Penguins Advance to Conference Finals
Resiliency has summed up this Penguins club over the last couple months.
Tonight they showed that critical element again in winning a game that Stanley Cup type teams do.
“What I have loved about this group is their resilience,” Mike Sullivan said of the Penguins regrouping from a disastrous third period and closing out the Capitals in overtime.
The Penguins started this game dictating the play with a speed game. They were doing what they wanted and got the first goal of the game from Phil Kessel beating Braden Holtby short side from 43 ft out.
In the second period, Pittsburgh took complete control of the game with power play goals from Kessel and Carl Hagelin 33 seconds apart off a Brooks Orpik four minute minor. Orpik was quite the goat in the series. He was on the ice for four of five goals against in the first two games, knocked out the Penguins worst defenseman this spring in Olli Maatta that probably benefited Pittsburgh more than Washington with how well Justin Schultz played in place of Maatta. Orpik’s suspension then forced the Capitals hand to play someone like Mike Weber in the series whose turnover in front cost the Capitals Game 4.
Tonight in Game 6, the Penguins were control for the first 35 minutes of the game, then had a bit of an implosion and bad luck over the latter half.
A bad Chris Kunitz penalty late in the second period gave Washington life and they capitalized on it with a T.J. Oshie goal, than in the third a defensive breakdown from Ben Lovejoy in not rotating down low saw Mr. Elimination game Justin Williams cut the Penguins lead to 3-2 just 7:23 into the third.
Then we know what played out next with three straight delay-of-game penalties and a fourth straight penalty with Kris Letang getting called for interference with 2:46 left in regulation.
The Penguins allowed just one shot on goal during the Letang penalty, an Evgeny Kuznetsov shot from 40 ft out. What you saw from the Penguins that Championship type teams do is rise to the occasion at a critical moment when the game was on the Capitals stick to win it.
What the Penguins did after the kill was regroup for overtime and completely dominate play in OT. Washington was saved by Jay Beagle 2:48 into overtime from this one ending earlier than it did and Pittsburgh was so good in overtime that it was only going to be a matter of time before they finished the Capitals off and they did capitalizing on a second chance opportunity from Nick Bonino at 6:32 of overtime.
— SERIES OVER, OFF TO THE CONFERENCE FINALS —
Pittsburgh out-attempted Washington 10-3 in overtime. The Penguins started the game like a team determined to close this one out and began overtime the same way.
That’s a great sign of a team that has an ‘IT’ factor about them.
“I know the leadership in our room was strong and we just went out in overtime and just started to play again,” Sullivan said of his team’s play in OT.
The Penguins won 4 of the 5 one-goal games in the this series and it came down to slightly better goaltending and better/more skilled depth. Nick Bonino was the best player in Game 1, highlighting the Penguins superior depth when it came to a skilled standpoint between the two teams and it was fitting that he ended the series.
“Stars sort of nullified each other,” Caps coach Barry Trotz said. “Really was the depth of their forwards. Hagelin line, Bonino……Really ended up being the difference.”
All of the focus on Crosby and Malkin coming into Game 6, they go pointless and Phil Kessel steps up with 2 goals, assist.
Meanwhile, for Matt Murray he starts his career 7-2 in the playoffs with three wins coming against Henrik Lundqvist and four against Braden Holtby. Other than Carey Price, there might not be a better goaltender in the league than Lundqvist or Holtby.
In a close-out game, Murray posted a .968 save percentage on 5 v 5 shots. Time to put an end to the Fleury talk.
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[…] DePaoli: ‘Resiliency, better Depth Pushes Pens to Conference Finals’ […]
Pens always beat the Caps when it matters. Known fact, Google it!
So amped for this series. I live in Tampa so needless to say I’m going to be pissing a lot of people off haha
Hell yeah man! See you down there
Great win. The stars have a good shot at redemption next series. F tampa
You really think so? I think you’ll see the Bonino line carry us again, Malkin and Cullen’s lines chip in a few….and then we’ll hear about Hedman and Callahan taking Sid out again because they are such shutdown players.
Thats playoffs, when the pens won in 09 different players excelled in different series. Two month span things change
DePaoli, possibly some of your worst writing yet. Bravo. But I’m glad you’ve finally joined the Fleury truth squad.
Fleury and Malkin to the Leafs for #1 pick.
St bleury sucks, nobody is going to pay him 6 million until he is 35. Who’s going to pay that bum malkin 10?
“Pens need to tear it down – can’t win with this group” -both of you two. Please. Continue.
I know right, these two have been screaming “blow it up” for what? Three? Four years now… LOL
i think i’ve been screaming get a new goalie for 4 years now. fact, when st.bluery is on the bench the pens reach the conference finals since the cup win. fact, when st.bleury is in the net the pens get eliminated early.
The fact that you cant see why the Pens are where they are comes as no surprise. The fact that you continually ignore how much better MAF has been since the 2013 meltdown is just a pure indictment of your miniscule brain power.
Fruitbat
Simply Dusty!
Who called out who the other night thinking Crosby had a better game than ovie because the pens won? I have nothing against you due to the fact that you are a nobody….but you asked for my input so I gave it to you. You are obviously crying now like a little girl, so I’ll leave you be. Have fun and enjoy the games.
“God damn it. I am a somebody” -Simply Dusty
To be honest with you, unless you have a screen shot, I don’t recall defending Sid. I don’t cry over anybody on this site. I am a nobody but you keep trying to argue with me. Buddy, enjoy the win and either go get laid or switch to decaf. You are tighter than a nuns twat.Peace and love peace and love!