Penguins – Lightning
Who takes Game 7 Thursday night?
If the last two games are any indication, whichever teams’ best players are better could be a pretty good indicator.
Which ones will rise to the occasion is anyone’s guess.
In Game 5, Tampa Bay’s best players were superior and they got the ‘W’, while the likes of Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang had brutal games.
Nikita Kucherov 2 goals, assist, Tyler Johnson game winning goal, Alex Killorn a goal.
In Game 6, the script was flipped.
Sidney Crosby had the game winning goal and added an assist. Kris Letang after being a minus-4 in Game 5, had a goal and was a +2. Phil Kessel scored, Evgeni Malkin was even noticeable at times, while for Tampa Bay, Kucherov, Johnson and Killorn were pointless and a combined minus-8.
“When your top guys lead the charge, everyone else follows suit,” Mike Sullivan after the Penguins Game 6 win.
That’s been true and while Mike Sullivan always talks about rolling four lines and this being about all 18 skaters, it’s often always about the best players being the ones who sway an elimination game in one direction or the other.
Both conference finals games last season went to seven games, with both road teams winning. What did the winning teams have in common? Chicago’s best players outplayed Anaheim’s and Tampa Bay’s outplayed New York’s.
In the Blackhawks 5-2 win, Duncan Keith had 3 assists, Patrick Kane a goal and assist, Brandon Saad had two points (goal, assist), Marian Hossa scored a goal, while for Anaheim, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry were all pointless and a combined minus-8.
Sometimes a depth player sways a Game 7 like Max Talbot but more often than not it comes down to which best players outplay the others.
Another pretty good indicator for tonight could be which No. 1 defenseman has the more impactful game.
Game 5 Letang was a disaster with his angles and positioning, on the ice for all four goals against. Game 6 Victor Hedman had a similar type of performance, a minus-4 and a delay-of-game penalty that led to a Penguins’ 5-on-3 goal.
So yeah it’s almost always about the best players and likely will be tonight on who prevails in Game 7.
More Takeaways
— The Penguins getting this to a Game 7 in the way they did with the stars stepping up, now has them in a situation where if they come up short tonight — there will disappointment compared to outrage if they would have lost Game 6 –.
Losing tonight would still be a missed opportunity though.
Tampa Bay without Steven Stamkos and Ben Bishop this series was clearly the fourth best team left in the tournament and for the Penguins, who some regard as the Cup favorites (I think San José is the best team remaining), you don’t know when the opportunity will come next.
From winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, Pittsburgh didn’t return to the Eastern Conference Finals until four seasons later in 2013. This season they returned for the first time in three years.
Evgeni Malkin will turn 30 this summer and we’re already seeing his best days might be behind him. A golden opportunity tonight for this core and the Penguins need to get the job done.
Might be a couple more years before an opportunity to get back to Cup Final comes again.
— Kris Letang’s second period goal in game 6 was a good illustration of why possession players are now the rage. On the goal Nick Bonino is late on his shift and gets the puck in the neutral zone and he’s basically 1-on-2. The natural instinct would be the dump the puck in and go change, instead Bonino shows patience and waits for the play to develop, gets the puck to Conor Sheary and then goes for his change.
The result is a zone entry by Sheary with the Penguins scoring seconds later.
— Something that might be flying under the radar has been a mini-resurgence from Chris Kuntz this series. Has points in four straight games, with 3 goals and 2 assists during that span. Difference for Kunitz, he’s getting high quality chances and getting a higher volume of pucks on net. In the first two rounds combined, Kunitz had 18 shots on goal in 11 games. In six games vs Tampa Bay he has 21 shots.
— Since returning to the lineup the last two games, Olli Maatta has had no ‘Olli Maatta type gaffes’ that end up with the puck in the back of the Penguins net. Bad news he’s probably due for one tonight.
