Game 4 Analysis: Penguins Show Game 7 type mentality with 200 ft Game
Penguins – Capitals was a true toss-up heading into the series and what shouldn’t be a surprise to many, the series is even at 2-2 after four games and now a best-of-3 in what feels like is going to be a seven game series.
The Pittsburgh Penguins avoided a fourth straight home loss with a 3-1 win over the Capitals in Game 4.
Jake Guentzel had 2 goals as his sensational play continues, Matt Murray stopped 20 of 21 shots and Evgeni Malkin broke a 1-1 tie with a power play goal with 2:29 left in the second period in diving to stuff a puck just past the goal-line for a Penguins 2-1 lead.
This series has been about as evenly matched as it could get as all four games have pretty much been 50-50 games, but what Game 4 showed from the Penguins was the defending champs flexing those championship muscles in that they played with a Game 7 type mentality in all three zones to do what it takes to secure a victory.
Outside of Guentzel’s empty-netter, both Penguin goals were playoff type goals in getting to the dirty areas, converting off bounces that went their way because of being in the right spots.
Most impressive from the Penguins was the defensive mentality they possessed.
It was one of those performances from the Penguins where they were elite in tracking the puck through the neutral zone that gave the Capitals big guns little time and space.
Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot, the Capitals managed just 21 shots, the lowest amount of shots they’ve had in a playoff game since the 2016 postseason.
Pittsburgh held Washington to three shots on goal in the third period.
Possession numbers were near even at even strength, Pittsburgh 52%, Washington 48%, but the key stat on how suffocating the Penguins were with their forwards committed to defending and tracking the puck defensively was a Penguins 10-3 edge in high danger chances.
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FORWARDS PLAYER REPORTS
— It was another day at the office for Jake Guentzel with 2 goals in the win, giving him 10 goals and 21 points in the postseason. How special of a run is Guentzel on?
Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in 1988 are the last two players to reach 20 points in 10 or fewer postseason games.
Guentzel hockey IQ in what continues to stand out and what makes him so productive when the lights shine brightest at playoff time. He’s not the most talented player out there by any means but he’s one of the smartest in what has made him such a strong fit with Sidney Crosby.
He thinks the game at an elite level that constantly puts him in the right spots.
“I just think [Jake] is a real good hockey player. He’s competitive, I think he embraces the important moments,” Mike Sullivan said of Guentzel following the Penguins win.
What drove the Penguins being above 50% in possession as a team was the top-line of Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Dominik Simon.
The line drove possession at a 68% clip, while every other Penguins line was below 47%.
When Mike Sullivan elevated Simon to Crosby’s line in Game 4, it was an obvious ‘what is the coaching staff doing’ moment.
The move paid off for one night with Simon picking up an assist on Guentzel’s goal and Simon was 70% (21/9) in possession and Pittsburgh was +9 (13/4) in scoring chances when Guentzel-Crosby-Simon were on the ice together.
In reality the Penguins offensively, though, were a one-line team again.
— Carl Hagelin returned to the lineup which saw the Penguins reunite the Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist line. Hagelin played 16:11 and had 2 shots on goal. The best work from the line was more in the playing away from the puck department than being factors offensively.
Pittsburgh’s second line was 28% in Scoring Chance For Percentage.
Brassard/Kessel continue to struggle
Phil Kessel was another non-factor with an assist, 1 shot on goal and was 27% (4/11) in possession. Kessel got an assist on Malkin’s power play marker and he continues to struggle mightily at getting his shot off from the left wall.
There’s been rumblings of a rib/abdomen injury since late in the regular season to whispers lately that the injury is actually a To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!.
Nonethless, Kessel’s lack of impact 5-on-5 saw him play just 9:30 during 5-on-5 play, the 10th least amount of ice time among Penguin forwards.
Then there’s Derick Brassard.
Like Kessel the belief is he might still bothered by an injury suffered in the regular season, believed to be a To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!, but also like Kessel, it’s reaching the point where if you’re in the lineup, there’s no excuses.
At least one of Kessel/Brassard has to start performing if the Penguins are getting out of the East again.
Having Conor Sheary and Tom Kuhnhackl as your wingers sure doesn’t help but it was another low impact night from Brassard who had 0 points and 0 shots.
