Playoffs Redux? Bolts Beat Pens 4-1

by FrankD on Nov 18, 2011 10:13 AM EST in Game Recaps

Did Thursday's loss to the Lightning feel like last year's best-of-seven series to anyone else? Tampa Bay is slowly but surely putting themselves on that short list of teams that Pittsburgh experiences some issues with. And while it wasn't the prime example of a 1-3-1 stalemate that the Flyers and Lightning experienced a week or two ago, it wasn't exactly the most exciting game either (that could of course be based more on the final outcome than the actual flow of the game).

One of the first, and perhaps the biggest mistakes the Pens made, came in the form of allowing Tampa way too many opportunities with the man advantage. We saw first-hand in postseason that the Lightning has way too many weapons to work with. So why give them an even bigger advantage than they might have in a mismatched 5-on-5? Out of six chances on the power play, the Lightning scored twice, one of which came from everyone's favorite player Steve Downie.

Highlight of the night? I guess you have to go with Tyler Kennedy's goal late in the game. Not only was it a guarantee that Pittsburgh would halt Tampa's attempt for a shutout, but it's also a good sign when a guy who'd been out of the lineup for a bit can come back and pick one up early into his return.

With the exception of Downie's goal, most of Tampa's opportunities came on horrible defensive miscues on Pittsburgh's part. The turnover in their own end led to the first Lecavalier goal, Brett Connolly could've parallel parked an 18-wheeler in the space the D gave him on his rebound goal and Kris Letang simply tripped over the blue line while in the Tampa zone that resulted in the puck squirting loose and Lecavalier dropping in the empty netter.

Not the greatest game of the season, but let's put it behind us. No road trip needed for the next one, as Pittsburgh will remain in Florida for Saturday's game against the Panthers.

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Comments

You summarized the whole thing very well. Same old story. Taking too many penalties and sleeping on defense. Bottom feeders like Downie and Connolly score wide open in front of Fleury. I’m hoping that this defeat can be blamed on lack of concentration on the Pens part, rather than inability to beat a team. We were loosing 3-o after only 11 shots on goal by the Bolts.??? And the trap had nothing to do with it.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Nov 18, 2011 10:27 AM EST reply actions

I hate Steve Downie. And our D has struggled this year.

That’s all.

"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto

by blackjackfishtaco on Nov 18, 2011 10:45 AM EST reply actions

I think it’s unfair to say the D struggled this year. Only a week ago the Penguins were third in the league in goals against.

Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com

by GoPens! on Nov 18, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

Our D has struggled, but our goalie has been lights out

WE ARE.......PENN STATE!

by Nick7 on Nov 19, 2011 7:51 AM EST up reply actions

frustration is our biggest weakness

This game actually reminded me more of the Pens-Canadiens series where we had lots and lots of chances, just couldn’t slam one home. (SAVE BY HALAK still haunts my dreams.)

Roloson did play well, and whenever there was a loose puck in front of him the Pens were outnumbered by Bolts. I think we hit at least three posts, and by that time we just got frustrated and couldn’t get back to our game. How often did we see the Pens chip the puck in behind their D and lay a solid body on someone? Not often enough. This is what frustrates them.

Also, I think the poor quality of the Bolts ice was a factor for the Pens. The first goal came about when Staal lost the handle on the puck, which seemed to just stop dead in its tracks. There were a number of other times that the Pens overskated the puck, which I’d like to assume was due to the sloppy ice. Doesn’t surprise me that the Bolts have a good home record because of this (they’re used to it).

by TheGasMan on Nov 18, 2011 11:07 AM EST reply actions

Funny how that never bothered Mario and the boys back in the days, when they would go to Tampa and scored 4 or 5 goals a game. Maybe the ice was better then eh?

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Nov 18, 2011 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

Mario wanted to win bad! He didnt care about anything else.

