Game 4 Recap: Habs trip up Pens 3-2; series tied at 2
by Hooks Orpik on May 6, 2010 11:55 PM EDT
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Penguins vs Canadiens coverage - Penguins vs Canadiens recap - Penguins vs Canadiens boxscore - Habs Eyes On The Prize
Thought this might still be a short series? Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal defense ask you to think again.
Game four between the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins had a strange feel to it. Refs made some strange calls and no-calls, and there was a lot of time between whistles. Subtract the faceoffs for goals and beginning of periods and there was only 26 stoppages in play, a lot of flow and a lot of time between whistles, which made for some interesting action.
The Habs would start the scoring just 2:34 in when Tom Pyatt took an innocent looking shot from a bad angle that fluttered in past Marc-Andre Fleury. Would Fleury like that one back? Probably.
MAF's good friend Maxime Talbot would get it back for him in the next minute, when Ruslan Fedotenko dove for a loose puck (and took out defensemen P.K. Subban) and Talbot scooped up the puck, rushed it almost the whole length of the ice and beat Halak 5 hole.
Chris Kunitz would give the Pens a 2-1 lead on the power play when he took a Sidney Crosby pass off his right skate, then it clicked off his left skate and past Halak. There was no intent to kick or "distinct kicking motion" despite that it definitely hit off skates and in net. After a review it was decided the goal would count, as it was called on the ice.
That's how the score would stay through the end of the second. The Versus broadcast threw up an awesome stat: the Penguins were 25-0 in Crosby's era when holding a lead through two periods. There's a first time for everything, and unfortunately that would end up being the case tonight.
Maxim Lapierre corralled a puck behind the net and bolted to his right and beat Fleury on a wrap-around. Tie game and the Bell Centre was going crazy. Just about a minute later, Brian Gionta threw a pass cross-ice that skipped off of defenseman Kris Letang's skate and past Fleury. Try as the Pens may, they wouldn't be able to equal it.
- Notice a trend there? The Habs score two goals on innocent looking plays and the other on a quick wraparound. The lesson? Let your guard down even for a second and they're gonna pounce and try to capitialize.
- Jordan Staal 's return, less than a week after foot surgery might become a thing of legend. The Pens kept the reigns on Staal; he only played 13:24 (about 6 minutes less than normal) mainly centering a 4th line, but just to have the big guy back should stabilize things. Especially if he experiences no setbacks and is able to take on a bigger role in the future.
- Also on the 4th line was Alexei Ponikarovsky, who only played 9:38 total, and less ice-time at even strength than any skater but Craig Adams. Should Bill Guerin and Mike Rupp both be back for Game 5, it's not out of the question that Poni could find himself in the press box.
- The Pens, as usual, out-shot the Habs 35-25. The shot attempts were an even wider margin: 73 for Pittsburgh compared to just 42 for Montreal. But it doesn't matter how many shots you take, it's how many find pay-dirt. Credit the Canadiens' shot blockers (specifically Hal Gill with 8 and Ryan O'Byrne's 7) who did a better job deflecting shots away.
- The "Big 3" for Montreal (Gionta, Scott Gomez and Mike Cammalleri) combined for 12 of the 25 shots on goal that the Habs had. For one because they're the best offensive players on their team, for another because the rest of the lines were pinned in their own zone most the night.
- Sidney Crosby: an assist, a tied for game high 5 shots on goal (with Gionta), two takeaways and a 50% night in the circles on 12 draws. He's fighting for room against Gill and Josh Gorges and though he's getting somewhat through, he hasn't been able to finish. Yet. Crosby's playing with an edge and with jump, it's got to be a matter of time.
- Also credit Versus (second time in this recap!) for noting how the Pens have adjusted to rookie sensation Subban. He's a very confident player, a great skater and terrific puck handler. But he sometimes holds the puck too long, use to the level where he can wheel around and make a play. Evgeni Malkin picked his pocket, others intercepted Subban's patented spin-to-pass move. The Pens have done a great job adjusting to his skills, pressuring him and taking advantage. Halak bailed Subban out, but the lesson has been learned.
- Another great stat: the Pens have scored 11 goals this series from 11 different players. Amazing balance there, but it's time for the best players to step it up and break this trend.