He played just 9:29 at even strength and is pretty much being used as a 4th line forward.
More Buzz
— One reason for the Capitals top-line being completely shutdown, all you have to do is look at Brian Dumoulin.
He was sensational again in playing a locked down defensive game, and when your No. 1 pairing defenseman is at 72% in possession, you’re doing something right.
This postseason should be an appreciation of how good Dumoulin is.
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Can you imagine the headlines in the English-speaking world…”Frenchman sabotages steel city USA”
Murray sabotages since day 1 he plays for pens they often need 4+ goals for him
Not sure how anybody other than Letang takes blame for this L. He’s a total loser.
The Pens need dr Maroon to scare Letang into concussion retirement. Nobody will sign up for that contract in a trade.
That’s easy, look no further than Simon and his absolutely atrocious offensive zone penalty that killed all momentum and allowed the caps back into not only the game, but the lead.
Nope, just French. he was born that way.
I know you clowns have an agenda on letang only
But kessel and malkin each – 4 tonight one less minus then npl that distributes on this site to people
No, we hate Fleury and anyone French too
I’m close to my words when fleury left there were haters here and I said it
I wouldn’t be surprised if fleury goes further then pens. I looked stupid because Vegas was just an extension team. But having gallant I knew they would do good but didn’t expect this good. Because I brought Vegas will go 2nd round that’s about it and pens our first round but seems like Vegas might go 3rd and pens out in 2nd
Right… because while MAF is playing the best hockey of his career in VGK I’m curious as to how bad he’d look with Letang sabotaging the games so often
Not as bad as Murray and his glove
NO, fleury looked like a fuckkin turd for long enough with shitt defense like Letang in front of him. Anybody with a brain knew that Fleury would go on to play better with a team that plays a more defensive game in the regular season. Anybody with a brain could see that Murray benefited from Sullivan/Tortarella’s block every shot system. The problem is this yea, we haven’t really done that in the playoffs, and it’s exposed Murray, which should have happened in the regular season….but he missed too much time for that.
Pens in 7.
He was already exposed the 2 years he won the cup. If he wasnt exposed how did I knew about it since day 1. Team shows up he wins they block tons of shots Even last 2 years he always gave weak goals but fans didn’t see it because team was hot and winning series when he won the cup vs sharks first thing I said trade him to flames he will never have a higher value and in time teams will know his a fraud and value will drop and now 2 years later that is exactly what is… Read more »
Did you watch npls ex
Exposed the years he won the cup? You see how stupid that looks… two years winning, two years out performing MAF… maybe the Pens keep MAF if he proves he was going to be the better of the two, he couldn’t and the Pens hands were forced. End of the day Murray won two cups as a rookie… he carried on that “farce” for quite awhile hey? Fucken idiot
Like all the thinks Cole used to do!
Sit Letang!!!!!!!!! I do not care if you put Gonchar in his place.
Sit fraud Murray I do not care if you put fleury in his place for 1 game
Ok, here’s the game 6 fix. Put Sheary on Sid’s wing. Replace Kuhnackle and Simon with Sprong and Rowney and skate the shitt out of the top three lines.
If Backstrom is out Pens should burry them.
He didnt play majority of the 3rd period and caps score more
MS has no faith in Sprong.
MS has his agenda he stick by his players be likes and coached. I bet he has secret relationship with Murray
Lmmfao… that secret relationship has resulted in the first B2B cups in 30 years… you’re a fucken stupid fucken fuckk
He was hurt and missed part of the game, and how did that turn out?
keep Kuhnackle he played a good game and brings strong PK but sit our 4th line center for Rowney
Npl is still counting on his fat fingers how many pens need for Murray tonight
You mean Letang right, the brain dead French Canadian that can’t play defense.
His about maatta missing the empty. Or dumo gets caught in the offensive zone. Or chubby fuckss up and leds to empty net
Dumo gets caught in the ozone? Come on Dame you can’t be that dumb. He had a score chance in the crease. Watch again, Letang doesn’t pick up verana – his man. Pens lose.
Sams agenda is to protect Letang and that French last name at all costs lol
To everyone who said I had no idea what I was talking about when I said the Brassard for Cole trade was a terrible idea because the Penguins needed a third line center oh so badly, do you still feel that way now?! Ottawa must be laughing their ass’s off now.
