Tampa's Early Lead Too Much for Pens: Lose to Lightning 5-1
by FrankD on Apr 15, 2011 9:57 PM EDT
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Lightning Blog: Raw Charge
Anyone who thought this series would turn out to be a sweep was sorely mistaken tonight as the Penguins played only two solid periods of hockey en rout to a 5-1 loss to the Lightning.
On the bright side, we're at least guaranteed a Saturday night hockey game next week.
It was a hard-hitting affair without question. Brooks Orpik was, as Mike Lange would say, a man possessed. His hit on Sean Bergenheim at the end of the third period was a solid indicator that at least one big d-man is not going to go quietly into the night.
Craig Adams and the Pens didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard in the second period, but unfortunately there was a whole other period before that one that did not turn out so well for the boys in black and gold. Three goals on eight shots was not a very Marc-Andre Fleury-like performance - at least not as of late, that is - and the early hole wound up being just too much for the Pens to dig themselves out of. It also didn't help that after trimming the lead to only two goals in the second and at least giving the team a chance to rally in the third, the Pens could not escape the last 20 seconds of the second period when Martin St. Louis picked up a power-play goal with 14 seconds on the clock. Tough break for the Pens, but that's just the way it was going to be tonight.
Orpik may have had a few solid hits on the night, but Chris Kunitz led the team with an industrious six-hit outing. I also have to say that I like what I'm seeing from Arron Asham at this point on all ends of the ice. Not only did he tally his second point in two postseason games, but he is also really aggressive on the forecheck and playing a solid game in terms of his puck awareness. We all know at this point that it was not the healthiest of regular seasons for him, but if this is what the Pens were missing for most of the games between October and April then man, did they miss out.
If you asked me if there's one area that could be the turning point in this tied series as it heads back to Tampa for Game Three on Monday, I'd say it's the power play. Tampa converted on two of seven chances in Game Two, while Pittsburgh came up empty on seven chances. Combine that with Pittsburgh's 0-for-5 in Game One, and the Penguins are a combined 0-for-12 on the power play in the postseason. It didn't necessarily make or break the team during the regular season, but it can hurt them and will hurt them if it doesn't change soon.
However, if the Penguins' power play isn't going to improve, then the least they can do is limit penalties. Tampa went 0-for-1 in Game One. It's not a big area to pull evidence from, but when compared to the team's two goals on six chances in Game Two, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude that limited the Lightning's opportunities on the man advantage is a definite area of concern moving forward in the series.
All in all, this game was the complete polar opposite from Game One, and not just with regards to the end result. The Pens and Lightning played a strong defensive game in the first two periods of Wednesday's game before the Pens were able to open up the flood gates and attack with a quick two-goal barrage in the third. Game Two was a different atmosphere, as the Lightning seemed intent right from the get go to not come up on the blank side of a shutout in two consecutive games.
Adjustments will be made and the arena will change for Game Three. Here's to hoping the Pens can swing back into Saturday's Game 5 matchup at Consol with a 3-1 series lead.
Worth noting: After registering just over 17 minutes of ice time in Game One, Zbynek Michalek topped off at 25:20 in Game Two, the most out of any player for either team.
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It was a bad day for me
But, at least I was lucky enough to miss 90% of Period One and 100% of Period Three.
How, I wonder, is the coach responsible for the powerplay. Whoever it is, he should be replaced next season by someone who has a better plan. I just can’t convince myself that the Pens players are that bad as they appear to be. The powerplay underachieved even when Crosby and Malkin were healthy. It can’t be that bad as it has appeared for the last half of the season.
s.zielinski
Absolutely. The Penguins’ power play has been a weakness for years, but it’s atrocious right now. Crosby and/or Malkin could paper it over some because they’re great at passing, but with neither one there, the pass-pass-passing simply won’t work most of the time.
I really don’t get what’s going on here. People who go to practices can tell us whether Bylsma, Granato, etc. have been trying anything different. Mike Yeo was pushed out last year, and scapegoated because the power play was his responsibility, but if anything, it’s worse now. So I think there’s plenty of blame to go around. If something isn’t changed, and quickly, it becomes harder to believe the team can go all the way this season.
"This would have been a goal if it went in."--Paul Steigerwald, 2/10/11
by GreenEyedLilo on Apr 16, 2011 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I just want to vent
if people judged only by the crowd at CEC tonight, they would believe all the bad things that fans of other teams say about us. Lots of energy in the beginning as we were coming off the high of the game 1 win. Started to turn on the team after going down 3-0. Then an amazing response with the pressure the Pens put on in the second period, when things were going well. But as it became clear the game was a lost cause, almost constant booing in the third followed by waves of fans heading for the exit. Disgusting display.
