.
This game tonight really has me foaming at the mouth for whoever we face in the Stanley Cup finals. I don’t mean to overlook past Carolina when we haven’t officially ousted them yet, but this game spoke volumes.
My pondering thought, before I go to sleep anyway, is if this offense is above and beyond the one last year to the point we could throttle the Detroit Red Wings’ defense. That series isn’t over yet either, but, of the two, their defense is the worrying one to possibly cool off our offense.
Perhaps it’s just me scratching my head in a ‘too good to be true’ instance, but I think tonight’s game showed our stars doing what they need to, defense being fairly solid, and game to game consistency that has me thinking it can carry right on through to the Cup.
Then again, Carolina may have just ran out of gas at the wrong time.
PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 minutes for hijynxing.
by Lavender on May 24, 2009 2:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i've said it before but
I think this year’s team will give Detroit much more of a run for their money than last year’s team did. Aside from the improved locker room chemistry and the fact that Sid and Geno are better players this year, I thought the lack of playoff experience really hurt last year’s squad in the Finals. This group is just so much tougher psychologically; whether it was gutting out tough wins against the Flyers, in a series that easily could have gone the other way, or bouncing back from 0-2 down against Washington and absolutely dominating on the road in game 7, or playing the way they did last night in Carolina, this group doesn’t break under pressure, and they’ve stepped up every time they’ve needed to.
Detroit is still Detroit, and until someone beats them they’re the best. But at a minimum I do think this year’s Finals will play out in very different fashion from last year’s.
P is for Latrobe.
by holiday park on May 24, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone remember how much Evgeni Malkin got scrutinized last year for being non-existant in the Conference Finals. He was considered to be someone that choked in the playoffs. I think we can throw that theory out the window.
The NHL grind is a massive undertaking for a young player. There’s an art and skill making it through an 82 game season, then giving it your all for another 2 months in the playoffs. I think Malkin has grown into his body a bit more, and is more physically prepared to bring it. That’s my guess anyway.
by gorgalor on May 24, 2009 5:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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