Penguins respond to criticism with stout defensive effort in Game 5 win
Pittsburgh 3 – Columbus 1 Dan Bylsma called out his team on Thursday and his team responded with a stout defensive effort, in a 3-1 Game 5 win to take a 3-2 series lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins put together their first 60 minute game of the series and the better team won on Saturday night. The Penguins won a type of grinding type game by being physical and going to the net to score goals. Chris Kunitz and Jussi Jokinen were the goal scorers while Kris Letang added an empty net goal for the Penguins. How they played tonight is how they need to play on a consistent basis if they’re going to make it past
Epic meltdown from Fleury, Penguins as series is tied at 2-2.
COLUMBUS 4 – PITTSBURGH 3 OT The Pittsburgh Penguins roared to a 3-0 first period lead. For a team that the big shots in the organization think can walk on water, it should have been game over but it wasn’t and the series is all tied at 2-2. Nick Foligno scored 2:49 into overtime with a wrister from 65 ft out as the Blue Jackets stormed back with four unanswered goals for a thrilling overtime win. Brandon Dubinsky had the heroics late in the third period. tying the game up at 3-3 with 26 seconds left in regulation. Marc Andre Fleury inexcusably decided to come out of his net on a dump in, mis-played the puck as it bounced over
Pens strategy of causing traffic in front, using the points fuels Game 3 comeback
PENGUINS RE-TAKE CONTROL OF SERIES In a game that had many up’s and down’s, the Pittsburgh Penguins have retaken control of the series, stunning the Columbus Blue Jackets with a come from behind 4-3 win in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. For the third time in the series, the winning team has rallied from a three goal deficit. A third period offensive surge fueled the victory for the Penguins as Brandon Sutter, Lee Stempniak and Jussi Jokinen scored in a span of 2:13 of the third period as the Penguins changed the whole complexion of the game in a matter of minutes, going from being down 3-1 to taking a 4-3 lead. “Typically, it’s not the way
Morning Skate Buzz: Jason Megna likely in for Brian Gibbons tonight
MORNING SKATE BUZZ Winger Brian Gibbons is not expected to play tonight in Game 3, prompting one lineup change and a change on the top line tonight.
Foligno back for Blue Jackets; Tyutin Out; Conner recalled for Penguins
FOLIGNO BACK FOR BLUE JACKETS The Columbus Blue Jackets will get a boost upfront tonight with the return of winger Nick Foligno. An excellent two-way player, Foligno had 18 goals in the regular season, including 15 even strength goals. He can skate and plays a physical game. Foligno will skate on the Blue Jackets third line with R.J. Umberger and Artem Anisimov. That’s a line with a lot of size and two-way ability. A big loss for the Blue Jackets, though, will be top-4 defenseman Fedor Tyutin who will not play. David Savard will move into a top pairing role tonight with Jack Johnson. Johnson has had an excellent series as the Penguins look to get more physical with him.
Will Bylsma make any bold lineup changes for Game 3?
Are lineup changes likely from the Penguins in Game 3 after a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 2?. If we’re to go off how Bylsma reacted after losses in the first round vs the Islanders last post-season, than yes. However, it remains to be seen if any will be bold ones. Looking back at last post-season, after a Game 2 loss to the Islanders, one notable change from Bylsma was sitting Deryk Engelland and putting Simon Despres in the lineup in Game 3. Following a Game 4 loss to the Islanders, Bylsma inserted Tyler Kennedy for Jussi Jokinen in Game 5, and Simon Despres in for Mark Eaton, after Despres was scratched again in Game 4.
Off-Day Buzz: It’s early but Penguins still showing signs of lacking a playoff mentality
OFF-DAY BUZZ While it was just one game and the Penguins will probably still win this series (I’d still bet on their skill winning out), what transpired Saturday night is why so many in the industry don’t feel this is a Stanley Cup team and I certainly still don’t. The way the Penguins pretty much shutdown after Matt Calvert’s shorthanded goal in the second period was very concerning for a team that those in the organization feel is a Stanley Cup team. The Penguins led 3-2 at the end of the second period but the feeling in the building was that the Penguins were losing 6-3. That feeling never went away in the third period or overtime. If Columbus wins
Blue Jackets 4 – Penguins 3 OT: Calvert scores in double OT, series tied at 1-1
COLUMBUS 4 – PITTSBURGH 3 OT Game 1 saw the Columbus Blue Jackets blow a 3-1 lead and lose. Tonight saw the Pittsburgh Penguins blow a 3-1 lead and lose. Matt Calvert scored at 1:10 of the second overtime, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. The series is now at tied at 1-1. Calvert’s overtime winner gave Columbus their first playoff win in franchise history. The goal came just 37 seconds after a Blake Comeau interference penalty ended that Pittsburgh failed to score on. It was Calvert’s second goal of the game as he scored shorthanded in the second period that completely changed momentum of the game. The Penguins went 1-8 on the
Game Day Buzz: Can Fleury stop the trend of Game 2 woes? Net-front element from Umberger a worry for Pens?
PENGUINS – BLUE JACKETS GAME DAY BUZZ — A key focus tonight going into Game 2 is on the goaltending. Does Sergei Bobrovsky bounce back and can Marc Andre Fleury stop the Game 2 curse? Fleury has lost his last four Game 2’s. 2013 Round 1 vs NYI – 4 goals on 38 shots (.905 save percentage) 2012 Round 1 vs PHI – 7 goals on 30 shots (.767 save percentage) 2011 Round 1 vs TBL – 4 goals on 20 shots (.800 save percentage) 2010 Round 2 vs MTL – 3 goals on 21 shots (.857 save percentage) The last time Fleury won a Game “2” was against Ottawa on April 16, 2010. That series was also the last
Pens – Blue Jackets Game 2 Projected Lines: Umberger back for Blue Jackets
GAME 2 PROJECTED LINEUPS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Brian Gibbons Jussi Jokinen – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal Beau Bennett – Brandon Sutter – Lee Stempniak Tanner Glass – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams DEFENSEMEN Brooks Orpik – Paul Martin Rob Scuderi – Kris Letang Olli Maatta – Matt Niskanen GOALTENDERS 1. Marc Andre Fleury 2. Jeff Zatkoff COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS Boone Jenner – Ryan Johansen – Jack Skille Matt Calvert – Brandon Dubinsky – Cam Atkinson R.J. Umberger – Artem Anisimov – Blake Comeau Derek MacKenzie – Mark Letestu – Corey Tropp DEFENSEMEN Fedor Tyutin – Jack Johnson Ryan Murray – James Wisniewski Nikita Nikitin – David Savard GOALTENDERS 1. Sergei Bobrovsky 2. Curtis Mcelhinney