Pens/Sens Game 3 Grades
Mike Adams | Grade "A" Reviews
Apr 15, 09:24 AM | Hype this story!
This series is over
Offense: A-
The Pens played well offensively. They generated a good number of chances on Swiss Cheese, especially in the final two periods. In the first, as Ottawa came out filled with adrenaline, the Pens seemed half a step slow at times. But it didn’t last long. Shortly after Ottawa took the lead and had the building rocking, Max Talbot scored an absolutely huge goal that changed the tenor of the game, and might just lead to a series sweep. It was a beautiful play by the Pens, with every guy on the ice making a tic-tac-toe pass ahead, starting with Scuderi and Whitney. Dupuis passed to Hossa, who made a brilliant quick pass to Talbot. Max found Swiss Cheese’s five hole, and the game suddenly turned around. It deflated the Sens and the crowd. Then came the back-breaker. You just knew the Sens would come roaring out of the gate in the third, but Sid would have none of it. He took another Hossa pass, made a move past Antoine Vermette, and came in 2-on-1 with Hossa. Everybody knew what Sid would do—pass it to Hossa. Wrong. He shot short side on Swiss Cheese and beat him. The Sens and the crowd were stunned. Before the shock wore off, the Pens struck again, with Staal tapping a Little Tyger centering pass past Swiss Cheese, who was growing more holes by the minute. The Pens kept up the pressure through the third period, forcing the retreating Senators into three penalties. They never let up, and this one was in the books.
Defense: B
The defense wasn’t quite as good as it had been the first two games. The Senators generated a fair number of scoring chances, especially in the first two periods. Early on, they were shaky, as Ottawa got that forecheck that worked so well last year going. The Pens turned the puck over in their own zone several times in period one, but Flower continually bailed them out. They were looking just a bit rattled, but they sure settled down in the second and third periods. Once they weathered that early storm, they played very well for the most part. The one goal they gave up was purely because of a terrible play by the one defenseman not playing well—Ryan Whitney. He let Nick Foligno waltz right around him and put one through Flower. It was just a terrible play in a situation where all he had to do was take the body. It was as if he was saying, “come ON, coach, put Sydor out here.” But that was it. Though the Sens tried to crash the net, the Pens’ coverage in front was much better than it had been the previous game, and Ottawa was never able to get that dirty goal that would have kept them in the game.
Power play: C
The power play was a mixed bag. They looked awesome at times, putrid at others. They did get a number of good looks at Swiss Cheese, but he stoned them, especially Malone in front. Early on, they seemed to lose momentum a couple times by not playing well on the PP. But they clinched the game with a dirty power play goal midway through the third, so it wasn’t all bad. They just got the puck to the front of the net and kept whacking away at it. It finally popped loose to Hossa, who was staring at a wide-open net. Even he, with all his playoff scoring woes, couldn’t miss that one.
Penalty kill: A
Great penalty killing once again. The Sens only got two shots on two power play chances. The Pens’ coverage was tremendous, and even the addition of the Diving Whining Choking Dog to the power play couldn’t help Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley become more visible. The Pens are thus far doing a great job killing penalties in this series, allowing only 1 goal in 11 chances.
Goaltending: A
Flower continues to be as big a story as anyone in this series. Just like in the Pens’ Cup years, he is being overshadowed by the Pens’ offense. To be sure, they are making his job easier by scoring goals. But they didn’t get any in the first period last night as Ottawa came out storming. And Flower was there with one brilliant save after another. Were it not for him, they most certainly would have been down after the first period, and who knows what might happen then? But he just stoned them cold, and Ottawa had to be a little frustrated at that point. He is leading goalies in save percentage at .956 and is second in goals against average at 1.34. So far, this is not the same Marc-Andre Fleury who has struggled under the pressure. He is playing the same way he has since the injury—calm and under control. The transformation is just amazing.
Overall: A
Here I am, a guy stingy with the A’s, and they just keep forcing me to give them out. It’s like the know-it-all in school who everyone hates because they do everything right and answer every question in class. But they walk away with that 4.00 GPA because they just force the teacher to give them an A with their perfection. Well, the Pens weren’t perfect last night, but they weren’t far from it either. They weathered the early storm thanks to great goaltending. They scored two huge goals, one after Ottawa took the lead and one to start the third period. They continued to put the clamps on Ottawa’s invisible “superstars.” And they locked it down in the third after they took the lead. Can’t ask for more than that.
And now, the rest of the story…
Bella: A
Bella is our new yellow lab mix, about two years old. Her favorite thing is to have somebody ask her if she wants a belly rub. She will immediately roll over and show her belly. Well, that’s exactly what the pathetic Senators did in the last 10 minutes last night. They put their tails between their legs, rolled over, and let the Pens be the alpha dog. That’s why I say this series is over tomorrow night. The losers just quit. If I were an Ottawa fan, I’d have a hard time making myself go to the next game.
