Low Event Hockey – Great Goaltending.
That is the Penguins winning recipe right now after winning for the fifth time in six games following a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals tonight.
The Penguins have found a way under Mike Johnston to play such a low quality brand of offensive hockey it somehow leads to the opposition playing a lower quality brand of hockey, at least in the offensive end.
Look at the New York Rangers in their first round series vs the Penguins. They were one of the highest scoring teams in hockey last season, yet, that series arguably had the most boring brand of offensive hockey of any other playoff series, despite great talents like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Rick Nash on the ice.
Tonight was no different between the Penguins and Capitals. There are many great low scoring NHL games, this one didn’t fall into that category.
The Penguins boring style bored the Capitals it seemed.
Yet, tonight there was a glimmer of hope as the Capitals fell asleep at the wheel for a three to four minute stretch in the third and the Penguins made them pay.
The Penguins fell behind 1-0 just 1:28 into the third period and it figured to be a game where the Capitals started to crack the Penguins and would just wear them down the rest of the way.
Something happened, though, the Penguins started attacking, sprung Beau Bennett on a stretch pass who scored off the rush on his own rebound to tie the game at 1:52 of the period and on Pittsburgh’s next shot of the period, Phil Kessel would put the Penguins ahead 2-1, just a 1:57 later.
Offensive Explosion!
After the Kessel goal at 3:49 of the period, the Penguins didn’t record another shot for over 13 minutes until the 17:46 mark of the period, a Kessel shot, their 6th shot of the period and the 7th and final shot of the period for the Penguins was an empty net goal by Nick Bonino.
The Penguins survived a Capitals late charge but limited Washington to just seven shots in the period, and got a good team win as there was a strong commitment in the third to playing a 200 ft game. The forwards were excellent in providing back pressure through the neutral zone.
What many are likely wondering after this one is whether that early stretch in the third where Pittsburgh scored twice and on back-to-back shots is going to be a sign of things to come in how this team is going to play moving forward?
Based on what transpired after, no shots in 13:57, most likely not.
We’ve also seen this story before where the Penguins get a couple goals in bunches.
Penguins 2-0 win vs Ottawa, Daniel Sprong and Evgeni Malkin scored 2:02 apart.
Penguins 2-1 win vs Toronto, Evgeni Malkin and Olli Maatta scored 39 seconds apart.
Penguins tonight vs Washington, Beau Bennett and Phil Kessel scored 1:57 apart.
Maybe this is who the Penguins are now, defensive minded team systematically that will need great goaltending and timely scoring in bunches to be a real threat in the East.
Mike Johnston talked all of last season from January on till the post-season of how the Penguins needed to learn how to play tight, close scoring games.
What we’ve seen during this winning stretch is how the coaching staff wants to play things. Play a conservative defensive brand of hockey, get excellent goaltending and hope to get a timely goal or two.
This is most likely going to be the Penguins identity under this coaching staff.
It’s a winning recipe when you get the type of spectacular goaltending the Penguins are getting from Marc Andre Fleury who continues to play at a level where you’re only going to score with a perfect shot or a fluke shot bouncing off skates or bodies.
However, needing great goaltending to hide a lot of cracks is why this season is going to be such a roller coaster and already has been.
Bob McKenzie on TSN. Polak appears to be available as several clubs are looking for a defenseman to add to their roster.
It’s believed the Blue Jackets, Bruins, Sabres and Los Angeles Kings are among the teams.would you guys think polak can be a good shutdown defense for pens?
i am surprised TK hasnt join the sabres yet
50 saves! Zack is better than Fleury.
Yeah man let trade fleury and make Yoda and rest of the clowns happy
Yes I am.
Lets see him do it for 9 games 😉
lets see him do it vs good teams not a team that is runned by a former pee wee coach
A 4th liner Toerry mitchel has just as many of goals. Crosby and Malkin combined
Sid sucks. More than you suck DB
Sam is fat.
Sabres played their best game of their season so far
I know gaydogg you are an idiot and only care about the win no matter how it is. But let me say something pens all the victories this year’s are not to convincing so far they are lucky pulling those victories they are wining when talent shows up. I hope they change because they will have a short playoff run or even miss the playoffs. Schedule has been easy to they are having problems imagine in January and March they will be miserable if they don’t ge serious
While the Pens may have had some luck in their wins, I wouldn’t say their schedule has been easy. Montreal, Dallas x2, Nashville, Washington, Arizona, Florida and Ottawa are all currently playoff teams. The combined record of all the teams the Pens have faced thus far is 54-28-7.
If you find their schedule now is bad check January and March
Reason pens are pulling wins are because of the goalies stealing it for them. With all firepower pens offense has been mediocre. Defense been brutal. Goalies been the strong link for them so far
They’re pulling wins the way you’re pulling your pud looking at DB
I love how sam both speaks to being the only one having faith and the only one not convinced by wins in his posts… fucking retard
You’re too funny. All I care about is winning and I’m the idiot…lol That Canadian way of thinking explains a lot as to why the Cup hasn’t resided with a Canadian team in over 20 years. #suchafool
Sid is finally on 40 point pace!
Let me guess trade fleury
Fire byslma
I think lovejoy and DB slept together before this game
You think? Or you know because your fat ass was running the camera with your pants around your ankles?
Amazing what happens when Sid attacks the net and shoots the puck.
