Game 2: What We Learned
Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 1
Shots: Pittsburgh 35 – Washington 24
Shots by Period: Pittsburgh | 1st: 14 | 2nd: 14 | 3rd: 7
Shots by Period: Washington | 1st: 5 | 2nd: 5 | 3rd: 14
Shot Attempts: Pittsburgh 79 – Washington 54
5 v 5 Goals For: Pittsburgh 2 – Washington 0
5 v 5 Shots: Pittsburgh 26 – Washington 18
5 v 5 Attempts: Pittsburgh 51 – Washington 42
5 v 5 Scoring Chances: Pittsburgh 24 – Washington 19
[PENGUINS GAME 2 PLAYER GRADES CHART]
Through 129:33 played in the series after two games, this matchup is as simple as this.
When the Penguins play their speed game, Washington really struggles to combat it.
When the Capitals play their ‘A’ game (actually play with some desperation) of creating turnovers off the forecheck and using their size and strength below the hash marks, Pittsburgh struggles.
— Ranking the level of play by periods through two games on how each team controlled the play, not necessarily Goals For: —
Game 1:
1st Period: Washington | 2nd Period: Pittsburgh | 3rd Period: Pittsburgh | Overtime: Washington
Game 2:
1st Period: Pittsburgh | 2nd Period: Pittsburgh | 3rd Period: Washington
These two teams are too good where both are not going to be able to sustain their “A’ game for significant stretches. The opposition isn’t going to allow it.
And when they sustain their A-game for a long-stretch like the Penguins did for the first two periods of Game 2, it’s still going to be a daunting task of putting the other team away.
The Penguins had 45 shots in Game 1 but overall the play was about even from both teams. In Game 2 through the first forty minutes, Pittsburgh dictated the pace by playing a speed and possession game.
Considering the opponent, how well the Penguins transitioned out of their own end might have been the best all season and that’s saying something. They rarely let the puck get behind their own net.
It started with how effective the Penguin forwards were in pressuring the puck carrier. When Washington was trying to exit their own zone, the Penguins gave them little to no space which led to the puck getting thrown around the neutral zone by Washington. Washington wasn’t gaining the neutral zone to be able to get the puck deep and go in on the forecheck. Instead they were handing the puck back to Pittsburgh and the Penguins ‘D’ didn’t have to go chasing for the puck like Game 1.
It was like a game of hot potato as the Penguins ‘D’ would be retrieving puck just inside their own blue line, Washington aggressively would send two forwards chasing the puck carrier and the likes of Letang, Daley or Dumoulin make a quick simple pass up the ice and Pittsburgh was going the other way in a blink of the eye with the Capitals having two forwards caught deep.
You have to wonder if the best route for Washington moving forward will be sitting back more and trapping (1-1-3) in the neutral zone. Pittsburgh beating that first wave of pressure was clock work Saturday night.
Cullen lines joins the fray in playing speed game
A big key for Pittsburgh in the first two periods in dictating a speed game was the Matt Cullen line joining the fray that didn’t happen the game before. The line was a disaster in Game 1 in hemorrhaging shot attempts against.
When the Penguins have had some of their most complete games this post-season, Game 3 and 5 vs Rangers among them, the likes of Matt Cullen and Bryan Rust were dictating a speed game 5 v 5 and not playing in their own end for most of the game like Game 1 vs Washington and early in the Rangers series.
In Game 2, they were a force in creating things with their speed in periods one and two, even if the possession numbers were not good for Cullen in particular by games end.
Cullen drew two penalties in second period and when Tom Kuhnhackl is even above 45% in SAT%, you’re likely having a good night.
More Buzz
— Nick Bonino picked up his 7th assist of the playoffs with a great pass to Carl Hagelin for the Penguins opening goal. A free agent after next season, this playoff run is going to make Bonino a $4 million a year + player on his next deal with whoever it is with. Scouts, Executives are buzzing about him around the league and see great playmaking ability when he’s playing with the right players. Certainly viewed as a second line capable center. Those type of players get $4 million.
