Penguins/NHL
Penguins Post-Game Buzz
So which media member will waste Mike Sullivan’s time tomorrow and ask him who the Penguins starting goaltender is for Game 4 with Marc Andre Fleury back?
Penguin fans and the entire hockey world are watching a star being born in goaltender Matt Murray. He’s not just the future for the Penguins, he’s the ‘Now’ for Pittsburgh.
Murray backstopped the Penguins to a 3-2 win in Game 3 as the Penguins have taken a 2-1 series lead. Murray was ambushed all game with the Capitals peppering him with 49 shots. He was sensational in making 47 saves. The Penguins absolutely stole this one.
The rookie netminder stopped the first 35 shots he faced before a blistering shot from Alex Ovechkin beat him on shot No. 36. Justin Williams than added a goal with 55 seconds left in regulation to cut the Penguins lead to 3-2.
Murray would shut the door in the waning seconds to close out the game and secure the 2-1 series lead.
Going into Game 3, Murray was not on a game-by-game basis type leash with Marc Andre Fleury back and he further entrenched himself as the current No. 1 goaltender.
There’s this continued talk from the Fleury crowd that Marc Andre gives the Penguins the best chance to win. Why because he won a Stanley Cup?
No one can take Marc Andre Fleury’s Stanley Cup away from him and the clutch moments he had during that run, but that was seven years ago and he’s a goaltender with a .906 career playoff save percentage.
You know who also has a career playoff save percentage of .906? Antti Niemi who guided the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2010.
Doesn’t mean you lock yourself into a belief that they’re the guy because of the past, some six-seven years ago.
The Penguins have something special in Murray and the coaches know it.
How the Penguins Stole Game 3
The Washington Capitals played their best game of the series. They out-shot Pittsburgh 49-23, out-attempted Pittsburgh a whopping 85-36, including 64-31 at even strength and had a +15 edge in scoring chances.
This was the second time this post-season when the Capitals lost after having a +48 edge in shot attempts, 81-27 in a Game 5 loss to the Flyers in Round 1.
“Murray was really good. He was the reason they [Pittsburgh] had success,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said of the game.
Trotz during his post-game press conference kept bringing up that this game reminded him of last years Islanders series where the Capitals went down 2-1 (won in seven games) but found their game in a Game 3 loss.
“There was a lot to like with our game. We’re looking forward to Game 4. Guys are excited,” said Trotz.
Game 4 will tell the story whether the President Trophy winners have awaken for good or this was a mirage.
What the Capitals ran into was great goaltending from Matt Murray and were haunted by key breakdowns the Penguins turned into goals.
In game 2, wrote about how the Penguins burned the Capitals into dominating the possession game by catching the Capitals with two or three forwards deep constantly that led to Washington never having the puck. Washington would send two forwards aggressively, Pittsburgh would easily beat the first wave of pressure making quick passes out of their end with the middle of the ice wide open.
Early into Game 3 tonight, Pittsburgh burned Washington on their opening goal with the Capitals doing exactly what they did wrong in Game 2. — Being too aggressive on the fore check and leaving the middle of the ice wide open. Kris Letang gets the puck up to Patric Hornqvist, leading to the goal.
The Penguins scored 2 goals on their first three shots and what stood out with the two goals from Patric Hornqvist and Tom Kuhnhackl, they were playoff style type goals in going to the net and getting some lucky bounces — the type of goals that just didn’t happen for the Penguins in past playoff year disappointments —
Carl Hagelin’s goal late in the second period that ended up being the game winning goal, was the Penguins exploiting the Capitals bad defensemen, something talked quite a bit as a key coming into this series and something they’ve done much more effectively than the Capitals have against Pittsburgh’s lower end d-men.
With pressure from Hagelin, Nate Schmidt makes a brutal turnover through the middle of the ice, Pittsburgh quickly puts the puck in the back of the Capitals net.
Will Letang be available for Game 4?
The NHL Department of Player Safety has confirmed they are reviewing Kris Letang’s hit and a hearing is inevitable.
“Things happen fast,” Letang said. “I know [hide] he was down after hit. Glad he finished the game. Happy he was not injured. I saw him coming full speed, tried to step up in the middle. Just a step up to hit him, no intention.”
Caps coach Barry Trotz didn’t have much to say but feels the Orpik suspension sets a little bit of a standard to go off of.