— The positive impact of replay on potential off-sides goal has been significant for the Penguins this post-season. In Game 3 of Round 1, the Rangers struck first in the first period to take a 1-0 lead. The goal was overruled and called offside. Who knows how that one plays out if it’s not overruled.
In Game 6 vs the Lightning, Mike Sullivan admitted the Penguins dodged a bullet with Jonathan Drouin being called off-side. Patrick Hornqvist said today the Penguins might not be here today if that goal counted.
Andy Saucier has had a heck of a playoff run.
— Carl Hagelin is 6-1 all-time in Game 7’s. His only loss as a player coming last season in the Eastern Conference Finals vs the Lightning.
— One Eastern Conference NHL executive told me Wednesday Marc Andre Fleury’s performance in Game 5 will do more “harm” to his trade value in the long-run. Fair or not, Fleury still has this view about him outside of Pittsburgh from NHL personnel decision makers that he’s a fragile goaltender who gets rattled easily.
About that Matt Murray kid and his ability to handle pressure.
“I just think that’s part of his DNA,” Mike Sullivan said of Murray. “He has a calming influence. He doesn’t get rattled. If he lets a goal in, he just continues to compete. That’s usually an attribute that takes years to acquire. To have it at such a young age is impressive.”
— Regardless of whether the Penguins advance or not, the team is planning to conduct some preliminary pro scouting meetings next week to begin outlining an off-season plan for next season. [hide]
Pittsburgh could let every unrestricted free agent go elsewhere and come back with basically the same team, minus Matt Cullen and Ben Lovejoy.
Unless Marc Andre Fleury demands a trade, the Penguins have little wiggle room to add from the outside. They are equipped with young role players on cheap deals to the stay the course for another season if they choose. [/hide]
Tense finish… I’ll take it. Hopefully major lessons learned, hopefully speed kills these Sharks
Hey dipshit depaoli. Write us an article about how the stats don’t show you a difference between the team under sullivan vs the team under Johnston. Stupid moron.
You guys think gaydogg throwing a party in his bar? Dusty? Where is the picture
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In surprised gays are not offended now that Obama gave them the green light. What you think npl
Only way sharks can beat pens if pens take a lot of penalties their power play is very strong
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So Fleury couldn’t have done 16 saves tonight
F you. Quit complaining about players. Enjoy the moment
Probably not
Also Samknew when it was 3-2 tampax and people here jumping off the wagon same said they way tampax came back from 2-1 pens can do 4-3 from down 3-2 now go suckk a dick npl
Not 1 person jumped off your fictitious bandwagon
– At the end of the night, we are all elated that the Pens won – Sam will try desperately to make it seem like a prediction of some sort has come true, we all laugh at his expense CHECK
JM deserves a lot of credit
The American coach deserves a lot of credit.
Dusty post gaydogg’s bar
That was the trick. NPL’s hotdog cart is the jinx, gaydog’s bar is the good luck charm!
Wow true
Consol museum….
Win or lose, sam is a french tool
10 more minutes!!!!
If Bones misses time I wanna see Kessel and Sid together. We only seen seven games in a shit period of the year of those two… Seeing them on the 4v4, they looked great
FFS not Bones.
Kessel and Crosby 11 shots while the entire tampax has 10 shots
Chubby traded yet?
I agree with your comment below. Sid sucks Stan.
08 I shaved before final started 09 I didn’t shave they won. Hope this year’s works I won’t shave till the cup
Your legs?
And your french as$ never uses deodorant
I need to go calm my nerves, if you know what I mean.
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Go fly a kite
Stamkos, 6:29 through two… Ya he was totally ready to go hey Sam?
All he needs Is a perfect shot. That’s why they brought him plus tampax were in penalty in most of the period
That and ice time lol
11:55 for Stamkos, minutes jumped a lot because of the lead… He was a nonfactor… Playing him was stupid. Just hope there is no fallout
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20 more minutes!!!!!
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Can this power play come through for them? Percentages right?
How lucky can Tampa be right now?