— Brooks Orpik facing a possible suspension has been on the ice for 4 of the Capitals 5 goals against at even strength in the series. He was beat in front by Eric Fehr for the game winning goal. That said, Dmitri Orlov or Mike Weber moving into the lineup for Orpik is a major drop off. Orpik has been very strong on the PK. One of the reasons a suspension is more likely than not is because the NHL rules so much by whether a player is injured or not.
— Penguins game winning goal came with the Malkin line against the Ovechkin line caught on a long-shift. Capitals, though, look to be playing with fire in having Tom Wilson out against Malkin so much. Over 8 minutes in Game 1, 6 + minutes in Game 2. When Malkin was on the ice vs Wilson (total 6:05 per War-on-Ice) the Penguins had 7 shot attempts To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
[…] game 2, wrote about how the Penguins burned the Capitals into dominating the possession game by catching the Capitals with two or three […]
Yoda must be happy to see Fleury as Murray’s Backup
Any word on if Sid is making his series debut tonight or not?
In offseason trade Fleury and Malkin for JVR and Leafs first overall pick (Austin Mathews) Use cap savings to sign Stamkos.
I’d rather trade the less productive “star” center.
Wouldn’t be the worst trade if it was even remotely possible, just as the Oilers wouldn’t trade #1 (McDavid) for any player in the NHL including Crosby, I think it’s pretty safe to assume Toronto isn’t trading #1.
Mathews wont like Toronto’s Pressure
he is from Arizona and now playing Europe
and looks weird just like kessel
The reader comments on Dejan’s site are nauseating. When did Hockey Fan become such a giant *****.
I agree- allot of those posters dont understand the game at all.
Unlike this site. Tons of knowledge here.
They probably dont’ bring that hard hitting “it’s always the goalie’s fault” type knowledge and you and yoda drop routinely.
type Clown and you and npl drop routinely.
English frenchy. Try it. Just once. Just for a change of pace.
Funny coming from a guy who’s entire Repetroir is focused on how many goals Crosby scores. It’s not basketball douche bag.
Great, the guy that’s been on the ice for all the Pens goals got suspended for three games.
He used to be on the ice when he used to play for the pens and they used to get scored and then out of the playoffs year after year .
I m glad that bone head left the pens last year .
Another overpaid overrated fraud
Good spelling Sam. Seriously. You nailed that post. Overrated is often missspelled.
Sam, dude we’re TIOPS allies. You can’t thumbs down me
It’s not me it’s that fat fuckk npl and Stan those 2 scums thumbs down everybody except for each other and to their master gaydogg
Hahahahaha, i’m dieing. Mrchady called Jay hot dog water. Ya, definately no connection to Sam…hahahahaha
I’m dying too
This board is flying off the handle. Love the Orpik suspension though. Hopefully it’s the end of his season.
I know it’s you Sam! Maybe I should start moderating your dumb a$$ again. 🙂
His check was avoidable I really understand why he hit maattaa on first place was nowhere near when puck was long gone from mattaa and game 1 you have Wilson avoided a penalty and suspension it’s clear this team wants to injure pens and not play hockey hope letang stays healthy because if he goes down pens series goes down with him. So far letang has taken most hits in the team
3 game suspension
I’m shocked. Think they got this one right for a change.
Uh oh. Sam is creeping and giving thumbs down again. Which is funny because he’s obsessed with bitching about others doing it. That is so French.
Its a deflective argument style. If hes fat, youre fat. If his country sucks, your country sucks. If hes giving thumbs down, youre giving thumbs down.
Have to admit I’m kinda surprised as well. As strange as it sounds, I think Milbury and the other idiot calling out the hit during intermission may have swayed the decision, having that neanderthal call the league out on nation television should have been pretty embarassing.
Damn. Mrchady was on putting us all in our place and I was too busy banging his mom to join the conversation.
That would be believable if you were able to please your own wife first.
I way too busy sleeping with women half my age to concern myself with something like marriage.
