Capitals Force a Game 6
The Washington Capitals forced a Game 6 with a 3-1 victory in Game 5 on Saturday night. Alexander Ovechkin had a goal, assist, and Braden Holtby made 30 saves as the Capitals staved off elimination.
Game 6 is Tuesday night in Pittsburgh with another two-day break.
It’s been a series where the depth players have shined, at least more on the scoresheet, but in Game 5 Washington’s best players were better than Pittsburgh’s.
The Capitals in finally breaking out on the power play with two power play goals, were led by Ovechkin on the man-advantage and at 5-on-5.
Ovechkin was a force with a game-high three high danger scoring chances at even strength, including two more on the power play. He has out-played Malkin and Crosby in the series, especially the last three games.
The move to flip Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom also worked for Washington in a must-win situation as the move seemed to jump start both.
Washington finally solved the Penguins’ penalty kill for one night. A big key was Washington possessing the puck off of faceoffs. Pittsburgh was 0-6 on draws while on the penalty kill through the first forty minutes.
“Our penalty kill, we couldn’t seem the win the first faceoff,” Mike Sullivan said. “When you get that first clear, I think that’s when our penalty kill has an opportunity to be at its best, and we couldn’t seem to get that first faceoff win. And, as a result they got some zone time.”
Where the Penguins are often so good at on the PK is pressuring the opposition and forcing them to throw the puck around the boards off of zone entries. Washington getting key possession off draws limited that strength for Pittsburgh.
What this series has also been about is which team capitalizes on an egregious defensive breakdown or turnover. Pittsburgh has often been the team on the positive side of those.
Not last night, though, when a brutal Brian Dumoulin turnover led to a Justin Williams goal to put the Capitals up 3-1. It was not long before that when Washington capitalized on a behind the play penalty from Ian Cole. Cole would only play three shifts in the third period.
Cole wasn’t the only player who was nailed to the bench for the most part in the third.
Trailing by two goals, Mike Sullivan shortened his bench in the third period in going with three lines and nine forwards. What was interesting out of that is every forward had at least 8 shifts in period three except Tom Kuhnhackl (2), Eric Fehr (3) and PATRIC HORNQVIST (2). Sullivan denied Hornqvist was injured.
Who was the Better Team in Game 5?
The Penguins after their Game 5 loss felt they played a very strong game, from the coaches to the players.
“I think for long stretches of the game we were the better team,” Sullivan said. “I thought we had the puck more. I thought we controlled territory. I thought 5-on-5 our play was pretty strong.”
Pittsburgh out-shot Washington 31-19 in the game, including 22-13 in 5-on-5 shots with a +6 edge in even strength shot attempts at 50-44.
Yet, as one NHL assistant coach told me a long-time ago, when facing an elite goaltender shot totals are often overrated in a playoff series.
You could make an argument they were in this one and maybe have been the whole series with both teams getting excellent goaltending.
The team that has been out-shot is 4-1 in the series.
One key stat that also met the eye test from Game 5 was Washington with a 13-6 edge in high danger scoring chances (5 v 5). Scoring chances 5 v 5 were near even at 24-23 Washington.
Time for a Goaltending Switch?
Matt Murray had an .842 save percentage in the Game 5 loss and I’m sure with the two-day break, Marc Andre Fleury’s media friends will be in full steam calling for him to be the Game 6 starter.
Murray faced just 13 shots at even strength but the Capitals also having 13 high danger scoring chances gives you a sense of what type of quality chances he was facing. One that stood out was Murray making a point-blank save on Johansson in the third period to keep the Penguins hanging around.
When the Penguins have had disastrous Game 5 losses in the past when up 3-1, 8-2 loss vs the Lightning in 2011 and 5-1 loss vs Rangers in 2014, the goaltending wasn’t good enough to keep the game from getting out of control.
The shot totals might have been low but Murray made several key stops in Game 5 from becoming the type of loss that has haunted the Penguins in the past.
Sources close to the situation say one of the reasons the coaching staff to this point has felt Murray is a better option than Fleury for this particular opponent, is Murray’s superior ability in controlling rebounds that limits second chances against an opponent that has more size and strength to crash the net-front area. It’s why the Penguins look like a better team in boxing out in front, despite having a ‘D’ that should be getting pushed around more than they area.To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
completely off subject, but ACDC didn’t sound too bad with Axl singing. i’m still debating on seeing GnR when they come to heinze field. it could be awesome or it could be a joke.
I’m in Phoenix and I was thinking the same thing. Part of me feels like I should go see them, but part of me feels like after the show I’ll be pissed that I did.
that’s kind of what i’m thinking
Its admirable what Tampa and Pittsburgh is doing without their captains.
Man, isn’t that the truth.
I don’t know how you can give a negative to these comments. Crosby needs to have a tangible effect on the scoreboard for them to win this series, he’s paid to score not be Toews.
Agreed, the fact that we have what… one goal between Sid, Geno and Letang is a joke. The depth was brought in to support not carry. Sad that despite all the positives we have seen out “stars” shrivelling up to nothing is still a huge problem.
