Game 4 Analysis: Penguins have reached a level where Flyers have mentally checked out

Penguins 5 – Flyers 0

(PIT LEADS SERIES, 3-1)

PIT LEADERS
Matt Murray | 26 Saves, 1.000 SV%
Sidney Crosby | Goal, Assist
Phil Kessel | Goal, Assist
Evgeni Malkin | Goal, Assist
Kris Letang | Goal
Riley Sheahan | Goal

GAME 4 ANALYSIS

Game 3 felt like the Pittsburgh Penguins ended the Flyers season, most notably the momentum changing plays Matt Murray and Sidney Crosby provided in period one of Game 3.

Pittsburgh’s 5-0 win in Game 4 vs the Flyers further cemented the Flyers have reached the point where they know they can’t beat the Penguins.

Matt Murray with a 26 save-shutout was dominant again in the first period, stopping all 10 shots in the period including a breakaway save.

Murray with 4 shutouts in his last six playoff games, has boasted a .972 save percentage in the first period of this series. For the underdog Flyers, Murray’s play in period one has been a significant development that’s given the Flyers no life in three of four games.

Game 3 had a major carryover to Game 4 as Philadelphia was just lifeless.

Pittsburgh was faster to pucks from the start and three minutes into the game Matt Read, one of the Flyers best penalty killers, puts Pittsburgh on the power play with a holding penalty.

1:33 into the power play, Evgeni Malkin makes it 1-0 Penguins.

It was game over five minutes into the game and the lack of push from the Flyers throughout the game just continues to prove the point that Game 2 was nothing more than a fluke and Philadelphia has mentally checked out.

— The Penguins have outscored the Flyers 38-17 in eight games this season and Pittsburgh is 7-1 vs the Flyers.

This is now a large enough sample of how badly the Flyers are overmatched against the Penguins.

Sidney Crosby’s second period goal to make it 4-0 and become the Penguins all-time leader in postseason points with 173 further illustrated that where Philadelphia’s best defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was completely overmatched on the goal.

Crosby has been unstoppable in the series with 5 goals, 4 assists and a +8 rating.

Claude Giroux who needed to be great in this series has one assist and a minus-7 rating through four games.

Jake Voracek has been held to just 2 assists and has also been a non-factor.

At the end of the day, though, there were little signs coming into the series Philadelphia would be able to slow down Pittsburgh offensively and that’s been the story here with Pittsburgh outscoring Philadelphia 17-1 in the three victories.

Matt Murray’s great play in three of the four games has been the icing on the cake.

To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Related posts:

Game 1 Analysis: Penguins Looked like a club not just making a statement to the Flyers but to the rest of the NHL Game 5 Analysis: On Flyers extending the series, Penguins Lack of Killer Instinct Late in Period 2 & More Buzz Post-Game Analysis: In a thrilling game, concerns pop back up for Penguins in 6-5 loss to Flyers Post-Game Analysis: A slower team, d-zone issues back? Penguins lack compete level in 6-1 loss to NYR