Game 4 Storyline
The Pittsburgh Penguins look to go up 3-1 in the series against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight and one of the storylines entering tonight is a key injury on both sides.
For Philadelphia, it’s the uncertainty surrounding a lower body injury to top-line center Sean Couturier who taken was out in a wicked collision with goon defenseman Radko Gudas in Tuesday’s practice. If Couturier can suit up, there’s still questions of how effective he will be.
For as great as Sidney Crosby has been in the series, 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games, Couturier at full strength is the Flyers only hope of slowing down Crosby who is at 48% in possession head-to-head vs Couturier in the series and at 66% when away from Couturier.
For Pittsburgh, it’s the loss of Patric Hornqvist.
The Penguins won a playoff game last postseason against a much better Washington team without Sidney Crosby, so the Hornqvist is not a game changer by any means, losing a Crosby, Malkin or Matt Murray would be, but this is still a tough loss for the Penguins that could have an impact tonight.
One of Hornqvist’s greatest attributes is when this team is going through a lull, he’s often the player who can change momentum without having to score a goal.
“Horny’s not an easy guy to replace,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said on Tuesday. “He’s a unique player for us, and he brings a lot. So I think we are just going to have to replace him by committee. We’re going to have to pick up the pieces”
The Penguins will move Dominik Simon into lineup and the preliminary plans appears to be to plug Simon with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Simon has made an impact on the top line in short doses, so it’s easy to see the coaching staff’s thinking there.
Phil Kessel will move up to the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin, while Derick Brassard will center Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary.
Without Hornqvist, there’s a greater impact in spacing out the wingers by putting Rust on the third line and playing Simon with Crosby.
The biggest areas to watch with the Hornqvist injury is on the power play.
The recipe for the Flyers to even up the series tonight is hoping Game 2 happens again:
Brian Elliott play over his head, win the special teams battle by a significant margin and one of their big boys have a great game as in Game 2 it was Sean Couturier.
The Penguins can’t replace Hornqvist’s ability in the net-front area on the power play. What he does is beyond just a player going out there and trying to be a carlie hustle. Hornqvist is unique is how smart of a net-front player he is.
Without Hornqvist the Flyers will surely be tempting to cheat up top and take away the shooting lanes To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
It’s good to see Sullivan accept the reality that the brassard trade was over blown. Separate Kessel and brassard and they both played better.
was the kessel trade overblown since he doesn’t paly with sid?
https://media.giphy.com/media/pQmWjYrz39YAg/giphy.gif
WHAAAMMMYYY
Murray’s magic number is 5. As in, he’s given up only 5 goals in his last 6 games. He has 4 shutouts during that span.
Team always scoring 5 goals shutout or not since they don’t trust him they make sure the 5 is there
The team is trying to score more goals than their goalie gives up? Say it aint’t so, Sam!
Sam’s dynamic duo of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf swept 4-0 and combine for 2 total assists all series. You sure know how to pick clutch players.
Puck luck
Hiockey in the West is more fun to watch.
Nathan will be going home soon.
How many breakaways did the Pens give up? That was the only game of the series where the score reflected the play.
Flyer’s need puck luck
Murray became the fastest goalie to 25 wins. What a bum.
Sam, do you have Twitter?
Its technically only his 2nd season and Matt Murray is already the Pens best goalie of all-time. Impressive playoff performer.
Keep preaching you dumb liberal
I feel like youre upset because Murray overshadowed Fleury once again with a more impressive shutout.
What was overshadowing a one sided game dude continue watching Disney hockey
So now pens won because Murray stealing games or team playing good for him
Fleury won with Vegas because he stole games or team won for him
Answer Mr npl
Thats a question?!
Boring game… It’s boring to watch the Penguins use the weaker team to try and get themselves good and prepared for the better teams to come.
Try boring series. All the games minute it got 2-0. Game intensity level dropped. All games been blowouts. Kinda npls type of games
Don’t get me wrong I’m happy pens winning but game is so dead compare to other series out there
Pens would be able to play this way vs bruins
I would worry about Bruins after the Flyers and Washington or Columbus.
Agreed
I think Murray is so sound with his positioning that he makes the most difficult saves look routine, which takes the excitement out of the game. Thats why youve enjoyed Vegas’ games – Fleury turns the most routine saves into an adventure.
We can’t win without Ian Cole.
If Oleksiak could just have a few more outliers maybe we would see some results and hear analysts swoon over the pick up too….
really you are counting these as games that might close. Its the Flyers most of these guys seemed to have tee times already.
Three wins against Philly does not equal a cup. It does not even equal a series. I hope they can win without Cole but wait until the Pens play a more skilled team to make that statement. I am still not a fan of this trade but I hope I am wrong.
With 173 points Crosby has now become the Penguins all time playoff points leader.
Trade him and make Stan and npl happy
Truly the alltime number two guy without question.
I think Mario did with less games
About 50… hence number two
Malkin has been taking a lot of penatlies this series. HCMS needs to get him to settle down.
He leads the team in playoffs and regular season in that department
Lol
Yes, Malkin clearly needs coaching.