- Fleury, for his part, is always a marked man after a Penguins loss. To be sure, MAF should have had Pyatt's goal. But he also saved Alex Goligoski's bacon and Fleury was solid on several other chances, before being a victim of bad luck to see the game winner go off Letang. It wasn't Fleury's best effort, but it wasn't his worst either. Now we get to see how he can bounce back, which if it's like how he has bounced back after previous losses this post-season (3-0, 1.26 GAA, .942 sv%), and he'll have to be that good again.
In the "Race to 4", we're tied at 2. With two more games in Pittsburgh. The Habs have shown the hallmarks: an opportunistic offense, suffocating defense and a great goalie. The Pens have had them on the ropes and carried the gameplay for the majority of time. That doesn't matter though, if it doesn' help you get to 4.
2 more. Two more to four.
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This one…really pissed me off. I literally stewed for twenty minutes after it was over. You carry the play for almost the whole game, and then commit two bonehead moves that give it away.
It’s infuriating, isn’t it? Pretty much what we Caps fans were trying to cope with, too.. utterly dominating offensive zone time and shots taken, and losing in a low-scoring affair on a couple of scoring chances that came off of turnovers or mental mistakes.
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stewed for Only 20 minutes? I am still angry and it’s 7 am the morning after.
by katie300 on May 7, 2010 6:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I completely agree! I was out with friends watching the game, neither were Pens fans, and made up an excuse so I could leave and be pissed in private. Hockey seems to be THE ONLY sport were you can dominate a game and still lose, football being the occasional exception.
The Stanley Cup playoffs should be renamed Goalie, because that is what this tournament is completely about. The Pens have the superior talent at 19 of the 20 positions, but the one were we don’t may cost the series.
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
you're wrong
halak isn’t better then fluery… a few wins doesn’t equal what fluery has achieved
In this series I can’t imagine how you can pretend that MAF has been better than Halak. As a career MAF is the better guy, no doubt. In this series it is also a no-brainer, Halak simply has been better.
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
Agreed 100%. Halak is playing OUT OF HIS MIND right now. As a goalie, you’re bound to fail, so the best you can do is stop everything you see. That’s what Halak is doing right now and it’s more than frustrating.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
the entire game hinged on the beginning of the 3rd when we fell asleep on one or two plays… after the Habs capitalized, they did what they did best: park the bus in front of Halak and ride him to the W.
Moral of the story. Keep control of the puck, concentrate and never let the Habs take a lead.
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Agreed Slayer, huge matzo ball tonight.
And Hooks, im amazed how you’re able to stay objective and upbeat after a game like this but reading your recaps always bring me back to an even keel since we did in fact play good enough to win and the series is only 2-2.
FYI lots of conspiracy theories flying around here in Montreal and i don’t just mean from drunk delirious Hab fans. I can only imagine had they lost…
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from 3 years of blogging and talking to all sorts of fans, it’s this: assorted fans of every team believe that the NHL or the refs or some “powers that be” are out to get them.
If there’s a second thing I’ve learned from watching and playing hockey for 26 years, it’s this: chances and calls even out, the winners shrug off the bad and try their best to keep pushing forward. The ones that can do that usually are the ones that win.
"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."
Talk about momentum shift in the game
The Pens were doing mostly everything right in the first 2 periods, they were playing their relentless defense, constantly clearing the zone and blasting the net with shots on offense. Halak is unreal, I will give him that. All it took was some metal lapses early in the third, and that Montreal crowd really got going. It also seemed late in the 3rd, the Pens really struggled with puck control, it was hard to see a lot of chances missed, but you have to hand it to the Habs, especially their goalie, the sure are resilient. Good to see Staalsy back, but I do agree Poni needs to sit, if Guerin comes back it will be a good boost. I am not worried.
by BlackandGoldSSgt on May 7, 2010 12:24 AM EDT reply actions
Plain and Simple
Our Penguins do not know how to play 60 full minutes of hockey. It’s either come out as strong as the hammer of Thor and then fall asleep, like was the case tonight, or take a period and a half to get warmed up like has been the case all season. And our boys can’t seem to get on the same page at all; if someone is really clicking and ready to play, there are two people out there who just aren’t prepared yet.
I’m with Slayer: I was watching the game at my hyna’s place and as soon as it ended I went home and started swearing. The Pens never get the lucky bounces (see goal number one) so even more reason to realize that they need to play down and dirty and not keep trying the fancy stuff.
Also, another easy goal given up by Letang this series. I’m just saying. And I agree Hooks, if Guerin is ready to roll, and Rupp is rested, time to send Poni packing. That experiment is a bust, I’m over it, time to move on.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
Bring back McKee!!
