Lightning Get Back in the Series
The Tampa Bay Lightning evened up the best-of-seven series with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 as the series shifts back to Pittsburgh tied 2-2. Ryan Callahan set the tone on the very first shift of the game, scoring 27 seconds in, and the Lightning would lead 4-0 after two periods before Pittsburgh rattled off three goals in the final period for a wild finish.
Just like the first three games, the better team won Game 4.
“I don’t think we deserved [to win],” Sidney Crosby told reporters. “I think we all feel that way”
Tampa Bay got the start they desperately needed and a game they needed. The Lightning were able to do what the Rangers and President Trophy winning Capitals couldn’t do, avoid going down 3-1 to the Penguins.
The Penguins tonight looked like a team in the first period that truly thought this series was over after their masterful Game 3 win and thought things were going to be easy. They played loose, took foolish penalties, and played with no structure as the Lightning’s transition game exploited the Penguins left and right, while leaving their starting goaltender Matt Murray out to dry who was yanked after the second period in allowing four goals on 30 shots.
Will Murray be back in the net on Sunday? His performance in Game 3 and even tonight in giving up four goals did nothing for him to lose his job, but pressure is mounting on Mike Sullivan to turn to Fleury from those above Sullivan, sources say.
The Lightning in Game 4, at least through the first two periods frustrated the Penguins to the point that no other team has been able to do this post-season. Kris Letang lost his mind in the second period leading to a Jonathan Drouin power play goal to put the Lightning ahead 3-0. You also had bickering among the players and yelling from the bench at the refs. It was a frustrated group.
“We’d like him to handle it differently,” Mike Sullivan said of Letang. “He’s too important to our team and that’s what I told him.”
For Pittsburgh there wasn’t a full-out implosion and in the third period the Penguins roared back with goals from Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin, and Chris Kunitz as the Penguins came one goal away from forcing overtime in a game they were completely outplayed in for 65% of it.
Pittsburgh outshot Tampa Bay 16-7 in the third period and what the Penguins showed in the third period is what we’ve already known, when they hit their peak level the Lightning can’t play with them.
However, what the first forty minutes of Game 4 also showed that Game 1 previously showed along with a short stretch late in the first period of Game 2, when the Penguins level of play slips just a bit, and most importantly get out of their structure defensively, Tampa Bay can exploit them especially off the rush and in transition.
Odd-man rushes were 6-1 Tampa Bay through the first 30 minutes of the game.
There should probably be much more of a focus on the bad from Game 4 and the Trevor Daley injury than the Penguins thrilling third period surge.
We already know how resilient this team is and that they can come back from almost any deficit when they get things going.
What we don’t know, though, is whether they can replace Trevor Daley adequate enough against a rush and transition scoring team like the Lightning. Daley is far from a perfect product defensively but he’s such a key cog in what drives the Penguins’ engine in how they attack teams offensively.
There’s a major drop off from him to his replacements, Olli Maatta or Derrick Pouliot.
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I think the bigger unknown is can Bennett make it through the whole game without getting hurt if he plays?
Playing beau Bennett at this point is desperate. Sheary has not been that bad.
Fleury In net Queens same was right
you’re posts crack me up. Keep em comin!
What’s cool about this whole situation is Fleury’s career reputation is now on the line. I he Comes in and takes the pens to the cup then he cements his legacy as HOF goalie. If he Shits pants then it validates those of us who think he’s a choke artist. I’m changing my mind and want him to play tonight just for the entertainment.
What’s a cooler storyline, Fleury comes in and pens win in 6. Or Fleury shits pants, Murray comes back in and Pens win in seven ?
Hey gaydogg you were making fun of MT this year when I said Habs had no goalies and that was their issues. How is condom doing with team U.S today
Wait, team USA is wearing a Condom? WTF.
Only because they are hockey players. If it were basketball, no condoms would be worn.
Could this be more of Sullivan’s head games? Many expected him to make the switch to Fleury so he puts him in the starters net and then goes with Murray? Similarly to the Zatkoff start in game 1 of the Rangers series.
Daley is listed as Doubtful. Does that mean that it’s just a sprain and not a break/tear? I would assume straight to out if it was really serious, but it is the playoffs….
Really? For Sheary?
I’ll believe Bennett when I see it. Sam told me he’d never play for the Pens again, and Sam is normally right about this stuff.
That line will never get old! #samknew
If I was the coach of the pens – and i should be – I’d start Zak. Bolts will never see it coming.
At defense to replace Daley….but leave him dressed in full goalie equipment.
Nailed it! Christ I wouldn’t see that coming either.