”Tanking” the last Game: A
Yo, Cryin’ Bryan, now we see why the Pens wanted to play your sorry outfit. What an embarrassment that team is. The last 10 minutes were a disgrace to any hockey player that gives a damn. If the Pens had the Flyers in a similar predicament, you think they would have played like that? See why the Pens wanted to play your team now?
Marian Hossa: A
I yell at him every time he fails to score, but there he is, tied for the playoff scoring lead with Sid and Geno. His two assists last night were very good passes, and he finally tickled the twine. He also had a tremendous backcheck that prevented a quality scoring chance. The guy is just a well-rounded hockey player.
Ryan Whitney: F
He is really the only Penguin I can name who stands out as not playing well. The goal against last night was a pathetic misplay by him.
Sergei Gonchar: A
The gutless Sarge is no more, and he is close to being permanently removed from my doghouse. Recall that it as last year’s playoffs that got him there in the first place. He had a crunching hit on Foligno and that was something he would not have done last year.
The Senators’ “Leaders”: F
Did you know that Max Talbot has as many points in the series as Heatley and Spezza combined? That both Jarkko Ruutu and Rob Scuderi have the same number of points as Heatley and Spezza? That Mike Commodore is still the Sens’ leading scorer in the series? It just shows once again that this is a bunch of frontrunners that can’t handle adversity. As long as thing are going good, they look great. But let things go the other way, and they just shrivel up. They’ve now lost six playoff games in a row, dating to last season.
Max Talbot: A
He just keeps plugging away. The goal he scored last night was a bonus, but it was huge.
Sidney Crosby: A
Shoot the puck, Sid, shoot the puck. Sometimes it even goes in.
Icehole of the Game
Chris Neil, for going out and rabbit-punching guys, then complaining when he got called for a penalty. What a piece of crap he is.
Monk Moment
Now this had to be seen to be believed. Marian Hossa and Jordan Staal both scored goals in the same game. That didn’t just happen, did it?
A Guide to the Grades can be found here
Comments
TIM
Apr 15, 10:08 AM
Well said Mike. This team and their fans have been crying foul since before the series even got started. Wasn’t this the same team that was being compared (by their own papers) to one of the best hockey teams of all time after their fast start? They had a commanding lead and barley made the playoffs. They are also not the only team that had injury issues all year (see Pitt, Boston,etc.)
They are playing dumb hockey and being out played at every level by a better team. I have heard enough crying. Pens should dominate tomorrow.
Let’s Go Pens
Mike Adams
Apr 15, 11:09 AM
Mark,
Whitney was awful last night. If you have read my opinion through the season, you would know I am not one of those Whitney bashers. I like the guy, I really do. I don’t want to see him dealt unless they get a huge return. I fully understand he will never be a physical guy, and I was actually a Stackhouse fan back in the day. I just ask him to play the position properly. If he does what he’s supposed to and takes the body on Foligno, that goal doesn’t happen. he admitted it himself.
Just looking at last night, he made a couple of very bad plays in his own end. One was the goal, and another was a terrible giveaway in the first period. Those are things that will kill you against better competition.
I don’t think he’s playing favorites with Scuderi, either. The guy is a great penalty killer and doesn’t make mistakes in his own end.
As for Therrien and adjustments, we will see. I actually tend to agree with you on this. I still totally disagree with the PP configuration. And I also agree if they face the Rangers, I would bet against them. That’s the one team that really scares me right now.
Mike
Apr 15, 11:28 AM
Mark Madden you are an idiot….but I know you don’t say what you think, you know that you know nothing about sports so what do you do? you talk against teams that people support that way they get so mad at you they tune in just to hear what kind of crap you have to say,your probably a one time michael vick fan which would show just how stupid you are but lets get to the real issue….
Whitney has not been playing his best but he is playing alright(I would rather see sydor in), Gonchar has been our best defensemen and might be 1 of the better 2 way defensemen we have ever seen ( notice I said better NOT BEST!) the rangers are to old and Shawn Avery is going to get dumped sooner or later and that game someone decides to do that the rangers will win because to much attention is on Avery but in a 7 game series with the Pens as long as the Pens play up tempo they will not and cannot hang with the Pens.
Hossa no matter what anyone says is playing great hockey his 2 way play makes up for his lake of scoring even though right now he is scoring but he is an excellent back checker and really allows the defense to get involved
Lets look at this i would say Dupuis and Gill were the 2 best pieces to our system we picked up because Dupuis is better than Colby and Eric and Gil is a great penalty killer to go with Stall, Malone, Talbot,and yes even Adam Hall(remember thats why we got him).