"Have you ever seen such finesse?"
"When you lose say little, when you win say less"
"You're a wiser man with Yzerman, but you're better off with Federov"

by GiuseppeD on Nov 18, 2011 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

We need to elevate the puck when in close on goal. If gen elevates that goes in. Nice play tho.

by edro on Nov 18, 2011 12:13 PM EST reply actions

*geno

by edro on Nov 18, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

Sort of like Craig Smith?

http://twitter.com/tmaluchnik

by TJM5054 on Nov 18, 2011 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe try a half-Craig Smith.

by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Nov 18, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

How was/is the Pens PP ranked so high? Every time I watch them on a 5-on-3 I want to run head first into a wall. They need to learn how to collapse the net on 5-on-3’s and not just go from Letang to Geno, Geno to Letang,…..especially when Letang can’t even put a pass on the blade. He’s a great defenseman but a PPQB? Probably not. I honestly think Nisky does a better job, at least he puts the puck on the net!

by Geno McFleury on Nov 18, 2011 1:43 PM EST reply actions

Hot Goalie

Roloson played a great game. Malkin’s chance on the backdoor pass is a goal most of the time against any goalie.

Tampa definitely frustrates us and we gotta get a counter to it. They match our speed and have good system with a young ambitious coach just like Disco Dan.

I believe we need to finish our checks against them to slow them down and have a power forward park his rear-end 2 feet from the goalie’s face on power plays as a natural screen.

I believe Sully is showing his age a bit and his minutes should come down a few shifts to increase the quality of them. Duper has more spring to his stride and could double shift a few times, in my humble rabid fan’s opinion.

by Labo on Nov 18, 2011 2:48 PM EST reply actions

Why is it we keep running into hot goalies?

by SlayerGhaleon on Nov 18, 2011 4:27 PM EST reply actions

I disagree with the “hot goalie” statement. Maybe if you loose 2-1 could be. But not when you give away 4 goals.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Nov 18, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

No, Roloson was ridiculous in that game. We had plenty of quality chances in the first and second when the game was still close. If we scored on any of them, who knows what would’ve happened.

by SlayerGhaleon on Nov 18, 2011 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, he was, but I repeat., the Pens gave up 4 unanswered goals. Rolly played very well, no question. But the Pens never got to the second chances, and also it looked like the wanted Hedman to pay for laying out Sid. They hit him with every shot they could. Ridiculous 5 on 3 blocked shots. Anyone who knows hockey, realizes that if you have 5 quality players on a 5 on 3 it’s almost impossible for the defense to block a shot let alone 3 in the same play. Frankly it was the theater of the absurd. Specially for Geno and Tanger. Please practice your passing so you can take a one time shot. Also no one in front of the goalie on the shots. He saw them “all the way”.Let’s forget about this game they all stunk the joint.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Nov 18, 2011 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

Eh it was just one of those games

It was a pretty game, but I wouldn’t put much stock in this game going ahead. We have historically have done bad playing in FL and even though we were able to keep pace with the Bolts in the regular season, they beat us in both regular season games played in Tampa. All we can to is chalk this one in the L column, move forward and prepare againist the Rats on Saturday.

Stay calm and keep the faith. BTW I just went on Winnipeg’s SB blog site and I find it funny the one of the main contributors was trying to tell me that Ray Shero isn’t a great GM because he traded Go Go to Dallas and that we have had a average record since winning the Cup. Apparently the jury is still out on him. No offense but if anyone is a bad GM in this league it’s theirs. Can’t tell you how many people laughed them when they passed on Sean Couturier. There the last to talk about nhl gm’S.

Plus you can’t base everything on stats.

Pittsburgh Sports: Creating sports history and legends since 1887.

by Bradley James McEachern on Nov 18, 2011 7:47 PM EST reply actions

Have to agree with one of the comments above – our D hasn’t been great so far, especially 5 on 5 – as much as I dislike the +/- stat – I don’t think it’s a good sign that our defensemen are a combined -2 after 19 games.

Thankfully the special teams have been good and Flower has been stellar.

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Nov 19, 2011 8:23 AM EST reply actions

Well +/- isn't really a good stat to go by

All that means is you were on the ice either when a goal is scored by your team or your team gives up a goal. Our D han’t been alright, not great but alright. But there’s lot’s of hockey left to play. Alot can change.

Pittsburgh Sports: Creating sports history and legends since 1887.

by Bradley James McEachern on Nov 19, 2011 8:34 AM EST up reply actions