No coach or GM to blame if they blow another 3-1 series lead, just the supposed superstars. The depth has won them 3 games, how about the superstars win them just 1?
but come playoffs you always have the 3rd 4th line score not the top 2 lines
the top lines score more on the power play
“Trade Malkin; he is only good on the PP” – you fucking idiot. On that note… the PP has done next to jack shit so the original concerns stand even more than they did a minute ago. Besides… when a player finishes with 30+ points in a playoff run, which both Sid and Geno are capable of, it’s points from all situations.
dude, they did that like 7 years ago. both sid and geno are sucking right not. oshie and ovechkin had been WAAAAAAAY better than crosby and malkin.
That’s the point genius!
I’m starting to think the voting feature on this site is worse than the social class system in India. I’very been in therapy 4x a week trying to repair the hurt caused by Sam’s repeated thumbs down votes on every comment I post.
Still don’t understand why my phone always changes I’ve to I’very, what the hell does I’very even mean?
Ask sam, sounds like something he would say!
Who said it, Sam or Trump?
“We’re gonna win bigly”
Too coherent for sam!
Today is a good day for Sam’s mom to reflect on how badly she fuckd up
http://i.giphy.com/gGxSl050qQOJi.gif
Rossi!!!! http://triblive.com/mobile/10420311-96/penguins-game-murray
Another https://www.nhl.com/news/marc-andre-fleury-could-start-game-6-for-penguins/c-280604700
http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/05/08/people-are-already-calling-for-fleury-to-replace-murray/
I am sure those are the same bandwagon fans that wanted Fleury gone few years ago
Thanks for the thumbs down jackass.
That’s all he does. Post retarded things and thumbs down everyone.
And look at the twitter comments . Your link dusty ALL JEWS. Those kikes are only good to stir shitt. Just like they do with U.S presidential election or the middle east
You need more religion in your life.
http://www.tsn.ca/could-pens-turn-to-fleury-for-game-6-1.485982. Sullivan said on Monday the Penguins are “obviously a better team when (Fleury) is a part of it.
lets assume st bleury is better than Murray, which he isn’t, game 6 in an elimation scenario is not time to let a goalie play who hasn’t seen game action in a month. The dude will be rusty and the caps scoring 3 in the 1st wouldn’t be unlikely. Not the time. Rossi, madden, DK, and jaydogg have the number 29 tattooed on their wankers.
You mean the same jaydogg who has repeatedly said this series is Murray’s no matter what? What do you call this fantasy world you live in?
you want st.bleury in next round. you love him.
Please come back from fantasy land for 2 seconds and show me 1 post where I’ve said I want Fleury in next round. Next round will be determined by how this round ends, if Murray plays like he did in game 5 then absolutely I want Fleury in if the Pens somehow get lucky and manage to win, if Murray plays like he did in game 3 then Murray should continue to man the net.
Fleury is better than Murray. The rest of it I largely agree with.
Guy boucher with the sens
Lol. They bagged themselves the ugly bridesmaid. Because nobody wants them. Embarrassing for Canada’s capital.
People need to stop questioning this article. This is coming from sources close to the situation who know why the coaching staff believes Murray is better than Fleury for this particular opponent. Hard to question those guys…
Go Murray. If we lose game 6, maybe go MAF in game 7 for some kind of shake up.
There is no way you put Fleury in cold in Game 7.
Agreed. Guy hasnt played in a month.
Are you high? Murray has to close this series out regardless. If MAF gets back in you look for next round but thats still a big if. He hasnt played in over a month
Happy mothers day mrchady. Did little sammie get you anything?
What really kills me is the hypocritical analysis of last night’s game, if MAF were in goal last night everyone would be talking about how he gave the Pens no chance to win because he gave up a goal on the 1st shot and 3 goals on the 1st 13 shots but with Murray that gets completely glazed over and all we hear about is the few good saves he made after the game was already over. Just once it would be nice to get unbiased analysis after a bad game.
I agree with jay.
Who’s Jay Fleury?
Glad you noticed. That jay Fleury has been unappreciated Through out his career last last under MJ he had 10 shutout wasnt even in the vezina talk
If st bleury was in net, the pens would have lost in 7 to the nyr
Lol. Yogurt at his most yogurt. Pretty bad when dumb frog sam makes you look dumber than he is. But he’s done it here.
I have no clue what game they are watching if they think Murray has done a good job with rebound control, he’s spewing out a rebounds on damn near every shot the last 2 games. Regardless this is Murray’s series win or lose.
Agree. This imo is an area that Fleury has improved upon greatly the past 2 years. Murray leaves juicy rebouds right there….see goal #2.
Murray gets Alot of puck luck. Most of the time he is Lost after the first save. The other team can’t score also a lot of times he gets beaten but puck hits the post or misses the net by 1or2 Inches
If the puck hits the post or misses the net, he wasn’t “beaten”