Penguins Steal Game 1
“To steal a game in their rink and kind of effectively get home ice back in the series, I think that’s huge.” — Penguins center Nick Bonino
The Pittsburgh Penguins escaped Game 1 with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals despite all the numbers saying this should have been a blow out in Washington’s favor.
The eye test also says this was a bad performance by the Penguins, outside of a few players.
Washington out-attempted Pittsburgh 83-41, was +21 in scoring chances, +14 in shots (35-21) +6 in high danger chances (13-7) and carried the play for significant portions over the final two periods.
Yet, the Penguins did what the Penguins do in putting one more puck in the back of the net than the opposition.
Timely goals and goaltending propelled the Penguins to a 1-0 series lead. It’s a recipe the Penguins will have to continue to rely on and the scary thing for Washington is if Marc Andre Fleury continues to play well above his head and career numbers, the high-end talent the Penguins boast only needs a couple golden opportunities to bury you like what played out in Game 1.
Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals had a lot of things play out for them in Game 1 (if they continue) that should put them in great position to get past the Penguins in Round 2.
The last two periods, Ovechkin was a force, Evgeny Kuznetsov was a major problem for the Penguins defensively, the Capitals third line carried play, and Washington gave the Penguins trouble in transition through the neutral zone as Washington’s D was very effective in spacing the Penguins out with long passes that led to quick offense the other way.
Washington dominated possession, 73-32 in 5 vs 5 play and out-attempted the Penguins 56-20 over the final two periods. But, the Penguins would out-score Washington 3-2 during that span.
In the third period, the Capitals had the Penguins on the ropes and only to be burned by an Ian Cole stretch pass to Scott Wilson who found a streaking Nick Bonino for a breakaway and game winning goal. The goal was Bonino’s first shot/attempt in the game as the Penguins third line up to that point was getting worked all game.
This was a typical Penguins – Capitals playoff game where Pittsburgh just finds a way to win it and Washington despite all the great things they did in Game 1, are now chasing the series.
Last year in Round 2, the Capitals lost Game 3 to fall down 2-1 in the series when they fired 49 shots on Matt Murray and had 85 shot attempts. They’ve now lost two playoff games vs the Penguins in consecutive seasons where they had over 80 shot attempts with a +40 differential.
Among the keys from the Penguins stealing Game 1:
Level Play in the first period: Poor starts plagued the Penguins in the Columbus series and Pittsburgh came out with a workman like performance in period one. They gave Washington little time and space in period one and the Capitals went over eight minutes without a shot during a stretch. This put Pittsburgh in position to jump out to a lead which they did seconds into the second period.
29 Blocked Shots: Washington fired 83 shot attempts, yet, only got 35 on net and were limited to just 13 high danger chances in the game. Pittsburgh was again great at blocking shooting lanes, with 29 blocked shots, none better than Jake Guentzel’s save in the first period in what should have been a goal for T.J. Oshie. The bounces keep going the Penguins way as this team continues to play with fire.
Sidney Crosby: What makes the Penguins so dangerous is what played out last night where Sidney Crosby took over the game with just two shifts, scoring twice in a 52 second span.
Goaltending: Braden Holtby gave up 3 goals on 21 shots and he has Sergei Bobrovsky ‘itis’ when he plays the Penguins. Holtby took the blame on Pittsburgh’s first and third goals, calling it the “difference in the game” and said it won’t happen next time. If it does, Washington will be down 0-2.
No Penalties: Somehow, someway, the Penguins never put the Capitals on the man advantage despite the Capitals having the puck in their end for most of the night. “No [hide] penalties against their side,” Alex Ovechkin said. “Shit happens.”
Final Takeaway from Game 1
— The Penguins continue to play with fire and are still winning –[/hide]
James motherfucking Conner. WOOOOOOOO!!!
Fuckyour thumbs down Sam. Goddamm thumb monitor.
Can’t believe the Steelers didn’t draft another white OLB with bad knees. Tomlin is slipping.
Hurricanes acquire Scott darling from the Hawks in exchange of 3rd round pick
Shut your fat mouth.
According to thefourthperiod.com
Funny how on today’s D article has not even one time the word Fleury yet we have Murray mentioned
Have your mom read it for you again. Its there.
Sam is a slow Jee.
Pens should sit Maatta for Pouliot.
Sheary was on the ice for 1 shot attempt and 22 against. That’s pretty fucking terrible.