There is a difference between telling a player how to play hockey and how to control your emotions on the ice and leave your team short handed to often. It is a difficult concept I know but I think you can figure it out.
That is the main reason I can’t stand malkin he is talented gifted player yet kills team momentum by taking dumb penalties in the offensive zone. Then because pens good team and his talented with the pp he gets a point or 2 and average bandwagon fans don’t see and shut up about it I am so glad pens got rid of Neal and orpig those 3 used to take turns to kill team momentum. Now we have one and last few years I wanted pens get rid of him for Nathan now too late we are stuck with his… Read more »
Puck luck
An incredible tip.
Dumo needs to shoot there. What a shift by Malkin.
Flyers are not the brightest group we play this season.
Cant help but notice how awful the powerplay looked with Letang out there. The worst.
Dumoulin should be in the Norris discussion. He’s been extremely good despite needing to play both his and Letang’s position.
Dude just leave this site already. What does if take. Tell me I’ll even pay your subscription
You already pay for too many sammich…
Pure puck luck for pens. This wouldn’t happen if they face bruins Elliot suckks just as bad as npl
Hahahahahahaha. The “Pens fan” again having a hard time enjoying the Pens up 2-0.
Clown I’m realistic. I dont get brainwashed from the boxscore. But bandwagon’s like you depend on boxscore
The pens have outplayed them all period. What the fuck are you talking about?
NPL is right though, it’s amazing how mad you get when they take the lead
He hates the Penguins. Outsideof loneliness, no clue why he is on here….with multiple accounts.
You know the team with the most goals wins, right? Realize this concept may be in foreign in Montreal.
Hahahaha
Remember when Sam said the Philly crowd was loud. Another lie.
Kessel 2 points so far in playoffs both pp
Geno is the best.
Geeeeno! You like that chubster?
Surprise surprise geno and specially chubby on board. Thanks to pp
You act like being successful on a powerplay is easy. Its not. For example, Letang sucks even more with a man advantage.
If pens lose tonight npl said blame it on puck luck
The picture of half of Hornqvist”s head is back!
F-U. Trudeau to try to make Quebec a ghetto. Refugee migrants coming from the boarder like. No tomorrow.
Funny part is migrate said on TV to get a tourists visa to their states it’s way easier to get tourist visa to Canada do we apply to states. Then we cross the border disgusting.
Quebec is already ghetto, Lyin Sam. Adding refugees can only help. #SadButTrudeau
How tv hides stuff portraying florida like heaven
In reality it’s a shitholee place to be
On a serious note, I’m hoping Kip Milller will come up big for the Pens tonight.
Sven Butenschon as well.
Jim Paek is out tonight. Advantage Flyers
Japanese Prime Minister Palm Beach Florida wont be in attendance either. Trump is apparently hosting him at an undisclosed location.
“These Japanese guys” have no idea what they’re watching.
It’s like npl watching hockey
Trump hosts Japanese prime minister palm beach Florida. I wonder if these Japanese guys haven’t accounter Florida shithole areas and bums with #BlackCocksmatter movement
Npl thinks fleury sucks
And only reason kings lost its because of puck luck
“Plan the parade” – Lyin’ Sam after Game 1
I wonder which version of Matt Murray is going to show up tonight.
Pens should be completing the sweep tonight, just like Lyin Sam predicted. Sad!
Man, Fleury looked shaky last night. As Sam always says, Kings had no puck luck.
Just stop watching the game already you are embarrassment to the sport
Embarrassment to your self
Just go do what you do best
Go fly a kite or something
Play Pokemon go
Go on netflix thumbs down every movies and shows
Continue protesting #BlackCocksMatter
Do wtv it takes just leave this site and don’t come back
Why are you so mean? Im just trying to explain to you how bad Fleury actually is. Hes really really bad.
Get lost fatso
But im an actual Pens fan. Why would i leave? As a non-Pens fan, shouldnt you leave?
You think you are a pens fan. The minute the team misses the playoffs you ,stain,tbj and your best friend Dustin would switch your team immediately. While I’ve been a pens fan before even you were born
I even stood by the team in the early 2000s when there was 5 to 8k fans were going to the game
I be honest with you I love the pens team but I hate pens fan base one of the worst in the league pure bandwagon’s that discover hockey thanks to Crosby
Youre a Canadiens fan, Sam. You hopped on the Pens bandwagon because the last memory of your dad before he left was him telling you about how great Lemieux was. And if you hate Pens fans (which you claim you are), Im not sure why you decide to come on here to get laughed at day after day after day. Maybe find a third rate Canadiens blog to ruin?
Your favorite team is the wildly unsuccessful Montreal Canadiens. Being interested in a second team because your favorite is garbage does not make you a fan. And theres no way you were a Pens fan during the early 2000s. I refuse to believe youre older than 12 years old.
carlie hustle. d is so vain, he probably thinks this post is about him.
-10 eh? looks like d is not the only one who is so vain that he probably thinks this post is about him.
its -10 because -10am make no sense lol…. unless its -5amx2
It’s -5 for each of his accounts
Npl sucks
Sid has 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 games? Dude, the series is 3 games old. D, hire a proofreader!
and I though we dumped on Sid hard to counter -5ams virtual BJs lol