Unless brassard wears #58 he’s not why they lost that game
He has not done anything to help them win and has taken away their best defenseman. He was the big asset that was supposed to be the missing third center. He has been a major bust.
Bud, I was the first one to call him out here. Don’t need to tell me. But he’s not why they lost tonight.
We trade for a guy who makes $5mill and he’s playing on the fourth line. Ridiculous.
Brass@SID4800$$ is only on the fourth line because we don’t dress 5 lines.
I strongly encourage all to turn on the West semis. Real hockey
I’ve been following jets and Vegas series closely. Very exciting games those 4 teams to watch in West
That Jets series is awesome but mostly because PK Subban is such a dominant defenceman
I don’t care if the Pens go on to win the cup. They have to get rid of Letang and his salary. Dude has to have the lowest hockey IQ in the game.
No one will take him, even if the Penguins retain 99.9% of his salary.
I really think we are done. I hope I’m wrong, but this team doesn’t remind me of any of the last 2 cup teams. Nice run. Make a couple roster changes and be back next year. The 3rd times the charm for Washington. I think the Pens are spent as well.
Pens won’t lose Monday. (Although I did call Caps in 6).
I don’t have a good feeling about Monday. I have no confidence in Murray right now. I would have never said this the last 2 years.
Murray is just average. He’s not bad he’s not good. His trade value in plummeting. Needs to go this off season.
Well well well finally clowns here are waking up about fraud Murray.
Letang is the most pressing issue, get rid of him or even Price would look average
3 problems with getting rid of Murray 1. He can’t stay healthy 2. He looked terrible almost all year with well below average nunbers 3. There is no quality backups out there and you think the Penguins will get a really good starter that someone is willing to part with?
Price is a FA. He’s got 3 good years left. That’s Pens window. Dump letangs salary
Now we know why the Pens won the cup last year, no Letang. Both goals 3-4 were on him
That 3rd goal was all on him. WTF would he occupy a spot where we already have a defenseman? The dude has no grasp on playing the fundamentals of the position.
Thank you Kris Letang. French Canadian shit bag.
See you on Monday as we try to stave off elimination. I blame Letang and Murray. Seems like I say this every time we lose a playoff game.
Ah come on what about the poster boy Iginla part 2 Brass@SID4800$$
Can’t blame Iginla because Bylsma wouldn’t play him with Sid on the right side.
Well the series isn’t over but we got a hell of a hole to dig out of. #19DynsatyKiller
I’m so sick of Brassard. I was for this trade but he blows. I would try to trade him this summer. The fact you only have to pay 50% of his salary, might make him attractive to some team.
Get Letang off this team.
Just put a traffic cone out there. It will be in better postion.
Chubbyyyyyy come on cockk suckerss let’s blame him injury
Fuck sakes!
Remember when Murray would make a big save at a key moment? I’m so sick of seeing the same goals beat him every time. He’s been a real disappointment for me.
Ahh. It’s about time you wake up now how fun convincing the rest of the zombies here
How many for Murray.
Npl care to answer
He’s going nowhere. Nobody wants our trash.
Letang. Unreal. Get him the fuck off this team.
Nice dumo gets caught in the offence zone
And goodnight.
Turning off you tv already still 4 min
But we have Brass@SID4800$$ remember he’s the greatest he’s the missing link
Worst trade of the year!!!
43 for 12 on next top line shift
It’s the Dan Bylsma syndrome, when you are winning after 2 periods you do not have to play the 3rd.
Glad that clown is no longer with pens.
Hey npl I know you are going through a rough break up with your bf
But can you tell us how many pens need for Murray tonight
I still say give Letang a cognitive test and he will fail he has classic concussion symptoms. He was freaking confused.
Letang is the worst.
What the fuck was Letang doing?
omg where was the Def
Another Letang- less pp goal
looks like Schultz a lot more comfortable on PP
As long as we have chubby we are fine
It’s true… between Malkin and Kessel the teams up. Fucken asshole
Hey npl is Murray stealing the game or team. Bailing him out
Wrong Russian Sam
Ovi is due for a goal
Last game 0 shots
This game 2 penalties
Oh look chubby with a point and his wrist looked fine.