Sorry, I know this doesn’t really have anything to do with the game itself. Just as game 1 could have gone a whole different way had the Lightning gotten that first goal, I thought tonight’s game could have turned in the Pens’ favor about ten different times. It just didn’t happen. We’ll get ‘em next timme. I don’t have firm numbers to back me up, but I have the impression that the Pens bounce back well from games like this. GOD over on Japers’ Rink did a nice piece showing the Pens were the top team in the East at coming away with a winning record over 7-game stretches during the season. I don’t see them letting this game get them down.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Apr 15, 2011 11:33 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yea, definitely a couple chances that could have turned the game around
the 2 posts for one…
BUT, I still think one of our biggest issues is we miss the damn net way too much… it’s very frustrating.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I agree. I understand why the crowd gets quiet when the Pens are playing an uninspired game, but the booing from a vocal minority was disgraceful. It reminds me of when some fans turned on Fleury in October.
The “bandwagon” accusations about Pittsburgh fans are silly, but one thing you can say about Pittsburgh fans is that when a team is doing well, expectations get very high very quickly, and some fans are relentlessly critical and angry when the team doesn’t win.
People can feel however they want and say whatever they want, but when they boo my team during a playoff game, it affects my team, and it pisses me off.
I believe in Geno.
by Cari on Apr 16, 2011 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t fans of other teams have room to judge, since they’d all do the same thing. That’s why I hate arguments of whose fanbase is better.
by SlayerGhaleon on Apr 16, 2011 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
it is a disgrace.
after what this team has been through this season. the injuries these guys have battled through. for some reason, I’m seeing Lovejoy’s face (“Oh, Bennie!”), but there were many, many others. and with all man-games lost, often to key players, to have put up 100+ points and a brilliant effort in game 1…who are the pieces of dog excrement booing?
I didn’t like that, either. Then again, I was raised with the belief that a real fan stays for the whole thing—even when it’s obvious a win won’t happen, a fight or injury or something else interesting could, plus you should show faith in your team. I didn’t expect the Lightning to roll over and be swept.
"This would have been a goal if it went in."--Paul Steigerwald, 2/10/11
by GreenEyedLilo on Apr 16, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree. Also, one of your team’s players may be named a star, and it’s sad if nobody is there to applaud his individual effort. I understand that the wait in the parking lot can last an hour, but when it’s Friday night, where do you have to be?
I think many playoff audience members are season ticket holders and / or relatively wealthy people who see a lot of games, so some people maybe take it for granted a little. When I’m at a game, it’s the only game I’m going to see all year, so I savor every moment of being in the presence of the Penguins, just being there in our building — once I barely got out of the building before the all the doors were chained shut. I guess I can understand that people who go to all 82 games then the playoffs don’t get excited about seeing the three stars and would rather peace out early to avoid spending an hour in the parking lot. But when it’s playoffs, your team needs an overwhelming show of support.
I believe in Geno.
by Cari on Apr 16, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have never really understood why people leave a game early, no matter how badly the game is going. I’ll give a break to people with little kids because they’re usually leaving early for other reasons. But everyone else? I don’t get it.
I’m a hockey fan first, and there is so much to watch in a game, regardless of the score. And with a team like the Pens you are pretty much guaranteed to have a number of really great hockey moments to watch, even as a bad game winds up. Not to mention all the “set the tone for the next game” stuff that goes on, if that’s your thing.
One thought: a lot of the fans in Pittsburgh are pretty new fans. And many of them who would have called themselves Pens fans for a long time are still fairly new to following hockey with any regularity or intensity. I think it takes some time to develop an appreciation for the game beyond the excitement of watching a high-powered offensive force like Sid. Case in point: in January I was at the Pens’ 1-0 victory over the Islanders, which I thought was a fantastic game. But the friend I attended with, his friends we had drinks with after the game, and several others I heard talking around the arena all thought that the game just wasn’t exciting because it didn’t have any flare.
It drives me nuts, but I can definitely see those sorts of fans leaving a game early when we’re losing.
Cooke for Byng. Kunitz for Prime Minister. Orpik for President.
by PopRocks on Apr 16, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is probably one of those games you don’t want to remind yourself of by doing something crazy like looking at a bunch of photos, however, in case you’re one of those fans who just likes to torture yourself – http://www.pensburgh.com/2011/4/16/2114445/game-photos-2011-04-15-pens-vs-lightning-game-2.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Apr 16, 2011 2:19 AM EDT reply actions
The Pens got what they deserved in this one. You can’t play shitty in the first period multiple games in a row and expect your goaltender to keep bailing you out.
not like there was a lack of effort
at least from the majority.. they came out popping in the first, a couple of bad plays/bad bounces(looking at you Martin) and we were down fast.
I thought the 4th line played well(we seem to be able to say that a lot).
