Game 4: Penguins 3 – Capitals 2
Behind a 36 save performance from Marc Andre Fleury, the Pittsburgh Penguins hung on for dear life to secure a 3-2 win in Game 4 and put the Washington Capitals on the brink of elimination.
What many will be talking about is the Capitals outshot Pittsburgh 38-18 and out-attempted the Penguins 72-39. That’s now three games this series where the Capitals had at least 72 shot attempts and lost.
The Penguins once again had the Capitals chasing the game for most of the night.
So, yeah the Penguins continue to defy logic, they continue to get lucky, Dmitry Orlov putting a back into his own net tonight, T.J. Oshie getting called for a high sticking penalty in the final two minutes when his stick never hit Nick Bonino’s face, but at the end of the day, they just continue winning and maybe we all need to stop trying to make sense of it.
This might just become a great playoff run for a hockey team that doesn’t make sense and that’s what makes sports so great.
What the Penguins don’t defy is that this is a special group.
The next man up, strength in numbers, whatever you want to label them, this group just has a championship mystique and mentality about them.
They always think they can win and will do whatever it takes to win, a total contrast from Penguin teams in the Sidney Crosby era, pre-Mike Sullivan.
Tonight was another great example:
24 blocked shots and they again put their bodies in shooting lanes to defend the high danger areas in allowing just 9 high danger chances at even strength.
“I loved our willingness to pay the price to defend the right way,” Mike Sullivan said afterwards of his hockey club.
The Penguins got individual performances from players who elevated their games in certain areas that they normally don’t do, something the team is getting on a nightly basis this post season.
Olli Maatta for one, he looked like Paul Coffey with a beautiful pass in splitting two defenders to send Patric Hornqvist off for a breakaway goal. The first half of the game he looked like a Norris Trophy winner at both ends.
Evgeni Malkin won 13 of 17 faceoffs, how often does that really happen?
Ian Cole transformed into Ulf Samuelsson tonight in bringing a nasty physical game, he was trucking players left and right.
Yes, the Penguins are really skilled and talented, but they continue to amaze into what they’ve transformed into since the latter part of last season, in how every player that puts on the sweater is committed to doing whatever it takes to win.
It’s a big reason why the Penguins are defying everything from the models and to even the eye test right now.
As for the Washington Capitals, they might be unlucky with the Penguins stealing Games 1 and now Game 4, but that’s what playoff hockey is about, other teams steal games all the time and at somepoint you have to look into the mirror.
Six offensive zone penalties and 0/4 on the power play tonight.
“Our top guys tonight, I thought weren’t as good as they needed to be tonight, which was very unfortunate for us,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said in taking a shot at his top players.
Evgeny Kuznetsov was very good again tonight but the likes of Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie were invisible.
The Penguins have done a great job as the series has progressed in neutralizing Ovechkin as Pittsburgh’s speed on the backcheck has slowed him up in attempting to get his shot off with speed down the left side.
‘Drive and will’ carried the Penguins to tonight’s win and as vulnerable as the Penguins may look just from the on-ice product they’ve displayed, ‘drive and will’ is still missing from the Capitals and it’s among the reasons they have such an uphill climb in beating the Penguins three straight.
It’s a question Capital players were again forced to answer after tonight’s loss.
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Sam is the virginal one
Hey DePaoli – Caps in 5, am I right?
The capitals writer on hockeybuzz is really salty and it’s pretty funny.
No funnier than The Insider on Pittsburgh Sports being salty because his favorite goalie has nothing to do with his brutally inaccurate series’ prediction.
Any word on the head hunting from last night?
Ask Gunetzel. You did watch Tom Wilson last night?
Is there an update? Did he suffer from brain death due to the high stick? I get the reaction to wanna take blood but you have to take a good look at the eyes of the capitals players. They have thrown everything they can at the Pens and are still struggling to get the job done. They are beaten and if they cannot muster a comeback the ramifications for that team will be enormous. I would feel far better watching them dismantled this offseason because of a dozen years of failure than keep them in it trying to get retribution… Read more »
Also any chance you will beat your dead horse anymore. We ColeTrain you are big fan of Womens Hockey we understand that.
It’s a horse that deserves to be beaten.
CBauer once kicked and screamed like a small child because GIFs were being posted it on this board. Not exactly the pillar of masculinity.