Errr…..you make this way too easy buddy….What a sad sack you are…
Let’s see, 1 poster wakes up with a different 21 year old beside him nearly every day and the other poster has nothing better to do than follow the 1st poster on sports blog sites, let’s do a little pool and see who is living the better life.
With what you describe you sound like a diddler. You should probably ask to see her ID next time because I’m pretty sure you’re being bamboozled (hopefully for your sake it’s not one of those transgender new aged hippies) but if that’s what you like who am I to judge?! You could be the new mayor for crying out loud. I’m not sure you should be putting this on the internet. You do realize this isn’t a one on one convo right?
Gaydogg you should join npl and his #Gaylivesmatter movement
I love you, Sam.
Get a life you Queer
So you’re old. Great.
When did early 40s become old?
Why would he care about pleasing your mom?
stanch… I have no words for you…You are terrible at this…
Amazing compliment coming from someone that couldn’t locate their ass with both hands and a map.
You just proved my point stanch…you really are bad at this.
again, considering the source, huge compliment.
I feel my presence is needed here.
Wow! This board was pretty bad when I quit commenting on a regular basis. I see it has only gotten worse.
now you have npl and stan that gives people thumbs down to everyone
Gives people thumbs down to everyone!
It seems you get the most.
I wish I could accurately depict to you just how little I give a shitt
But you must otherwise you would not comment…
I can see where your baby gets his lack of comma usage from.
When you have Stan and npl this place become a certified circus led by gaydogg
NPL scuff any hot dogs yet?
scuff? that fat pig swallows with no problem
puts Joey chestnut to shame
If it weren’t for bandwagon fans like Sam, the NHL would have a hard time seriously selling this series as Crosby v. Ovechkin. Neither player has shown up.
And it’s people like you who think a series like this is won by 2 players. What is your obsession? You talk about this being a sports page and yet all you do is talk about Sam. You even made your profile to be Sam. You people are messed up. I swear, everyone one of you chest beaters are nothing but chumps in real life. I’d love to meet you in real life, you would do nothing but quiver and shake and beg to buy me a beer so I didn’t kick your scrawny a$$
You wish
Sams girl is in rage mode. Were you the one who recorded those amazing ball hockey tricks?
Ill buy you a beer, babe. But only after you post a picture of yourself flexing your best muscle.
Everyone one of us will chip in for beer.
This coming from a person who comes to a sports page to tell everyone what losers they are and has never once posted anything about sports, what a sad life.
What sports do you talk about there hot dog water?! All you do is beat your chest and claim how much smarter you are then Sam and Yoda. You probably think you are a pillar of the community too.
No need to think, I’ve been a respected business owner for a long time. Even been asked to run for mayor several times.
Mayor? Holy. Quite the accomplishment if you did run, They Usually do look for people who love to babble and do nothing but talk nonsense. You should of ran.
Your arrogance on this board shows how arrogant owner you are and what type of environment and clientele you attract. Stan and npl must be a regular
No, a sad life is telling the internet world that you were asked to run for mayor…we are all very impressed…
Yeah because he is a certified moron that is obsessed with Sam
Alexander Radulov is planning to return to the NHL next season after spending the last four seasons in the KHL.
Several teams are believed to have interest in Radulov, including the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils.
nobody should take this fraud and let him rot in the KHL
NHL has enough Frauds no need more
Toews!
Biggest fraud in the league.
parise
kessel
Brown to name a few frauds
None as big as Toews. Highway robbery, that guy. $10.5 million to roughly put up Hagelin numbers. But, you know, Canada.
mrchady = Sam’s Family Feud girlfriend?
Ouch, that hurt almost as much as the mocking that you get on a daily basis from the same people who you are defending. I gave you the benefit of the doubt as I figured you were a bit slow but apparently you are a complete fool as well..Good stuff Simply Dustin….
Hey mrchady, lay off these people. No need to be so mean.
Mean? Isn’t that what stanch and jaydogg live for? I was just fitting in. Oh, and smart a$$ comments as well.
Just try to calm down, its a comment section on a sports page after all.