Say what you want, but…
With McKee: 4-1
Without McKee: 1-3
The combo of Gogo and Leopold in their own zone is like a bad Benny Hill skit. Gogo has played better than the usual God awful defense and Montreal isn’t exactly outchancing us, but…
by disturbtheworld on May 7, 2010 1:46 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree Gogo and especially Leopold both did not play well.
by genomachine-O on May 7, 2010 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Goligoski is a debacle on the ice, there is no way he should be on the first PP if every time he gets passed the puck he can’t control it. That kind of mess let’s them clear it, he needs to be off the PP or demoted to the second team if anything.
it just seems that Goose’s a little too raw for this level…
weird thing to say, i know but it’s like we’re getting painfully reminded how young he is. In a series like this, I think we’re better served with McKee as our 6th defensemen rather than Goose.
After about a year and a half, I've finally got around to giving myself a profile. Yay me!
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I didnt think Gogo was terrible, but he was with Leopold who I though played his worst game as a Pen. They’ve both been good in the playoffs so far, just a bad night.
by genomachine-O on May 7, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
The Habs
are tough and while I still think the Pens will win this series, it’s obvious Montreal has all the confidence in the world and deservedly so. Oh well, since I’m a gracious loser, it’s time to tell the Canadiens’ fans “good win.” Come on Penguins, let’s dig down deep and finish this! We’re defending champions!
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on May 7, 2010 1:51 AM EDT reply actions
shake the loss off, ladies and gents. it’s a best of four series. get off the ledge. yes, you. get down. it’s gross on that ledge, pigeons sit there. pigeons are foul little creatures, too.
it’s gonna be okay. you really think captain sidney crosby, hero and patron saint of pittsburgh and nova scotia, is gonna go down like that? really? did staalsy come back from surgery six days later to watch this crap happen? did dupuis find his hands this year just to see them on the golf course this summer? did leopold fight off a concussion to sit back and enjoy the scenery in montreal? i think if you know our team, you know what the answer is.
believe in our boys because they believe in us. they need us to scream when they make sick plays, cuss out halak, keep an eye on that pk kid and make sure he doesn’t cut anyone again, and to believe in fleury, like that hella talented man he is. if you’re going to game five, if you come back with a voice intact, you’ve failed in your mission. hell, if you WATCH game five and you still have a voice after sixty minutes of playoff hockey, the best damn hockey in the world, you’ve failed in your mission.
our boys know this isn’t gonna be easy. that third goal was a fluke. they know it, we know it. we did not deserve to lose that game. crap happens. you think that’s gonna inspire them to sit back? again, you think that, you don’t know our team. these boys are some of the most talented people in the whole league, some of the most driven boys in the whole league. they want that damn cup more than we could ever fathom.
so pull your friends off the bridges. stop crying into your tea, start gluing the vase you threw at the wall back together. shake it off and count down the hours until saturday when redemption comes.
pens players, i know you guys can do this. we know you can do this.
go pens.
STAAL FOR SELKE. SIDNEY FOR EVERY OTHER ONE.
by katielynn906 on May 7, 2010 3:08 AM EDT reply actions 11 recs
Great post, Katielynn, no matter what the length :) I’m off the ledge but, have to admit, the window is still open. I need a win on Saturday to close that window and feel a bit more comfortable. Go Pens. Don’t take a second off during the remaining games.
by SuMac on May 7, 2010 4:54 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice post. Since I couldn’t get out of work stuff, I guess the Habs won on two fluke goals? Craaaaaap. PAYD, I couldn’t back out, I committed before I actually thought about and they spent $200 on my ticket to this http://www.cavalia.net/index.aspx?lang=EN-CA
Would have rather been here “watching” the game with you all.
Well … at least you got to see a Poni do something …
Leafs fan living large in the Pitt and pretending like the drought is over. Go Pens!
hahahahaha, a+.
also, this is my first greened comment. i feel like a winner.
STAAL FOR SELKE. SIDNEY FOR EVERY OTHER ONE.
by katielynn906 on May 7, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
i think it’s four recs to green?
if that’s the case, you’re welcome
After about a year and a half, I've finally got around to giving myself a profile. Yay me!
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I thought it was 3…but I could be wrong.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on May 7, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
greatest post ever...
this cheered me up! LETS GO PENS!!!!!