Hey where did Jeff2266 go?
The media coming out of Pittsburgh is an embarrassment. Last night was significant and special win. The caps beat the pens every game last year? The Penguins win tonight and they do it with a come from behind win in the third period. Perron showed signs he deserves to be here on the kessel goal as he created space for kessel in the ozone. The scene outside the Verizon center was great. 50-70 pens fans gathered on the steps Across from the arena and chanted lets go pens as the caps fans moped their way home. Last night was a… Read more »
I don’t agree that lack of chemistry is an issue but everything else is pretty much spot on.
Bennet injury prone and all is having a WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better season thus far than crosby
you guys talk as if a 65+ game player goalies grow on trees
lets say you clowns want fleury out who would you replace him Miller ? another choke artitst ,Ward? that he has been bad since he won the cup
Neither of those players would even be options even if they did decide to replace MAF so as usual you’re a complete fool.
trade st.blurry and the rest of the 09 geezers and get some youth in here.
How about, when was the last time they came from behind to win a game in the 3rd period? Guessing pretty long!
When MT was around the team had fire in their eyes. Now players give away leads
Actually the Pens were 1 of the best teams in the league at come from behind wins under DB. I wouldn’t expect a Canadian moron that idolizes Canadian frauds like you to understand that though.
since you are in love with DB hope you enjoy him tonight maybe that fraud one trick pony can pull a victory tonight when jerkoff is in net and be on nhl.com that he beat his former team
I couldn’t give 2 shits about DB and hope the Pens stick it in Buffalo’s ass harder than Orpik stuck it in yours. I just like stating the facts and exposing you as the know nothing fraud you are.
Yeah fire…the 11 game losing streak that just about eliminated them from playoff contention before DB a true american hero came in and won a cup for the city…something MT could never of done being a french p***y and all
MJ’s hair stylist/colorist must have been off his meds yesterday. Johnston’s hair was several shades darker than normal.
Come on Dude, age doesn’t hurt and Mario knows when you were born.
Trade MAF, he is a bum… we won 3-1 despite his goaltending. Team has played meh hockey to a above .500 despite MAF…. give Zatkoff/Greiss/Vokoun/Hartzell/Insert goalie here the reigns because the team is dead in the water until MAF is gone. While I am not elated with how the team looks most nights and still think it is something that needs to be addressed I am happy to see them in the W column especially against the Caps. Wish MAF would have made those changes he made 3 years back about 5 years back but hey… still good on him… Read more »
Settle down Zero, it’s October. Fleury has been great but we all know he turns into a pumpkin come spring.
Really? so he was the reason the team failed the last two years? Not even close… he has clearly turned a corner in his mental approach to the game. Maybe Sid should ask him for the shrinks number lol
He literally hasn’t turned into a pumpkin “come spring” in like 3 years. As much as I enjoy the uneducated MANTRA.
You must have still been hibernating the last two springs then.
BTW – Why not trade Fleury now while his value is highest. This team isn’t winning a Cup and it’s the one position in the organization they allegedly have depth.
Its too early. If the offense starts clicking (maybe after a coaching change) we could become a pretty dangerous team.
Brent Johnson
quit falling in love with the pens. they’ve choked for years and they aren’t going to do anything this year either. not to mention they play in the most boring games i’ve ever seen. they suck.
They’re going to suck as long as they have a $12 million anchor dragging them down.
Hey zero, leave vokoun out of your rant. vokoun played the best goal in this city since tom barrasso did in the cup years. statistically speaking, he is the best penguin playoff goalie of all time. he the pens from st.blurry’s meltdown that year.
Why did they lose then?
You have to tip your hat to MAF, he’s keeping this team afloat.
Just for some frame of reference, after last night’s game the Pens are 6th in the league with 31.8 sog so trying to use half of the 3rd period from a game where they were protecting a lead against one of the top offensive teams in the league as the definition of their style of play is wholly inaccurate.
I just don’t understand the “boring” or “low event” descriptions of last night’s game, it was fast with good back and forth action with great goaltending on both sides, if you can’t be entertained by that then you don’t truly appreciate the game and need to find a new sport to follow, if no defense and lots of scoring is all that entertains you might I suggest the NBA, I know there’s no home team to follow but Cleveland is close.
They have no choice to be defensive as I said if pens need to succeed the offense need to help the Defense. Only way to win with this garbage defense squad that pens have. If DB would’ve been behind pens current bench it would be a disaster and fleury would have worst stats and Yoda would be on this site more often.
If this is the style MJ wants to play, then those seats at Consol are going to continue to be empty. BORING. Also, why go get Kessel if this was going to be your strategy all along?
I thought last night was pretty good. Some better chances. The bulk of games I’ve watched this year around the league have been very similar. Low scoring, very structured, limited risk. It’s not what we’re used to seeing, but this unfortunately is what most games look like these days. On a positive note, that game resembled playoff type hockey and the Pens were pretty good at it IMO. Still need to get some guys going. Really looking forward to seeing Fehr in the lineup.
Kind of like the “low event writing” on this site. D you are so Pittsburgh, you complain after a win. Yinzer!
Wait? We lost the game? I coulda sworn we won 3-1 and Bennett didn’t get hurt and Kessel did what he was supposed to with Fleury doing his one and only job.
And Sid sucked…again
Man he sure did. He must be dying alive.
Suck it Yoda!