It Only works on power play
slow down the video his left wrist is hurt he cant receive the puck on the blade right. its clear he’s wincing and hes backing off the arm. Not going to argue it not going to justify it can see it clearly slowing down the DVR.
No Letang pp scores.
Good work lets get something out of it.
That’s how your pp sucks the life out of you
Why the fuckkkk is Letang on the pp to start the period. Terrible coaching.
Have to agree, with schultz everything looks so much better
OMG are they to actually start calling it really I am in shock.
This what happens when you have the Russian and chubby on ice same time
were down by 1 we got the craps where we want them
Fuck… bad penalty 200 feet from his own goal and then implosion
Terrible. You can’t sell me he should be playing over sprong.
Npl close your TV
I think murrays glove has a hole
2 Cups or not, I can’t stand Murray!!! Worst glove in the league!!!
Pace on this one is terrific so far
Yeah. You jinx
Jinx is something weak minded idiots believe in. I say something therefor something bad happens? You’re fucken stupid lol. Besides… Washington talking the lead was still about the pace of the game…
Ole-Ole-Ole Oleksik
More of that from Sheary… like the start from 3C and 4C
You finally came. Took you time eh?
Between Diego cheering on Marchand licking players and you asking me about my ejaculations I’ll have to say the board is in rare form today. I guess I should expect no less from the kid who introduced the board to his creep van obsession
Nvm… Oleksiak… either way I’m happy with the start lol
ok lets get positive to beat the godless heaven whores of Washington
Seen Avengers last night… I’ve been a big fan of Thanos since the original Gauntlet series… hopefully Malkin will channel his inner Thanos and absolutely dominate 😉 lol
Thanos is the ultimate power forward
Not sure if you seen it… or know the original story… they did a great job making it work with the holes that were there. I was a big fan
Went Thursday after the game to see it. bigger JL fan but been catching up on all Marvel since first Avengers movie
Breaking news. Npl and his boyfriend broke up
Last boyfriend npl left him because he cheated on him and was caught on video
This bf left him because npl lied to him
Oh no. Not that video again.
https://youtu.be/_l5npN-kBeU
Make sure you read the comment section. It’s. Not only me or his ex thinks same a lot more people do.
I heard Kessel might be questionable tonight. If he doesn’t play, Sprong to dress.
Any confirmatiom?
Let him sit it’s not like his helping the team at the moment and everytime it’s a close game he doesn’t play just like last game he played under 10mins.
He played 13:46….
Marchant is hilarious. He’s got the tight-azz hockey world up in arms.
hey if you are into guys licking guys what ever….but not something I would enjoy watching 🙂
Ya, I ain’t gonna be one to kink shame but I think Marchand crossed a line on the ice here!
Sam is it his last name or the fact he played in the Q? Why does Brad very French last name Marchand lick other players? Is this common practice in French Canada?
You like that shitt don’t you
Creep. Lol
What he is doing is disturbing and disgusting. It’s no longer hockey. I wonder to who he would’ve done if they played pens in the playoffs. To Hornqvist?
Coaches are too nice. I’d let my player blast him in the face and hopefully break his nose. He obviously has no respect for the game or other players. I’d be ok eating a penalty for that.
Dude your in playoffs that one penalty can cost you the game. .
Man wish sometimes everyone was as smart as you
Sam, have you ever been in a fight?
Or you kill the penalty and knock that bitchh out for the series and he learns a lesson. Keep living scared pu$$y.
I’d give him a game, while there is no precedent in the book it’s fucken weird and disgusting. The league has warned his stupid ass once already, he should sit a game so he listens
I heard Florida is a shitholee
Fuckk there goes fleury’s shutout
Vegas needed 4.
That was one hell of a short handed goal. What a terrible sell by Z. Lol
Lol the entire intermission is Jones and JR blasting Rick Nash. Turnover on the first goal and stupid penalty for the second. Definitely worth 7million.
How many turnovers and penalties does malkin take. Try every game fun part most of his penalties come in the offence zone. Talk about 9.5m investment
Malkin.
3 Stanley Cups
1 Conn Smythe
1 Hart
2 Art Ross
1 Calder
1 Ted Lindsey
7 time All Star.
Nash.