Fleury, for his part, is always a marked man after a Penguins loss. To be sure, MAF should have had Pyatt’s goal. But he also saved Alex Goligoski’s bacon and Fleury was solid on several other chances, before being a victim of bad luck to see the game winner go off Letang. It wasn’t Fleury’s best effort, but it wasn’t his worst either. Now we get to see how he can bounce back, which if it’s like how he has bounced back after previous losses this post-season (3-0, 1.26 GAA, .942 sv%), and he’ll have to be that good again.
For the record...
This is NOT my post,it is too well written and paints a pretty picture of how I feel about the weak performance of the shrieking violet….Ask GOPENS, I’m rude and stupid….
I just hope come June we can look back at it and smile that the Pens got over it. Like last year’s tough series against the Flyers and unbelievable series against the Caps capped off by a game 7 victory to take the Cup. No one ever said it was going to be easy which is why this is the greatest trophy in all of sports!
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
exactly right. There is enough parity in the NHL that it would be foolish to think you’re going to skate through the playoffs in 4 or 5 game series. Fortunately it’s a seven game series and usually the cream rises to the top. I like our chances in a best of 3, with two home games….does it mean i’m super confident we’ll move on? Definitely less than I was before yesterday’s game…that’s for sure.
It makes it tough too when the Pens have to dress both Gogo and Gonchar for the PP when both are SUCH liabilities in the defensive zone. They have even had both of them out there at the same time.
I know it is early but with the UFA’s the Pens have coming I am much more inclined to keep Eaton and Leopold and sacrifice Gonchar. You can’t keep all three.
Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying
The Pens were down 2-0 to both the Wings and Capitals last year, both of whom could use wrong-handed sticks and still have more talent than the Habs. I won’t be worried until there is a game 7 and the Penguins are losing.
The problem right now is simple: Yes, the Pens are outplaying the Habs, but is Halak really being tested? No. The Penguins are not getting bodies to the front of the net. There is no havoc in front of Halak whatsoever. The Pens need to get the pucks to the net, and get bodies there.
They also need to start punishing the Habs in the corners in both zones. When their D get the puck in the corners, they need to be pasted. When the Habs forwards get the puck in the Pens zone, they need to be punished.
I know these are things that dumb fans usually yell at the games – “Shoot the puck!” “Get in front of the net!” “Hit somebody!” – but sometimes the simplest thing is the right thing. Occam’s razor, bitches.
Go Pens
by Link_Gaetz on May 7, 2010 7:53 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
The Pens controlled the play for just about all of the first 2 periods. At intermission going to the 3rd I thought the Pens had this one. Plain and simple got outworked and outplayed in the 3rd period. I still have full belief that the Pens will win this series. However it looks a lot like the Caps Habs games did, and thats a little worry some.
The big guns need to get it done, period. Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury. All of them need to step up and end this series. Hall Gill has played pretty good in this series. Not good enough to excuse the fact that Crosby has no goals this series.
This is on everyone
Blame the coaching staff for allowing the players to cross the fine line between playing with a lead and playing passively.
Blame the team, as a whole, for coming out flat in the 3rd and not getting enough bodies in front of Halak.
Blame the hockey gods for allowing the GWG to go off Letang and into the net.
What’s sad is that Sid, Geno, and Flower will be the goats…and Ron Cook has just confirmed this.
Sid was our best player last night, but he didn’t get a goal.
Geno wasn’t far behind, but he couldn’t do much even though he’s not seeing Gill or Gorges.
Flower had no chance on the GWG and was less than an inch from making a fabulous save on the wraparound goal by Lapierre, but let in a SOFT goal in the first.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Well Cook is right for once. Those three need to step-up. I’m not blaming a loss specifically on them. I am say though that thru 4 games Crosby and Malkin have 1 goal between them. 1 goal…and thats just not good enough. Yea they are still playing well in other aspects, but they need to score goals. Before the series started if you would have said heading into game 5 they’d have 1 goal total…I would have said the Pens are lucky to make it to game 5.
Sid is not beyond criticism.
by genomachine-O on May 7, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t look at the point tallies or plus/minus and immediately call Geno & Sid failures… Especially when the Habs are playing shutdown hockey everytime those two touch the puck.
If anything, Sid’s been our best player this series, although not in his usual way of scoring and assists. We’ve proven all through the season that we are better in our game, and in game 3 we’ve also proven that we’re better than them in their game.
Now it’s just back too disciplined, consistent hockey, the type we had in Game 3 and we’ll do okay.
