Game 2 Look Ahead: Blue Jackets’s ability to make it a tough night for Fleury
Marc Andre Fleury has not made consecutive starts since January 8, more than three months ago.
Tonight he makes his second straight playoff start with Matt Murray on the shelf and regardless of whether Fleury shuts the Blue Jackets out or give up five goals tonight, he’ll be making a third straight start Sunday in Game 3.
The Penguins while mum on a timeline for Matt Murray, are certain Murray’s going to miss at least the next two games, but could be an option to play late in the series, sources say.
This has a chance of being Marc Andre Fleury’s series from the obvious that Matt Murray’s injured or if Fleury gets red-hot and runs off some consecutive wins, the Penguins could opt to wait things out with Murray even if he’s ready play a little earlier than anticipated.
Winning game 1 in the manner the Penguins did with a dominant defensive effort, it puts the pressure on the Blue Jackets tonight.
What makes the NHL playoffs great is the game-by-game adjustments and the desperation teams bring when down in a series.
What we knew before puck drop Wednesday night is the Penguins even without Kris Letang and their No. 1 goaltender, are still a better hockey club than the Blue Jackets and that’s what really amps up tonight’s game where even if the Blue Jackets lose, they have find some cracks in the Penguins game that could carry over when the series shifts to Columbus or this will be a very short series as in four or five games.
And what the last two periods of Game 1 did is put the pressure on the Blue Jackets to make adjustments offensively coming into tonight.
The Penguins despite a blueline that can get physically pushed around, they negated the Blue Jackets biggest strength of playing aggressive below the dots because of how well the Penguins collapsed to the middle and gave no time and space inside the circles.
The Blue Jackets have talked about adjustments but John Tortorella is trying to make it clear they’re not going to change their identity.
“When you lose your first game, I think your identity is more to the forefront than anything. We’re not going to lose who we are,” John Tortorella said of his hockey club.
To go with just 4 high danger chances created, on 32 shots on goal, the Blue Jackets averaged distance was 40 feet in Game 1 and they only had 5 shots on goal that were 23 feet or less.
There might have only been one instance, (in the first period) where the Blue Jackets had a second chance opportunity that Fleury and the Penguin defenders in front couldn’t track the puck and that was on a play in the first period that the Jackets couldn’t hammer home when they had a wide open net on a puck hanging out near the left post.
All the Blue Jackets have talked about the last day and a half is creating traffic, getting chances in the blue paint.
“You have to pay the price to get to the blue paint,” Scott Harnetll said via the Columbus Dispatch. “We had some opportunities, but not the one’s with traffic, where he’s looking for pucks and not seeing them. Pittsburgh collapsed five guys. They do a great job of getting sticks in passing lanes when we made extra passes. They were willing to sacrifice the body, which is what you have to do this time of the year.”
Will the Jackets look to be more patient and wait for lanes to open up?
Penguin coaches are not expecting Columbus to change much from an offensive attack standpoint but they are anticipating [hide] the Blue Jackets to come out with a game plan tonight of just throwing pucks on net from anywhere and try to exploit Fleury’s rebound control.
What Game 2 is going to come down to is whether the Blue Jackets can make it a hard night on Fleury/Penguin defenseman or not with second chances. Where the shots were coming from in Game 1, it was an easy night for Fleury.
The Penguins insulated the front of the net with great success in Game 1 and the forward help below the circles also had their weakest defensive pairing Olli Maatta – Trevor Daley not be exposed like they were so often in the regular season.
“Desperation level increases every game,” Sidney Crosby said of tonight’s matchup. “I think that they would be happy with getting one here. We have to make sure we turn the page and make sure we are ready for a desperate team.”
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Hahahahahahahahahahaha instand buzz with a 10:00 timestamp from last night. Good one D.
I heard fleurys GAA is top 3 in the playoffs this year anyway you can post it D so some fans have the chance to see it
Not even an instant buzz that the Pens won? He must be busy talking to all of the “people in the know”.
This site doesn’t get instant buzz when fleury is in net and is winning. Only time you’ll get if fleury loses a game. Unless it’s Murray in net and team wins you’ll get instant buzz along with his GAA stats and SV% with each period
Let’s go pens.
Yoda what’s fleurys. GAA
Still waiting for CM to comment. He thinks Malkin doesn’t get his due dillegence, so he takes it out on Sid. Very similar to the Yoda/Fleury situation. You both are the worst fans. Root for the logo.
Stain wants sid traded too
No he doesn’t.
Pointing out when a player has flaws doesn’t mean you don’t support the team. I support this team plenty and have for over 30 years.
Thought Zak looked good tonight. I’d stick with him.
I’m really upset about the outcome. MAFs melt down that started tonight as per prophecy is troubling…
Thst meltdown is coming. Fleury gets you when you least expect it. Kinda like NPL on prom night.
That “joke” was such a stretch we could call it Yoda’s asshoIe
I love when Maloni hitches his wagon to Yoda.