Overall we are playing stanely cup hockey and will do so as long as we keep certain lines together….Malkin, Sykora and Malone must play together!!! Dupuis can go with any of the top 3 lines he is very solid in all aspects of the game and an above average skater.
Max Talbot is finally getting noticed for all the things he does great like forechecking and protecting the neutral zone.
Our 4th line is doing an excellent job of not letting plays get away from them George Laraque playing in the corner with the puck is what we need from him. The 4th liners are cycling the puck great which allows them to play more minutes, be very physical with the other team, and also give our stars a couple more minutes to get a rest, these things will become very important as we move forward in our quest.
I think the best thing about last nights game is that we withstood the intial rush of a team who can really light it up and do it rather quickly, other than giving up the 1st goal we did everything you need to do on the road.
Fluery…..well the man flat out is out playing everyone in this league and his timing couldn’t have been better…GO FLOWER!!!!
This is aimed at our offensive guns….they all back check extremly well which is helping the overally cause out and there finally starting to let the puck rip off their blades every time they get a chance. We are outscoring the Sens on an average of 4.33 to 1.33 which is excellent, therefore we truly have dominated them.
If we sweep them it can only help with the extra time to rest our battered troups they earned a few extra nights of rest and it helps us stay on top of our game…....the sky is the limit and this team has ever piece a championship team must have to finish the journey and that I believe we will do, it won’t be easy but it will truly be exciting and couldn’t happen to a better group of people….LETS GO PENS!!!!!!!!!
Move the Needle
Apr 15, 12:08 PM
A note to all fans of the factor. I personally do not believe that one of the comments is from the actual Mark Madden of ESPN Radio 1250. #1 Mark does not have to go onto web sites and post comments to get his point across. He can say it on the radio and reach way more people locally anyway. #2 The last paragraph mentions that Therrien’s coaching will blow it for the penguins and that they can’t hang with the Rangers. The real Mark Madden has said on air that the pens could beat the rangers in the Playoffs and even more so with Jagr killer Hal Gill. Commenter also says that the “pens may scrape their way out of this current series” What series is he watching? SCRAPE! The series is about over and they are dominating the third periods. #3 Commenter then goes on to reference his buddy Kirk whoever that is. That is pure amateur commenting. Madden is a journalist. Commenting post or not he is not going to throw a shout out to his buddy in his commentary. In closing, that little rant is not well written enough and has statements that contradict what Madden has said on the air. If it is the real Mark Madden he will refernece it on his radio show today. He has referenced “The “Pens Blog” and “Mondesis House” before. I guess we will see. This guy is listed in the dictionary under G for Gerk. Just ask Kirk.
TIM
Apr 15, 12:20 PM
I agree with Move The Needle it’s not him. Whitney has been playing shaky I don’t care what he says. He is not awful or incapable of playing solid D, but he has made some solid mistakes.
DaBich
Apr 15, 12:33 PM
I think Mark Madden is Michael, the Therien hater.
Regardless, anyone who has to hide behind a bogus name must not have any balls. And a small….fill it in.
Just for the record, Whitney is NOT our best D-man this series. If anyone gets my vote on that, it’s Letang. The kid is amazing.
Great review Mike, as usual.
Go Pens!
Jesse Marshall
Apr 15, 01:10 PM
Guys,
I just cross-referenced some things on the site and I can tell you that today’s poster is NOT Mark Madden. He also posed as Sidney Crosby in last nights game recap.
Whoever he is, he will no longer be commenting our website. Head Coach Michel Therrien is one personator enough for this place.
Thanks again for the comments, everyone.
Move the Needle
Apr 15, 01:23 PM
Good detective work on the fake mark madden. Now can someone look into this Jesse Marshall character.
The best Defenseman in this series is Darryl Sydor for being a true professional and not bitching or causing any locker room chemistry problems. I still think this guys has to play later down the road. His cup experience has to be better than the 8th D-man.
Eric Politowski
Apr 15, 02:08 PM
I thought Bob Errey was great last night.
“I love when the referees pick up the twig and start hoppin’!”
“Now there’s some garbage on the ice… some of the classy fans in Ottawa.”
“ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!”