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Perhaps we’re not giving the Habs enough credit here. Sid played like you would imagine him playing on nights where he’s the difference maker. He did more than enough to score a goal, but the Habs wouldn’t let him score. I thought he was excellent in games 1, 3, and 4. He hasn’t been “shut down” in this series, like some media outlets would like you to believe, because he’s continued to make plays and create chances. I think you have to give credit where credit is due, to a certain extent.
Geno’s been good too, but he seems to have off periods. In game 3, he was dynamite in the 3rd but was relatively quiet in the first two periods. Last night, he was great in the first two, but I don’t know what he was doing out there in the 3rd.
The reason why this should be blamed on the team, not Sid and Geno:
I think it all amounts to traffic in front. We have got to crash the net and stick bodies in front of Halak. He’s just stopping everything he’s seeing
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
by PensFan8725 on May 7, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Geno ABSOLUTELY quit after he missed the break away. That is inexcusable.
I don’t think Sid could possibly try any harder. Perhaps he’s trying a little too hard. He needs to simplify a little.
MAF needs to steal one. It’s time to step up.
Put on your dancin' shoes.
I’m with you on that. He does get paid 8+ million a year to score goals. And I think the fact that we’ve seen him capitalize on those plays so easily in the past is what makes it even more frustrating. Geno needs to find his stride, no injury excuses allowed.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
Well, he was being chased down by a defender. To me, it looked like he was skating hard to shake the D-man but, in the process, realized that he was getting close to Halak so he just put a mehh shot on net.
The Montreal D has been good on him too but since he’s not seeing the top guys or the top line, he’s got to be the difference maker. As for the 3rd, he just lost it. I don’t know what was going on with him there.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Yes, this is definitely what Geno should do. Although, it is easier said than done. What I was talking about was Geno on a breakaway though. My point was that I think he was worried about the Dman that was hot on his heels and didn’t realize that he was closing in on Halak until the last second.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
He should have did what he did to Biron a few years back. Crank up the slapper from 10 ft. out.
by genomachine-O on May 7, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Bring back McKee
I think the Pens would be better served by bringing back McKee and dumping Fedetenko back to the box to watch in civies. He’s usually great come playoff time, but now he’s looking more like Sykora did last year and being more of a hindrance than an aid. I still don’t understand why Bylsma doesn’t play Connor. I think he did great for the couple games he played.
Well, first, Tenks plays forward and McKee plays D so I don’t even see how that exchange makes sense. Second, Tenks isn’t costing the Pens games. He isn’t making stupid mistakes he’s just not producing. Goligoski and Letang are making mistakes though. I’d scratch Gogo for a game to send him a message.
Put on your dancin' shoes.
I did notice my writing mistake. I should’ve said bring back McKee for defense, and sit Fedestanko for Chris Conner.
Well, we could technically go 7/11 with Sid/Geno double shifting on the fourth line. We did it last year in the playoffs when Sarge was coming back from the knee on knee hit by AO injury.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on May 7, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
06/06/09
Detroit: 5 Pittsburgh: 0
This team has had their backs to the wall facing a far more talented and disciplined opponent before. Montreal is an 8 seed for a reason. Similar to Varlamov last year, I think Halak is going to eventually break. I mean, that’s not Patrick Roy back there. Hopefully it doesn’t take 7 games to get there.
They need to pay attention to detail. Hockey 101, when 1 player is behind the net , both defenseman don’t go to get him. You cover the pas to the front of the net and the wrap around. He can’t score behind the net. A hockey game is 60 minutes, you can’t play 20 minutes and expect to win. (Not in the playoffs). Keep it simple , deflections in front of the net, traffic in front of the goalie. Halak is not superman. We’ve seen already that if people are in front he can’t see the puck and you can score on him. Nobody is picking up his rebounds. Tanger had a great chance but wasn’t quick enough. Don’t look for placement in front of the net, just get in there and shoot or deflect a shot.
that and don’t let them have a shot at parking the bus in front of the goal to protect a single lead…
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Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
so that’s the smell that was in the Bell Center….
i thought it was just the fans but it was that damned trenchcoat…
After about a year and a half, I've finally got around to giving myself a profile. Yay me!
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I know this sucks for you guys but it was a great game to watch. Very exciting.
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by bestbostonsports on May 7, 2010 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
(I assure you that as I write this, I’m not on the ledge about to jump)
I love Sidney Crosby, I really do. I have his clock, I have his t-shirt, I have a framed picture of him holding the cup. I know how much he does for this team that people don’t realise. I know how hard he works and how dedicated he is.