Don’t tell that to ZeroFool
See brown eye, the difference between you and I is I recognize when players are hot and when they have cooled. You think that a player is always switched on or off depending on how much you like them… because youre really fucken stupid. Sheary is a valuable member of this team that is currently playing like shit.. which I have been saying since last round brown eye. He needs to figure out out because the team is that much better when he is on.
“You think that a player is always switched on or off depending on how much you like them….because youre really fucken stupid”
Could not of been said any better
sheary is a boarderline NHLer because of his size and he is worn out.
On pace for 30 goals and 70 points. “Boarderline” [sic]
Playing with Crosby makes him on pace 30 goals and 70 points but you wouldn’t know that. Trade Crosby already
The “prophet” has spoken. We are
Pretty much assured to see Sheary get better here out lol
browneye
It’s a good thing shot attempts don’t matter.
Wayne Gretzky disagrees
But pens playing in April matters so it should matter
Sources indicate the only offer for Fleury at the deadline was a conditional 6th round pick in the 2019 draft. Save percentage is .715 in game 2 of playoffs going back to 2013
I think you mean “midget”
There is no market for Fleury. No team wants him. Pens should leave him in the dumpster when they head back to Pittsburgh
thank god no one wanted him…….
No market i think if fleury would’ve been with flames they would’ve beaten ducks. Because outside the goalie battle they outplayed the ducks despite the fact they got swept
Sam, with a career save percentage of .689, there is no NHL or AHL team that would give up assets to acquire Fleury.
These statistics are meaningless. Do you u watch hockey. My read pens out played them when game was on the line fist period, got 2 goals and went into a more defensive posture in second and early 3 period. When game was tied they responded with a goal and sat on it. This is winning hockey. If caps got lead then you play more aggressive style and attempt more chances which leads to more shot attempts against.
Fleury is playing twice as good as he is capable. He will let up 10 goals next game. Murray is better.
how come ovechkin can curse on this site, but I can’t?
Almost zero credit to Fleury… Amazing… Wow…. Why the fuck did I pay for this shit blog?
Remember who he is writing for. When the only guy swinging from his nuts also happens to be one of the dumbest mother fuckkers walking Earth it will show up in the quality of the articles.
Who does he write for?
Yoda it seems
If Hagelin is ready, Sheary sits. Need to get Geno playing a grinding game. Guentzel-Crosby-Horny; Kunitz-Geno-Rust; Hagelin-Bones-Kessel;
Guentzel credited for save that was off Fleury’s stick. There were a few other saves that Fleury made that I don’t count. If you calculate Fleury’s real save percentage it’s .774
Fleury posts an .810 save percentage and gets a win. This will catch up with him and Pens will lose this series
So I am ready to split Kessel and Geno up I think. They are missing something that was there at the end of the year. Maybe it’s time to go back to the 3 lines, Bonino heated up late and maybe that magic can be rediscovered especially with Hags on his way back
Thanks for repeating my post above. I knew you always agreed with me
You know my post was here 1st right? I do have to ask tho… you were kidding about Malkin having his best game of the playoffs right?
I thought he started well. He was dominant early and then got worse as game went on. Not making excuses but Kessel is wrong guy to play with Malkin. Kessel needs to play with Bones
I find that Kessel defers far too much when playing with anyone more capable than him, Malkin seems to do the same.
I’m more worried about sheary. Dudes a mess. Pens were one-line team last night. Crosby was off the charts good.
When he is on he fights through everything, finds holes in the D and is able to beat most goalies because he is smart with his shot selection. Guy looks really small right now. He is taking a beating from the opposition, pucks are bouncing off the stick like a super ball and he seems like he is panicking to make plays. Not sure what thats all about but maybe he needs to watch one from the pressbox.
Last year in the post season he tailed off a bit, he got the night off and came back with a vengeance.
he’s either physically beaten down, or buying to much into is press clippings. Needs to return to a simple, hustle game. Either sit or grind it out on the 4th line with Matt Cullen.
Chubby will go back to 3rd line where he belongs less pressure and like that he can have a chance to win the conn Smyth just like last year. Typical fraud disappears when needed on top roles
Have you ever actually watched a hockey game? I mean all 60 minutes?
Kessel was the best player in the playoffs last year and deserved the Conn Smythe. But your lovely boy Wimperby won it…lucky
Put crosby on 3rd line and your chubby on first line. Let’s see how well your chubby will do .