(referring to Neil’s 3rd penalty)
Tom
Apr 15, 04:29 PM
Mike, I do not need to point out Whitney’s failings, he admitted them himself. My larger concern is the constant messing with defensive pairings. I have no concern about Gonchar and Orpik, both at even strength and on the PK. They seem to complement each other. Gonchar is offensive minded, a fine skater, and can play good positional defense when he wants to and has a good clearing shot or pass out of the defensive zone. Orpik skates strongly with average speed. He is a powerful hitter and clears the crease. He has a decent clearing shot and is a decent passer. He can be agressive and proactive, but has been held back in the interest of better positional play. Incidently, if the Pens do not resign him, Shero is nuts. Gill and Letang also complement each other at even strength or on the PP or PK. Gill is a slow but strong skater. He has an excellent clearing shot and can hit, push or envelope an opponent and clear the crease. His height and arm length give him superior range. He will block shots and play as good positional defense as his speed permits. Letang is a strong, fast, and agile skater. He is agressive and proactive, frequently attacking the opposing forward, making the left wing boards difficult for opposing teams to advance. He is a hard hitting, viciously attacking player who is beginning to be either avoided or attacked by opponents (e.g. Neil, Colliton, Clarkson, Hartnell and Ovechkin). Those that avoid Letang, like those that avoid Pronger significantly narrow the offensive zone and space within which to develope any offensive plays. Those who attack him receive injuries, humiliation or penalties. Letang is a decent positional player and shot blocker, but is not the passive positional shot blocker favored in the PK by Yeo. His speed, agility, strong clearing shot and passing and fast hands combine well with Gill’s or Orpik’s skills. Thus, the Gill Letang pairing works well. Whitney, Sydor or Scuderi has not worked well. Whitney is a slow and clumsey skater who avoids contact and is a passive defender. Whitney has a decent clearing shot when not confronted with contact. He does not hold passes and gives up the puck easily. Sydor is a slow and clumsey skater. He tries to hit, but mostly is on the receiving end of agressive play. He is bad at holding passes and gives up the puck far too easily. Scuderi is not a fast skater and is a passive, positional, shot blocking defender. His pairing partner must be a fast skater as well as a good positional defender. The Pens’ problem is that they have five good defenders, some of whom have serious flaws and two defenders (Whitney and Sydor) whose liabilities on defense far exceed their assets. The Pens need another strong and fast skating defender who is aggressive and has a strong clearing shot.
DaBich
Apr 15, 04:35 PM
Nice to see you, Frank. Come back sooner!
Good point on Sydor.
Head Coach Michel Therrien
Apr 15, 06:28 PM
De Ryan Whitney is so terrible. He has no dis no dat.
De cry, de moan. I think de fan want to have worst team in hockey. I tink de want some of de player to fail, dat way it make der analsis so asstute.
Is it ever enough with de criticism of de Whitney? He is better hockey player dan what he get credit for.
He make one bad pass in defensive zone last game and misplay one bouncing puck. Foligno also make a spektakular play on de puck dat produce de goal.
De USS Hal Gill make some mistake. So does de Kris Letang. Remember when it was de Gonchar who would have de wrath of Penguin hockey fan and de magnanimous MCM?
Scuderi is what he is, no one ask him to attack. Whitney is what he is. He offensively gift defensman who excel at move de puck to de forward. Dis he does.
De Whitney now cannot skate? What hockey game do you watch? An’ what feed do you get, De B.R.W. one? De Bash Ryan Whitney hockey channel? I tink new message board, even de new internet could be made just dedicate to de Penguin Hockey fan dat whine about Ryan Whitney.
I grow tired of de criticism of de player. I ask all criticism be direct to me in future. De Ryan Whitney will play and continue to play. He is key to future success of de Penguin Hockey and in dis playoff. Do you not want him to have de confidence? De success? Give him de support and you will be rewarded.
But of course in de NHL 08 world of some of de fan, where every game der is no mistake, de Recchi and Sydor both rated over 85, der is no up or down in play of player, Ryan Whitney is somehow de worse defenseman in de hockey history.
Dis make me smoke more. Now you haf me smoke and type at same time. I get ashes on de keyboard. An’ people say de smoke can ruin de computer screen.
Maybe I go into Microsoff Excel and put in formula to juggle line just to have some fun…Perhap I just take a nap.
I apologize for any offense I cause to some of de fan. I know all mean well and want de success. But be objective about de player, support de player, even de Whitney. We are one game away from secon’ round.
Focus de energy on de one more win. Make de Sacrifice. Maybe sacrifice de all too predictable criticism of de Whitney, no?
Michel
Tom
Apr 17, 04:01 PM
HCMT, I wish I was smoking what you are. Whitney a fine skater? Well, they say it is a hallucinogin. Please be realistic and compare Whitney’s skating to Letang’s, for example. Is he as strong on his skates? Is he as agile, being to change or reverse directions at top speed? Is he a fast skater? None of the above. Not to mention that he is not as hard or accurate a passer or shooter and continually gives up the puck.
No, Whitney is not the worst defenseman in the league, he is not even the worst defenseman on the Pens. However, I have not said so, nor have I bashed him. I merely believe that he must quickly improve those aspects of his game that he can. It is encouraging that he is hitting some and taking hits in order to pass or clear the puck.
Finally, I do not blame or bash Whitney, I blame the coach for not properly coaching and improving Whitney’s play and for playing him while he plays poorly. It’s on you HCMT.
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