Can you imagine how discombobulated the bolts would be! It’s would be 6-0 before they recovered.
According to Rossi…Bennett back in also?
Rossi is queer
Drag Queen
I am shocked they are pulling Murray. I hope it works out. I am going to the game so I will miss your rants tonight Yoda. You have been quite but something tells me you will find your voice tonight. I can’t wait for this game!
murray has been the pens biggest marketing nightmare. It’s all about st bleury. You can’t have a backup representing UPMC in commercials! The organization is all about marketing and getting your money. Lightning in 6.
I guess that pretty much guarantees the Cup is coming back to the Burgh.
I’ll make sure to thank UPMC at the parade.
If we win the cup Isis can sponsor the parade!
haha, if bleury starts lightning in 6 and the pens are going to look so stupid. omg
So who replaces Daley? Who is in net?
Sam’s real name is Thomas Steen
Sam. Remind me again. Is chubby traded yet?
Trade our leading scorer and call him a fraud. #samlogic
With Sam’s logic although I need gaydogg’s approval. Pens Logically should stick with Murray because it wasn’t his fault all 4 goal but. Having 2 good goalies and we saw how team got energy when Fleury was in net in this case they should try Fleury. Just like blues doing tonight 2 good goalies now winning with Allen
SAMs logic. Talk about an oxymoron.
So the pens should definitely start fleury
So you’re suggesting we should start both goaltenders? If so I approve.
Just saw an interesting tweet saying as many as 3M people in Finland watched the WC semi between Fin/Rus today, really impressive when you take into account Finland only has 5M residents.
Hey Stan let’s play a game who am I? 1st goal in Last 9 games
My turn: Who am I? I’m a Frenchy who shlts himself at the first sign of trouble
Oooh, I know this one. Letang. Emotionally unstable Letang.
French, emotionally unstable – what’s the difference?
Certainly Not kessel. Who’s been pretty much embarrassing every Canadian on the ice.
Finland beat Russia no wonder malkin wasn’t playing good last night
Oh what planet was Malkin not playing good last night?
On the planet where yoda, sam, maloni and mstari live.
Dusty, don’t try to hang with the cool kids. Everyone knows you’re a moron.
lol there’s cook kids on the board?
Church!
Man you have hard on for me. It’s flattering. I don’t even say anything to you and you always give me a shout out. Outstanding!
Oh yeah forgot you are part of the average bandwagon fan group. With one goal malkin was okay average fans missed all the bad plays he did. As long as he scored that’s all it mattered my bad Stan to not be part of the average bandwagon fan like you, dusty gaydogg and of course npl now Sunday you will have Shawn Michaels joining that group
Lol. So you didn’t watch the game. Noted.
Murray will start. That loss was not on him.
He didn’t do anything to help matters either. He has played very average over the past 5 games. He failed to make any big saves last night. I’d go with fleury in game 5.
I just think it would take a couple of quick goals in game 5 to put Fleury in. I think Sully is going to start him.
I think Sully needs to ask himself if he thinks Murray has what it takes to win 6 out of the next 10 games with what he’s seen lately.
All he really needs to ask is if Murray can win the next game.
At least Daley didnt go out on a stretcher like a Bish.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/ron-cook/2016/05/21/Ron-Cook-With-pivotal-Game-5-looming-it-s-time-to-start-Fleury/stories/201605210102
Ron Cook is dumber than you are
It’s time! Its vader time!
Are you under the impression the Murray played poorly last night?
Not at all. Murray actually looked much better last night than he has the 3 before it. He should have been replaced after his bad performances if you ask me, last night was not one of them. He’s very average in his play and I think we’ll need a more athletic goalie to beat San Jose. I’m not concerned with the next 2/3 games, we’ll win the series with either in net.
I’m not sure I could name a “bad” performance. Which are you referring to?
I thought he played poor in games 5 against wash, and also games 1 and 2 vs tampa. You obviously don’t agree.
I do not. Played poorly?! I mean he may have let in a suspect goal. But he didn’t let in fucking four or them. The Drouin goal in game 2 does not equate to “bad performance.” It’s just a “bad goal.”
Ha!
is 100% still one whole?
“Outplayed for 65% of it”. Such an odd percentage Depaoli, how’d you come up with 65%?
D was channeling is Brian Fantana.
I thought it was closer to 69.
Letang is a French moron.
nope, french puke
Chubby traded yet Sam?
Been saying it for while now, Mike Sullivan is going to win or lose with Matt Murray.This isn’t some game by game decision some think it is — Depaoli on Twitter
This coach has to at least consider a goalie move. Its not a matter of the 1st 2 series. This is a diff series all together and the last 4 games proves that with only one game with a save % above 92% and two in the 80s.