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Letang's play and 1st period
I thought Tanger really struggled in the first. He tried to pinch down the wall on the 4-on-4 situation and totally missed the puck, leading to the odd man break and the first goal. later, he tried shouldering a Lightning player at the red line (Vinny?) and just got hammered. I think his play embodied the overall play of the Pens – just really discombobulated.
a lucky bounce here or there and it’s a different game, as PAYD stated above. i think that bouncing puck hopping over Martin’s stick in the 1st was a good example of the role chance plays in hockey. just sucks that the Pens were on the unlucky side more often that not.
I didn’t see the whole game, but I’m wondering whether people think Letang’s play was due to the amount of minutes he played on Wednesday? From the highlights, it seemed to me the defense as a whole played a lousy game. And once we got down by a couple goals it was tough to beat their trap and sustain a forechck.
by StripesForLife on Apr 16, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
The Pens Poor Play
Overall the Pens played poorly.
They did not play with alot of heart. Boom! 1, 2, 3 goals down.
They were never able to turn things around and looked so out of place, like
they expected Tampa to come out and play as badly as they did in game 1.
Not sure what angers me more—the Pens performance or the fans lack of support.
The Bolts came out ready to play—and they played game 2 as if it were their last.
I expect to see the Pens make game 3 their bounce-back game.
Cheers for the Pens! Cheers for the Canucks!
Manny: get well soon. Sid: come on-- we're waitin'!
Always play with HEART: the results will follow.
Follow me on Twitter as PensFanInDenver
by PensFanInDenver on Apr 16, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions
It might be cliche, but the Pens PP needs to work harder. When a team goes shorthanded, they know they’re going to have to battle hard to get the puck out of the zone. It looks like they coast into the corner, assuming that we’ll win the puck because there are more of us out there. Meanwhile the PKers outbattle us, and clear the puck. We’ve got to apply the “lunch bucket” mentality to our powerplay too.
I agree. I was sitting there last night wondering how the shorthanded team beat us to every loose puck. I also feel like our guys wait too long to make passes. I get that they try to draw the defender to them before passing, but they fail to realize that they are giving the other defenders time to key in on recipient of the pass (since most of our power play movement is highly predictable).
by PensAreYourDaddy on Apr 16, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
In addition, I would add that I was also perplexed how easy it was for the Lightning to set up in the zone on the PP. It seemed like every time it was a quick rim around the boards and then the D-men at the point would have plenty of ice to work with and set up the PP. We need to fix that for sure.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
(since most of our power play movement is highly predictable)
This strikes me as a really interesting observation. Way back when Sid and Geno were on the power play I used to tell myself that one of the problems with the power play was about how everyone always knew they just had to cover Sid and Geno, because that was where the puck was going.* And it was part of the motivation behind sending them to opposite sides of the ice, I think. But here we are, Sid-less and Geno-less,(*2) and the predictability remains. As I said: interesting.
*: haha “just” cover Sid and Geno. yeah right.
*2: Grrrr :(
Cooke for Byng. Kunitz for Prime Minister. Orpik for President.
He wasn’t at his best, but we didn’t lose because of Fleury. Defense made some stupid mistakes.
I believe in Geno.
I think Fleury fought it this game. The first goal was a straight shot over the glove of Brewer…Flower should have been playing the shot and should have stopped it, IMO. The 2nd goal is tough…. the 3rd goal was a rebound directly into the slot, so thats on MAF too. Tough play leading up to it, but rebound control is key in the playoff where dirty goals are scored often.
Not a horrendous effort, but a weak 1st period for everyone, with Fleury included. He tightened up the rest of the game and I think will bounce back huge in Game 3.
by LastSonOfKrypton on Apr 16, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
My goodness
Take it easy fellow Pens fans. The world hasn’t ended yet. Least not until next year 2012! It’s gonna be a good series. I’ve been saying 7 games. And hey, win or lose, what do the Pens or their fans have to be ashamed of?? NOTHING!!!
Remember, the Pens were ‘dead’ back in January when Sid went down. Remember that?
Granted a healthy Geno and Sid make a huge difference during the games and even in the PP’s. Yes, the Pens’ PP has not been much to rave about for the last 2 1/2 seasons or so but all they have to do is stay disciplined and play smart. Put some pressure on Roloson, get more pucks to the net but ON the NET!! Stop missing the damn net.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the Pens have a golden opportunity to score a goal and yet miss an OPEN net by a wide margin.
Tampa is a very good team but it isn’t as though the Pens haven’t been down this road before. They’ll rebound. They’ll be fine as long as they do their jobs.
OK, so Fleury had a 'bad' game?
Hey, if the playoffs are any reflection upon how the Pens played this season then let’s see here…………after a bad loss…the Pens usually would rebound with about 4-5 wins before they lose their next game. So they would lose one out of every 4-5 games played.
That’s a pretty good percentage, don’t you think?
MAF will rebound on Monday. I have no doubt about it.
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