“I don’t know if there’s a standard,” Trotz said of the Department of Player Safety. “They’re looking for a protocol, certain situations. We’ll let the league handle it. They set a little bit of a standard [with Orpik suspension]…… we’ll see.”
Mike Sullivan called it a “body check”.
Marcus Johansson said after seeing the replay, it was clear Letang left his feet and a hit they’re trying to get out of the game.[/hide]
NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety May 3
Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang suspended two games for interference on Washington’s Marcus Johansson. Video: https://www.nhl.com/video/c-43811603 …
You bastard! LOL
Letang hearing at 1pm, im guessing 1 game
Hopefully, for twofold reasons… one it was a predatory hit. Despite the fact that it may have been within league rules it was a stupid play at a horrible time and maybe he can use the game off to have a good look at his own temperament as it will hurt the team. 2; to make it less horrible to go online and talk about the sport, people are livid and really blowing it out of proportion… it wasnt as bad as the Orpik hit or the Wilson one for that matter but it was a Penguin so… Amazed that… Read more »
Stan must be happy. Hartley fired
I’m indifferent – aside from the fact that we were all misled by you again because you told us what a great coach he was. Please reconcile. Another french canadian weirdo out the door. Teams are slowly catching on.
Florida was able to loan us zatkoff when we lost fleury and Murray. Maybe they will do the same with Ladd Hudler should Letang get suspended.
Told you guysss
is it too late to acquire the missing piece, Tyler Bozak?
On the bright side the power play will be better without Letang.
Seistito or Bennett. Who to dress
Bennett might have his chance to play with pens thanks to all the injuries
but the big question is how many games will he stay healthy before he is injured . ooops i meant how many shifts
But you said he’d never dress for the Pens again – please reconcile.
It’s going to depend on the Letang situation, if Letang somehow avoids a suspension it’s going to be neither and they’ll dress 7 D, if Letang does in fact get his deserved suspension it’s anyone’s guess, they may even choose to just say F it and play the game a man short as opposed to playing either of them.
Sundqvist
Interesting side note in the Letang hit is that by the NHL established perimeter of .6 seconds, it technically wasn’t a late hit.
I thought they clocked him at .63 seconds? Not that I’m trying to argue that .03 after the “threshold” makes it late. But is that how they look at it?
I didn’t see an actual time posted in any of the stuff I saw, just that it didn’t fall in the definition of a late hit but that changes things if it was actually .63.
He’ll get one game. Caps will win game 4. Pens will win game 5.
I don’t even know why we need to play the games – just tell us what happens and let’s move on to the conference finals.
Well that’s also what they calculated either on NHL Tonight or in between periods last night (can’t remember which one) – So i’m sure it’s far from “official.” But that’s what they calculated.
He also, didnt leave his feet or throw up is shoulder or elbow at his end. that being said i believe he gets a game
My feeling as well. If it wasn’t for the Orpik hit the game before they would probably just slap him with a fine but because of the Orpik hit they need to give him at least 1 game to save face which is far more important than player safety.
Trotz the vet made a comment after orpig hit if pens would get same treatment next game so it put the attention on the pens and it happended right next game letang ended up with a play like this
Here’s what I find interesting about our resident goalie experts enjoyment of watching Murray play, 2 of his biggest issues with MAF were his rebound control and his overreacting to pucks that weren’t on goal, before last night’s game in which Murray was absolutely perfect he to has struggles with those same 2 aspects of position even if they haven’t directly led to goals against. Is it his enjoyment rooted in the fact that unlike MAF the team wasn’t hurt by Murray’s struggles with those 2 aspects or is this just more proof of how clueless Yoda really is?
There’s nothing to struggle with. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
You’re struggling gaydogg. Stick to banging 21 year old boys.
Reigning Coach of the Year gets fired, another one bites the dust.
but but but sam said he was an amazing coach, this and that. Or he’s another frog that doesn’t know his asshole from his elbow.
Man 4 or 5 poster have completely ruined the conversation on this board, great job.
Sam will be telling you whose fault it is in 3… 2… 1…
Im guessing a combination of stan, gaydogg, and npl.
what an ugly piece of shitt you look alike
Well that is just downright rude sir.
See you found a more recent pic of our resident ball hockey all star.
Let’s talk hockey Jeff, I’m always game for a good hockey debate.