1 shared Rocket Richard
6 time All Star.
We are done here.
Prime years played In a shitthole team
While the Russian hid behind Crosby
A #1 draft pick should make those around him better. Nash never broke 80 points once, Malkin did it in his rookie year. Excuses excuses….
Nash a wing malkin a centre. No matter how good wing you are you always need a centre. Just like pens #59
You made the comparison, I am just stating the facts. You probably still think Montreal robbed Nashville in the Webber / PK trade.
With habs he sucked as number 1 defence habs were looking number 1 D. With preds he is number 4 D. And habs send poison because once ellis and josi contract is up they will want to have more money then subban since they are #1and #2 D. And doughty and karlson already indirectly mocked subban contract thinking they can get more then that clown while he is 4-5 D and just a power play specialist. Anyways have fun with the preds drama it’s coming soon.
And habs traded him because he was arrogant he was thinking he was bigger then the organization and be had many problems in the locker room with other players and coaching staff.
Him and max pacioretty weren’t getting along
Add another name to the long list of people that has taken this dumb fuckk apart in another anti-Malkin argument. Fuck you’re dumb
PS the Subban rumours are just that… while his personality may have been hard for some to deal with he was liked by many of his teammates, that sentiment is echoed in Nashville. Only racist pieces of shitt like you still push that narrative.
He won a Norris in Montreal you fucken queeb. It’s funny how you tend to shoehorn in real life use of a player to that of a video game. On that note that fucken moron coach a Therrien did Subban no favours.
Subban is second in Nashville in icetime and is a Norris finalist… you’re so fucken stupid… and racist
Don’t you love how he will continue to make excuses for the guys he likes while shitting on players he hates? Nash needed a centre but Kessel? A guy who has outperformed Nash at almost every turn spent a lot of time with virtual nobodies up the middle lol.
Bruins had nobody’s?
Lesfs had nobody
Compare to shitwhole jackets
Kessel centres in Toronto were Matt Stajan and Bozak for fuck sakes. While he had a decent cast in Boston he didn’t establish himself until he got to Toronto with Matt fucken Stajan and Tyler fucken Bozak lol… superstars hey lol
Brassard, Umberger, and Vermette were at least as good you fucken idiot lol
Umberger are you serious
You really picture him as a good player the clowns was a one hit wonder made name in the habs series that was about it
And as for brassard be did not really centred Nash up until the year he was getting traded to rags .Nash came from a shithole expansions team nothing like Vegas today.
So fucken what, you argue that Nash needed a C and that’s why he somehow can be argued vs Malkin which is probably the dumbest thing you’ve said to date! Nash has played with centres who, on average, were at least as good as the Cs Kessel skated with in Toronto yet had better years… on average. To you Nash is better than Malkin and Kessel is trash… you are a stupid motherfucker lol
Lmmfao… Umberger vs Matt Stajan? Come on ffs
He won his MVPs in a season that Crosby missed almost the entirety of you dumbfuck
also don’t forget Nash is a Pu$$y
Brassard skated with the Black Aces today.
Really? Was it an optional skate?
Penguins to dress Brassard in Rangers jersey. Maybe he will stop sucking.
I said to tell him that St Louis mother died again. Dude will start to light it up again.
Wonder how St Louis father is doing think that would help?
Whatever it takes CB.
Apparently scum Sully doesn’t believe chubby is injured.
Flyers in 6, right chubster?
I wonder if Kessel literally got his hand stuck in a cookie jar.
I think he got hit by a hot dog cart
Kessel took a very hard slash to the wrist in the Ottawa game they clinched home ice in. He hasn’t really shot the puck since, and that’s evident by the spacing he is now getting when on the PP. It’s no secret to us or the opposition he’s hurt.
I’m guessing it’s a core or rib injury by his lack of upper body movement. That would also make it very painful to shoot the puck which he clearly is reluctant to do right now.
So sit him. He’s not playing for his defense.
Groin injury seems unlikely for Brassard. I’m betting it’s a sports hernia. Something is clearly wrong as he doesn’t seem strong enough to win a puck battle.
As Herb Brooks said, it’s a long way from the heart. Suck it up big game Brass!
Jesus DePaoli slow down with the content, you’re a day ahead of schedule