Sharks have the strongest power play in the playoffs
Letang is the worst. Sam if I ever hear you utter another word about Malkin and stupid penalties…
Any saprise letang take penaltys on pp
Letang with another fuck awful dip shit play! Ugh
His penalties are ok
Those are the plays that cost you games.
“Pacquette suspended for 2016-17 season opener” -future news
Chance to really put the foot on their throat.
Malkin and bennett and a 1st round for drouin and Stamkos
Remember when you said Bennett for Drouin? Haha #SamKnew
Where do you come up with all these B.S
Are you sure that’s bs? Cuz I’m certain the board can vouche
I remember it.
I remember too
Ya Stamkos hasn’t been the same since the leg injury and now he’s on blood thinners… Pass
Malkin is playing great!
Rust is also dynamite today
Reminds me of Talbot in game 7 vs wings
Malkin does?
Imagine if that was Fleury!
Crosby leads this series between both teams with 18 scoring chances. He suckss Stan because. He hasn’t scored a lot according to you and according to some conn smythe is the morris richard trophy of the playoffs it’s based who scores the most like fraud kessel playing on 3rd line vs. Weaker opponents and still half his goals are from power play
Don’t be stupid… Crosby has been decent the last two for sure. He was also too quiet for too many shifts. Kessel has been very good himself but has finished! He’s been dynamite and why this team is here!
To note, watching Sid make people miss in the corners? Only a matter of time before that line clicks tonight
Bennett injured yet? Sitting Sheary in game five was brilliant… Kids been 1000x better since.
What a great read by Malkin!!
What a pass Maatta… Trade him right now hey Sam?
Malkin also with an assist!
Pass was going to kunitz malkin stole that so he gets a point but matta was good pass
I’m four drinks in… Attention span is short… This must feel like how yoda watches games sober lol
You’re an idiot
Or was that to Kunitz from Maatta?
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Found a pic of his bar.
Wtf are you serious wow this is classic
I tough you would like it
Letang looks to be having a pure frog game.
What in the fuck is Letang doing?
pens are 2-7 in home game 7 an last time they won when there was Mario and jagr
Ya but you were a Habs fan then so why mention this?
As much as I want pens to win th cup I want them to Lose as well so we don’t see that lazy Russian anymore in pens Jersey
You and yoda… Two peas I. The fair weather pod. So far it’s been only you and him “hoping for a loss”
Why would winning the cup this year matter for next year’s plans with Malkin or Fleury or any other player?
What is it now 3 games in a row malkin takes the first penalty?
That was the weakest penalty ever. So was the slash. Looks like a lot of penalties will be called
At least he took it in the defensive zone
Sorry Sam, no f’ing way am I posting a hotdog cart tonight till this one is over!
Don’t
Stan watch carefully tonight because if pens are out you might see number 71’s Last game in pens uniform
Hey zerotool was same right when he said stevie Y said he won’t rule Stamkos out? Now start boiling hot dog water an join npl
Ya I bet it’s a great decision… It’s a desperation move. Guy better hope he don’t set himself back further than he already was
4 minutes… Good thing he’s in!
Anyone smell that stench of desperation in Tampa?
Sam nailed the Stamkos story again. Damn he’s good
Sam’s +/- has reached an impressive new low. -9 in a single comment!
Here’s guessing that the more he plays defense, the lower itll get.
Stammer hasn’t played since April. I think he’ll be a step slow naturally, no matter how much he has practiced. Can’t simulate game speed.
when you are as good as stamkos it doesn’t matter. it will take him about 3 shifts to get going. all he needs is one good look and it could be a game changer.
Only goalies are rusty after 2 months. *sarcasm*
If they were smart, they would go 6 D, play him on PP and the 3rd period.