You werent one of the ones i was referring to but sure,
I am the only who thinks Pouliot should be playing every night regardless of suspensions/injuries. Our other dmen make just as many mistakes, but hes usually quite poised with the puck, offence will come with more minutes.
In the regular season I would agree. He was as disaster last night.
Diaster is an extreme overstatement, he had a few bad shifts at the start but hes makes good decisions moving the puck forward. He has a 50% CF, on a night where the entire team was pined in their own end. This guy is never going to get any better if he doesnt play.
I’m torn on how I feel about Pouliot, while I saw some good things from him last night I also saw some really bad things from hm last night as well and it surely seemed like every time I noticed him(except pp) on the ice the Pens were buried in the zone the entire shift. I’m certainly not going to cry about him playing 12:00 a game while Maata is injured, I think I would prefer Shultz in and DP out.
If he is in Daleys spot and makes the choice to shoot as opposed to pass off that opportunity which eventually ended up an Ovechkin goal… all day 😉
DOPS just announced Letang will have a hearing today.
my guess is 1 game if its 2 games id be surprised but he wont get 3 games his hit was nowhere near what orpigggg did
Its fair to say Murray is proving to be more ready than he should be at this age… ride him. If he faulters we have an excellent fallback option
As i said before Murray is the next Price
but its still Fleurys team today.
its good to have a kid steps in but is he ready to play 60 games a season yet? and then be ready for playoffs? still needs time in my opinion
I wouldnt be surprised if Murray even gets pulled next game now that pens might lose Letang and the way the game finished Caps think they can beat the pens and if they play the way they played in the 3rd period there is a chance they can beat pens and maybe even the series . Holtby been good in net too he just got beat with Perfect shots in this series multiple quality top corner shots and caps hit few posts im sure if caps scored and not hit the posts and pens didint score those lucky quality shots… Read more »
I actually do agree with you, Sam. In fact, I’m willing to go out on that same limb with you and say if the Caps scored, and the Pens didn’t – this series would be different right now.
Hopefully Murray isn’t the next Price. I’d like to see him win the Cup.
Yup. Zak is ready to go
all over your face.
can you honestly say without being a troll that you would put Z in over MAF?
I get a -5 for saying it’s fun watching a goalie play this well. I was right all along. You guys would rather lose with St blurry than win with another goaltender. You are pathetic fans.
No you got a minus 5 for being a fucking retard on the subject. We are all thrilled with Murrays performance but everything you say is a subtle shot at the guy on the bench because your an insufferable cuntbag
you think st.blurry is a hall of famer, but hall of famers don’t lose their starting job in the playoffs 2 times in 4 playoffs.
You’re a bona fide idiot.
you call me an idiot, yet you want the goalie with a career .906% to start over the guy who is carrying this team.
NOT one person is making that statement right now… the concern was whether or not Murray was ready… he proved he is. Have you ever, once in your entire life, had a discussion without grossly misrepresenting the argument of the other person? I would wager you dont understand what any of this means and I would double down that the answer is no.
Indeed, zero. Yoda – where did you see me say I preferred Fleury in right now? I’ll wait.
Was a warning already given to Letang for the Stalberg teeth incident? If so, no way he gets away with just a fine.
None that I saw.
Fairly certain the league said Letang wasn’t in control of his stick because of the check he was taking. Should have been a penalty but no suspension.
Rust is done
What was his prognosis?
Seen leaving on crutches and wearing a boot.
Per whom.
Rich Walsh KDKA
Rich Walsh KDKA – Verified account @RichieWalsh
Bryan Rust leaving Consol on crutches with a boot on his left foot
https://mobile.twitter.com/RichieWalsh/status/727340759540707328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
did richie walsh report that rust was seen in a walking boot with sean miller?
Sean Miller is in town!
That’s what I thought.
It’s fun watching a goaltender play this well.
We’ve literally seen it three years in a row now.
Bullshit. You’ve never seen a pens goalie play this well in the playoffs.
I do think you’re a bit biased.
If Crosby and/or Malkin don’t show up for game 4 it’s going to be ugly.
This we all agree on, OV took over and in the course of 9 minutes game a huge scare. Wake the fuck up boys
Where’s the hard hitting article asking if it’s worth it to pay 87 $12 million for half a regular season and one playoff round?
All of the thumbs downs must be because it’s painfully obvious that, no, it’s not worth it, and the article is unnecessary.