But. It’s time to stop coddling him. He needs to start scoring goals. He showed us this year by winning the rocket Richard that he can score. He showed us at the Olympics he can score the big goals when it really matters. We need him now. I don’t care if it sounds like I’m throwing him under the bus, because I’m not. But if there was ever a time for a star player to get a big goal, isn’t it now? This is the time, this is why we pay them the big bucks. We are this close to trailing to an inferior team. He needs to show why he’s a star. Winning faceoffs and drawing penalties are great, but it isn’t enough. And the 2-2 series tie is proof of that.
Marcy
http://marcyhockey.blogspot.com/
by GoPenguins on May 7, 2010 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
To me, it’s Geno that’s gotta get going. A secondary assist and a goal. No even strength points even though he hasn’t been seeing the top D pairing or the top line. Sid has been consistently good in this series, while Geno’s been a bit of a let down at times. Like I said above, Geno’s been inconsistent from period to period. In games one and two, he wasn’t even a factor.
Yes, Sid’s gotta start scoring, but Geno’s got to be a whole lot better than he has. Again, as I said above, besides game 2, hasn’t Sid played like you would expect him to play? The effort has definitely been there, but the points have not. I attribute much of that to Gill and Gorges. That’s why Geno needs to get going.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
I think Geno has been better in the last two games, but he can still be much better. Both of them together not scoring is a recipe for defeat for the Pens.
by genomachine-O on May 7, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
thats exactly the point I tried to make. Sid hasnt been bad, but I dont think its to much to ask for a few goals. Hes not beyond criticism.
by genomachine-O on May 7, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
To me, Sid was shut down last year in the SCF against Detroit. He and his linemates looked listless at times in that series. In this series, however, he worked just as hard as he did in the Ottawa series. At what point do we start giving credit to the Habs? Sid has been great, but the Habs haven’t let him get his points.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Jaroslav Halak: HEIGHT: 5’ 11" WEIGHT: 179
Pascal Dupuis 6’ 1" 205
Ruslan Fedotenko 6’ 2" 195
Evgeni Malkin “A” 6’ 3" 195
Alexei Ponikarovsky 6’ 4" 229
Michael Rupp 6’ 5" 230
Jordan Staal 6’ 4" 220
Bill Guerin 6’ 2" 220
Do I really need to add the rest of the players that are over 6 feet tall and have at least 20 pounds on Halak? Get one of these giants (compared to Halak) in front of him, and don’t move.
For more of a visual example see: Dustin Byfuglien, Chicago Blackhawks Forward, Defenseman, all around bad ass right now.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
I think this is the aspect where we miss Billy G the most. We didn’t get bodies in front until late in game 3 (and even then, it was the 5’ 11" Sid getting it done), and almost none in game 4. Somebody, like the guys listed, needs to play Tomas Holmstrom consistently.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Step 1: Scratch Ponikarovsky. Dress Dustin Jeffrey.
Step 2: On Jeffrey’s first shift, have him run Halak. Not just bump him, but fucking run him over like a freight train.
Step 3: Carey Price steps in net, Pittsburgh wins next two games by six goals each. Crosby finishes series with twelve goals. Mario pays Disco’s fines. Jeffery takes his ten games worth of suspension with the smug satisfaction that he was the MVP of round two.
Problem solved.
by Hatt the Moople on May 7, 2010 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Poni needs to accept the fact that he is not going to be the flashy puck handler on any line he plays. He needs to drive the net and drive it hard (thats what she said) and then park in front of Halak as a screen. Take some tips from Billy G, or watch some film of Holmstrom/Franzen/Byfulin(sp?). We need to make Halak uncomfortable, and our boys have plenty of time to set up in front of the net when the puck is at the point. We’ve been able to cycle until there is a clear pass to the point, so there should be room to get to the front of the net.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on May 7, 2010 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Sad that they lost.
But I was even sadder (or numb) after that horredous loss by the Sharks.
Honestly, the way the Pens lost almost made me feel better!
But then, eh, as Katie said, shaking it off, and look foreward to blood in game 5.
GO PENS!
He spent more time falling than being productive last night. What a disappointment he’s been thus far.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
He has, i wonder why we didn’t pick Sykora for a few cents, i heard he wasn’t happy in minnesota or whever he was. I was thinking we could pick him back up, i always like petr gun.
He’ll be hungry for sure…He’ll probably get a few extra shifts away from Gill and Gorges too.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
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