Murray first 7 games. 6-1 record, 1.86 gaa, .944 sv%. Murray last 6 games. 3-3 record, 2.83 gaa, .892 sv%. The numbers speak for themselves. The clock has struck midnight for cinderella.
That’s your mommy’s favorite book isnt it Dusty?
While I don’t put it on Murray it is very interesting to see those who hate him come to the rescue for the man based on the same type of data they shit on MAF for
Pens should bench sheary next game and go with 7 D
Down a defensemen. This makes tons of sense.
I don’t see Tampa winning again in Pittsburgh, which makes me not really worry even if this does go seven. The Daley injury will hurt but dictating matchups just helps Pittsburgh so much. It might be time to consider going 7 D and scratching Sheary to compensate for his injury though. I also don’t think Sullivan will let them play underwhelming hockey again this series, since one more slow start will put them on “the brink.” I think they’ll rap this up in six in Tampa.
What’s the use of the 7th D? As much as I think he’ll be better next year, DP stinks right now. I would prefer to scratch Sheary for Sundquist ir Sprong. I’d go Sprong.
How is playing a forward who struggles defensively going to replace losing a top 4 defenseman? Think McFly Think
Your strategy calls for Schultz to get top 4 minutes? He might have been the worst player on the ice last night. He has so much confidence from the staff that he barely had more minutes than Daley last night.
Someone has to eat the minutes, no other options.
Someone has to play those minutes, while Shultz had struggles much like everyone else last night, he has been very solid overall and absolutely should get 1st crack at the minutes.
I suggested exactly the same thing on HB, go with
Letang-Dumoulin
Shultz-Cole
Lovejoy-Maata/Pouliot
Pouliot gets the Ozone starts and Maata gets the D zone starts, this will keep Pouliot from being exposed in our end and will help prevent Maata from having his speed/mobility exposed in the transition game.
I totally agree. Split Sheary’s minutes between Crosby and Malkin.
Watching last night’s game I got the feeling that the players(especially Malkin & Letang) got tired of waiting for Sullivan to do the right thing and put Fleury back in net so they took things into their own hands to make sure the change was made. They knew they couldn’t keep clearing the never ending rebounds Murray was spewing out and had no chance of winning the Cup unless Fleury was in net so they tanked until Sullivan was forced to make the change.
#channellingmyinneryoda
well, next game murray will be back in anyway so your paragraph is a non issue.
I’ve been saying Crosby has been tanking for Fleury for quite a while now. The locker room wants the flower, it’s quite obvious. I agree with Keith Jones, Murrray didn’t handle his interview well. He’s lost his cool and used words he should not have (curse words) and also kept trying to convince himself he played well instead of being a man and taking blame, saying he had a tough night and we’ll get them next game. #FlowerPower
Clearly you didn’t catch that my post was a joke.
fag
Fleury has a goals against average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.00 in the playoffs. If we use Yoda logic, he should start the next game as he is clearly the better goalie.
He looked ready. He’s also the hot goalie now. So by Maloni logic, he should be the goalie also.
Yes Dustin, he made 7 fucking saves, only one a legit scoring chnace. Fleury is HOT! #fuckfacemoron
7 saves in a period where tampa was sitting on the lead and not attempting to score
Could you imagine if the pens went back to st bleury and he lost 2 in a row? The pens would look like complete dopes. Haha!
Wow, can you imagine if they win 2 games with MAy they made trade MM at the draft to secure a top 5 pick
Crosby and Murray to Toronto for Matthews and JVR!!!
No one is trading a top 5 pick for Murray.
And i vote Tim Erixon to replace Daley. Cant be any worse than Maatta and Pouliot – maybe hell surprise.
Now that Fleury has seen game action, I say start him. Murray has been mostly average, with some brilliant performances sprinkled in, giving MAF haters something to over emphasize and cling to. MAF is the better goalie at this stage – and his freshness could be a huge benefit.
Freshness? are you selling douche?
Pressure is not “mounting from those above.” Lol
“Hey Sully, I know we’re winning a lot, being only two wins a way from the Cup finals and all – with Murray a major reason why – but you should really play the cold netminder in a crucial game asap.”
Wasnt it just a few weeks ago that the only ones pushing for a change was Fleury’s “media friends.”
Be consistent with your BS.
You beat me to it. Wasn’t Sully also the one that doesn’t listen to the people above? For example keeping Murray up when the people up top said Zatkof was all the backup they needed. 2 articles ago…Sullivan has hitched his wagob to Murray, he’s going to win or lose with him. What is it D, make up you’re f’n mind.