Never anything nice about Fleury. But if Murray makes 36 saves DePaoli’s keyboard would be so sticky he couldn’t post a story. I cannot wait until my subscription to this shit show is up.
That’s Funny DK1308
36?! If Murray makes 22 saves, it’s a blow-fest.
there you guys go planning your stanley cup parade when round 2 isn’t even over. the caps could still very well win this series. the saint is the only goalie in NHL history to blow a 3-1 series lead twice. i’m still holding my breath.
Npl already turned off his TV and preparing for the parade
Let’s just hope.its for the right parade.
Look virginal bandwagon, we all know you flipped channels to catch the Habs game because you’re still in denial your favourite team lost then “closed” your TV until reading the game was tied here.
The caps have checked out. If it wasn’t for a crosscheck, it would have been a sweep.
Not one of us has started planning a parade you lying mook fuckk. In typical yoda fashion you’re making shit up again. All we are doing is enjoying the fact that so far, no matter how bad you are cheering for MAF you fail he has been making you look like the asshoIe you really are.
you do realize the series hasn’t ended.
You said they were going to take him out tonight. ANd it was going to suck. Remember?
So what part of that last post was to advanced for you dumb fuckk?
Anyone else get concussed like you promised?
Poor Guentzel, my only hope is he is able to eat solid food again after last night… maybe breath without an iron lung
Literally not one person has said the series is over. You really grasp as straws when Fleury isnt playing like tits. You literally have zero else to talk about. FroYo! #TearItDown
There you go, embarrassing yourself and your family again. Good thing you aren’t a biological father.
I love that “midget” put tape over Niskanen’s name on his tribute mask after the Crosby incident. Great strong team move by “midget.”
I think that D’s prediction of Washington in 5 becomes more impressive if they turn that 5 into 7… unless he meant to say Pittsburgh
still awaiting that injury report,…..all of the caps head hunting had to equate to more injuries..stay tuned…
I just hope “Fagstrom” wasn’t hurt, thats the most clever, most funny name I have ever heard/read and I think it would be a tragedy to not see that on the back of a sweater nightly.
Best quote from last night came from Sam the bandwagon man: “I am the virginal one”
As he was “closing” his TV midway through the second?
#3rdperiodmatters
“Last he checked.”
I mean – I think we all knew that – he’s not breaking any ground here.
This is true. But its no less hilarious.
Oh – I’m not saying it isn’t funny.
Kudos for the honesty, sam.
Does Jaydog still comment here anymore? He used to be so dependent on fancy stats….he would also use the word “anomaly” more times than Same got bullied on at daycare that day.
Hasn’t been here in a while.
Fruitbat
A lot of posters not here anymore
Genomalkin66,gaydogg mchady, lancer,kingpuck. All thanks to npl and stain they hijacked this site with there stupidity
Yes.. Jay left because of Stan lol.
They transformed this site into a social media cyberbullying center. They talk about anything but hockey and if you bring a valuable point you automatically get thumbs down by them
Any injuries from all of the head hunting that was allowed? Better sign McKenna for game 5
Hey zeroFool how is Getzlaf doing
Pens won last night sam. FYI. The bandwagon man!
Great… why? Who said anything negative about Getzlaf? Sammich the vriginal bandwagon
Pens got dominated but still pulled off the win. I like our chances to win 1 out of 3. MAF was outstanding again tonight.
Hate to rain on the fan boy parade (that’s you Nippples) but that was a painful game to watch. Couldn’t put two passes together; couldn’t clear the puck without icing it. Winning never felt so bad.
On the positive MAF stole another one… It’s a tough pace to maintain but he has been great.
If you use a capital “i” you can spell nippIes, while youre thinking about them late at night, without the extra “p”
Do you think Daly keeps showing up in the line up because Hillary lost?
John?
Pens in 7
I’m not sure, D was pretty confident the Caps were winning in 5… hard to walk away from that
Consuela was also confident that whoever won game 3 would win the series, so this prediction is perplexing…because Washington….
All hail!!!!!
Fluke, I’m sure
It can go to 7 still dummy. Please don’t jinx this.
Shut your cock holster, yogurt. You already look dumb enough.
Guys still cheering for the Caps I see.
I need my Mark Streit fill