Well hey, how about someone actually talks about sports for once? I know that may seem like a novel idea. Maybe people get sick of reading comments from stanch and jaydogg all day long that has nothing to do with sports. It’s nothing but them beating their chests over BS and always calling people out and ridiculing them. Amazing how it’s not appreciated very well when the shoe is on the other foot…Classic
I think youre acting like a little bltch. Just relax.
SHe shows up once a month to unload when she’s on her Mensies.
Jay lives for stats and rule books. He beats off to them on a nightly basis.
can somebody please tell sidney crosby that if he pulls up along the boards, and he doesn’t have a play, passing it to a covered point man is the worst idea he can come up with. instead, how about just shooting the puck into traffic in front of the net and maybe get a garbage goal or giving hornqvist a chance for a rebound.
I’ll let him know if I ever see him again. Hopefully Game 3.
Orpik 2 games
Where
My guess
Huh.
What I think he’ll receive
Stupid, Lazy, one dimensional one trick pony tricks russian. What’s he doing leading the Penguins with 9 points now! We don’t need his 1.5 ppg, ship him to Colorado for Nathan!
Orpig suckss
Remember you wanted Sutter? How is that working out? #sameknew
Sam. Any chance Sid makes his series debut tomorrow? Or no…
you guys dont watch the hockey game properly eh ?
when sid has the puck you have 3 people on him everytime
while your 9.5m russian plays vs 3rd lines
and causes cancer on the powerplay
Hahaha. When does he have the puck? After losing 90% of his draws to backstrom? Excuse after excuse after excuse. Poor guy has people defending him!
Hey stanch. If you took Jaydoggs wiener out of your mouth and actually watched the game you might learn something…
Hey everyone. Sam’s mommy is back.
Sams mommy? Wow, you are one lame duck. I would expect nothing less from a brainless fool with limited hockey knowledge. Keep pouting about Sid having a rough first thirty games of the regular season and we will all keep laughing at your Autism.
Get that tittty out. He’s hungry.
Oh burnnn..You are good at this. I can’t keep up.
Wait till his mommy come on this board npl10. That changed his name to Sam since he is romantically in love with Micheal Sam
That’s our Sam! Hey Sam. Malkin traded yet?
Why would we laugh at autism? That’s really fucked up. Autistics are people, some are very high functioning. Sam on the other hand is a special kind of dumb… The kind that even those with disabilities point and laugh at.
Well you let me know what is acceptable to poke fun at. You seem like a classy guy. Always straight around the edges. It’s funny how people like you are never amused when something hits home to you but you surely have no problem ripping someone else. I suggest picking up a dictionary and looking up the word hypocrite.
This is sooooo good.
I am very aware what that word means… I am also familiar with the term simpleton and right now you fit the description. I clearly was having a little fun with it and used it as a segway for a shot at one of the biggest dipshits on the board. That noted I believe you have started to tread in this area. Christ change your ******* tampon dude!
Sheesh. No need to swear. It’s almost as if I offended you. I’m sorry, please don’t type 7 stars at me again. That’s rough.
LOL, you are too insignificant in my world for me to be offended by this. I just find it ironic that your usual appearances consist of you coming out to pick a fight with stanch, bitch that he doesnt contribute and then you disappear for weeks at a time only to do it again in a short time. Why? I mean have you really struggled that much to understand why the temperament of this board is what it is? That’s the baffling part. There is a couple very specific reasons why conversation goes where it does… it’s driven by the… Read more »
he is a bandwagon has no clue all he cares is points
he also thinks letang sucks
when letang is clearly the most important player in the team
weather you have sid,malkin,kessel Lemieux whoever star offense you have
you take letang out of lineup the series is over just like last year
but stan and npl are too busy to call him a frog and an overpaid player
when you have a 3rd line overpaid center
Wish sam’s mommy would teach him what a comma is.
You have to understand that when he says orpig sucks he means literally. Because brooks has blown him.
“Not to hit a man whiles he’s down”, but Maatta sucks. Nice one. Bringing your A game.
of all the players who orpik could have knocked out of the lineup, maata was easily his worst choice.