The team playing a defensive system and winning reguardless of who is in net? Who would have ever thought this!!!
You might be smarter than we thought, Dusty.
#BlackCocksMatter
Is that what they say in Russia after one of their own scores a goal?
What happened to “Ole Ole” you little queen
Montreal is a weird place. But to each his own same. Hope you find a good one to choke on tonight.
You cockk Habs game was one sided rags weren’t even suppose to be in overtime. Best game of the year for hank without him that game would’ve been worst
If it was so one sided – why was Montreal 18 seconds away from being down 2-0 on home ice? You think it has anything to do with their 0 center model?
Alottttttttttt
According to stain Habs fans went home midway 3rd and when Habs scored and went overtime fans came back to fill up bell museum
Yoda can you tell us where fleury is ranked this year in playoffs with his GAA
Pens need more than 1 goal to win with Fleury back there
I think it’s 4 in order to win for fleury
The blue jackets stink. How did that pile of offensive garbage finish 4th in the NHL?
#butthurt
https://media.giphy.com/media/SleotgmotWahW/giphy.gif
Simply the best!
The better question is…how long after Fleury fucked you unti you joe comfortably take a dump
Pens are playing great you chode, what a fucken loser… MAF shutting the door but no credit given to fleury simply because he doubled the circumference of your anus without even buying you dinner!
Fleury traded yet?
There’s our Russian….always stepping up
Powerplay specialist
Sid with 3 points and no CM. Curious…
He was awesome, as was that line. I thought Sheary stood out as well.
Only cm? You have shitt stain here that wants sid lose the C from his front of his Jersey and get traded
Send him packing and call him Rosby.
Sam, Stanch didn’t actually mean that. People try to toll you and it usually works.
Wow the Captain is contributing… about time.
Better game tonight then the first game. Now go find someone else to follow around.
Suck it Sam Dubinsky
Milbury crushing Steve Ott. Called him a bum. He would know.
Arena is so quiet. (Ps Montreal really taking advantage of their home ice advantage. Sam!!!)
Canada is 0-5 in the playoffs, haha
Dubinsky is a less feminine Sam, if Sam was a full grown adult.
Thank God pens top line is able to score 5v5.
Thats how you respond! With your own American goal scorer.
Good shot. Ill give Fleury a pass on that one. Tough to stop an American when youre a french canadian goalie.
yoda out here actively rooting against the Pens
His praying for fleury injury
Apparently Byron will disappear in playoffs I guess he has another goal and it’s 5v5. Told you guys pens should’ve picked him when he was on waivers does better job then hagelin. Good speed and can be good fit pens 3 lines and costs nothing under a million
Organization should’ve listened half of you clowns here and traded fleury at the trade deadline
Or yours and traded Malkin and Kessel… had they done that they would have lost yesterday
Dude kessel is good player but at his price u can get other players and be able to play vs top lines and more then being a pp specialist. I’m sure they can also score more then 2 goals in last 26 games
2 games in a row fleury is the reason team is still in the game I bet Murray would’ve choked and team would’ve not able to bail him out
Murray choked alotttttttt in the playoffs last year on his way to winning a Stanley Cup.
Go choke on your hotdogs. Any donkey could’ve won the cup last year with the pens. The team was playing.good upfront. How many times team bailed him out last playoffs. He led all goalies with most soft goals
Guess they should have put a donkey in when Fleury embarrassed himself Game 5 against Tampa last year.
Imagine seeing a tender the caliber of Officer Bob making that kind of a mistake behind the net. It’s almost like it happens a lot…
Crosby traded yet?
Proud of him, thought he would let Kessel and Malkin carry it again today
You Cuntt while both took vacation who carried them in the playoffs your boy kessel 2 goals in last 26 games Byron had more goals then in in that span
With 20… take off your socks for that one… 20
Less assists!!! Kessel is also a Stanley Cup champion as noted by the banner below, CUNTT
He is npls new idol npl stopped admiring Joey chestnut since Micheal Sam found out
http://www.benstonium.com/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/GIF.Still0011.jpg
This is your best post ever
You should put your idol . Champion 8 times Joey chestnut
It’s beautiful!
#cultofstbleury, #meltdownbegins, #stickaforkinthem, #sometimesitsucksbeingaprophetandknowingthetruth
#yodafearspink #killyourself #worstfanalltime #mafdestroyedyourasshole
Bang on so far, MAF was the only one to show up early again.
How long was it after Fleury did you before you could sit down again?
i fear right now it is the high water mark for the pens 2016-17. right now, the media and the fans are in love with saint bleury leading the charge, just as the confederacy was super pumped when general lee ordered pickets charge. expect the worst. tonight, the melt down begins……..and it’s going to suck…….
They are just happy the team is winning, as are pens fans. You aren’t a fan and pay to raise fleury’s child, so I can see why you would have a different take.
Start a GoFundMe for your butthoIe rejuvenation surgery if youre having difficulty affording it.