Hey npl and Stan is there anyway you 2 can go continue your PJ party and not come on this site during the game because last time when you slobs weren’t here pens stars showed up and were winning up until npl showed up and tampax scored twice. Fuckin jinx
Datsyuk has been presented with an offer to play in the KHL
Darzuk
Where is Mrchady? He comes in and lights everyone up, then he’s gone like a fart in the wind.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but since you asked…
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DKK on sirus XM radio that guy is a clown he is saying people outside pittsburgh are getting the wrong material if you guys want real infos ill give you free inscription on my site to the XM guys lol
Who is DKK? What is Sirus? Is DKK or Sirus the clown? What is real infos? And most importantly – does he do custom inscriptions? I’d like to get a necklace that says “Love, Samtheman” on it.
Haha
damn tought you love food more then people
and Yes Samistheman
make your michel sam Happy dont want him to cheat on you again like the past EX BF did
You tought wrong, but I tought right. If you scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN to the bottom of this page, you’ll see I accurately predicted a terribly unfunny Michael Sam reference was imminent.
I didn’t see toews name when they were mentioning the blackhawks.
NPL for president after that post. I literally laughed at just about every check point.
That was awesome. Although, it makes me feel pretty forgettable being that I wasnt mentioned.
Tough Break Jacka$$… there – you feel better?
Huddle up morons the Pens are about to give the bolts an a$$ kicking!!!!!
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I will be at Game 7 tonight! I believe in this team!
Thumbs up. This is the Pens year. I really enjoy watching this team – fast, skilled, and resilient – finally.
*Philieve
It’s Game 7 tonight, so let’s not change up our routine. Here’s the checklist, let me know what we can cross off: – Yoda talks about “St. Bluery” for no reason – Yoda claims Matt Murray has great throughout the playoffs – Sam makes an incoherent Malkin comment – Sam says “Bennett injured yet” among many other unclever remarks – Sam cuffs a fart and licks his hand – Sam guarantees something that wont come true – Sam gives this list a thumbs down and blames it on stan gaydogg npl bandwagons – Sam says “Lightnings” – Sam posts a… Read more »
you forgot to add you will get tons of thumbs down after this list
I need a ruling on this – can we check this one off?
– Sam guarantees something that wont come true
Lawyered!
That was outstanding! This is what happens everyday.
this post is great. lol! in all honesty this may be my favorite post ever.
Im not sure that could of been more spot on
Nailed it hotdog cart ! Go pens. Bring the pressure.
I LOLed
Post of the year candidate right here
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Ladies and Gentlemen, the new “Daily Five!”
Malkin good days been behind since 2 years thats when the team shoulvde traded him when he had more value every year his value is dropping lets hope that fraud is gone by this summer
you need to hire a ghost writer!
That’s rough if true, because then you’ve lose Geno AND Sid.
lol D predicting doom for Maatta. What a dick
No shit hey, kids issue is his mobility and I imagine a little bit of confidence issues that stems from that. He has played better since his night off too. Little presumptuous to assume he is simply “due for one”.
Play Pouliot #zerosense
Careful Maloni, you continue further down the yodahole with your twisting of events!
Own it zero, own it.
Made about as much sense as lobbying for Fleury coming off of a two month hiatus last week.
Yeah what a richardhead! I predict his write up from this game will be full of grammatical errors.
i told you every GM in the league won’t want st.bleury and game 5 cemented that even more. you guys think he is going to fetch a 1st round pick. yeah right! the pens will have to eat half of his contract. nobody wants that clown except the media and the yinzer fans brainwashed by the media.
Idiot
Bet Sam makes a Michael Sam joke when he replies to my comment about his DKK/Sirus/inscriptions
Yes you’re right… one of D’s unnamed sources that seem to reign supreme when discussing such matters has put the nail in MAFs coffin because of a bad game after missing a month and a half due to concussion in a year that was a terrific season while coming off of back to back solid playoff years!!!
Just fuck off already. You must be OCD
Maybe Yoda is one of D’s “sources”?
“A bad game”. Love it. Apparently Zero slipped into a coma after 2009. #debateover
And yet still, no one cares what you think
Pens won’t make the playoffs. Tear it down.