Pens Vs Flames Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
Mar 26, 09:35 AM | Hype this story!
They beat a top team
In a bounce-back game
Two points closer to playoffs
Flower steals the show
Offense: B
Once again, the Pens failed generate many scoring chances off the forecheck. They did use the forecheck to great effect in the third period, keeping Calgary bottled up for long stretches. The Pens did generate some great chances in transition, had they only shot the puck. There were way too many attempts at fancy plays and not nearly enough north-south action. But then again, the play where Gill scored was an example of that extra pass that paid off. Guess you can’t complain too much.
Defense: B+
Calgary was able to hem the Pens in at times, and that led to them getting some good chances. I can’t count how many times my heart skipped a beat because Olli Jokinen had a wide open look, only to fire it wide. Jarome Iginla was also way too dangerous. But the end result was a shutout, so the defense overall was very solid.
Yeo play: A
They got the only goal they would need while up a man. Sid made a great pass through Kiprusoff, and Letang banged it home. Great work down low. The power play was shooting the puck, and you can’t ask for more than that. Well, you can certainly ask for more than two chances, but when Marouelli refs, that’s about all the Pens will ever get.
Penalty kill: A
It just don’t get no better than that. They were all over the Flames, which caused Calgary to turn the puck over numerous times. And when the Flames did manage to set up, Fleury was a brick wall. He did his best work when the Pens were down a man, making several highlight-reel saves.
Goaltending: A
Marc-Andre Fleury was just superb in outdueling one of the best in the game. Several times, he went side-to-side to rob a Flame. The Flames helped out by hitting a crossbar and also missing a wide open net. But that takes nothing away from how well Fleury played. It was as if he decided he was not going to be beaten, and he made it happen. No doubt he was the number one star in this one.
Overall: A
In what was just a great hockey game to watch, the Pens toppled one of the top teams. They played a solid game and Fleury backed it up with outstanding goaltending. They got the lead and never backed up. They just kept coming at the Flames, even late in the third. They played it like a playoff game, hitting and blocking shots with abandon. They came out with a mission to atone for the loss to Philly, and came away with a huge two points.
And now, the rest of the story…
Sid: B
Made a couple silly passes, but did set up the Letang power play goal.
Geno: A
He was a beast. He only ended up with one assist, but that’s because he’s saddled with two guys who look like they don’t even belong in the NHL. That end-to-end rush where he ended up taking a penalty was just magnificent. Not only that, but he was also hitting as much as I’ve ever seen him. Just an incredible game for him.
Hal Gill: A
He joined the rush and scored a goal. He was also his usual strong self on the PK.
Kris Letang: A
Boy, what a turnaround in him under Coach B. He scored another goal by pinching down on the power play. He’s having fun now. Those games where he was a healthy scratch seem like ages ago.
Bill Guerin: A
Nice little stick to the side of Jokinen. Poor Olli got upset and took a penalty. Hey, um, Olli, I know you’ve never played in the playoffs, but that’s what it’s like.
Brooks Orpik: A
He notched ten hits and seven blocked shots. He was just destroying everything that came near him.
Jarome Iginla: A
Boy, wouldn’t you just love to have him in black and gold.
Discipline: F
The only negative the last couple games has been the penalties. They need to get this under control. You just can’t count on killing that many penalties every night.
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
Two words. Dan. Marouelli. ‘Nuf said.
Minard of the Game
Gawd, there were too many to mention. Do you give it to Sid for a careless drop pass or the pass right up his own slot that got intercepted? Or do you give it to Guerin for a horrible pass on a 2-on-1? I’ll go with the latter. When you are a shooter, you shoot on a 2-on-1.
Free Candy
They were too numerous to mention.
Monk Moment
Can there be any doubt? It has to be Gill’s goal. First, he makes a great lead pass to Geno. Then he joins the rush with speed. Then he picks the corner with a twisted wrister. Take that, Mike Green!
A Guide to the Grades can be found here
Comments
TIM
Mar 26, 09:43 AM
How about Cooke missing any empty net twice?! That has to be a monk moment as well, although not a pleasant one for the Pens. I thought they played much better today. I had a feeling Coach B knew what he was doing with Letang, and he has upped his game a lot. I would love to see the Pens play the Flames more often. I always liked that team. Iginla is a monster on the ice.
DigitalGypsy66
Mar 26, 10:33 AM
I didn’t realize that all of the missed empty net goals were from inside the Flames’ blue line! I just assumed from the radio feed that there Pens defensive zone or at best the neutral zone.
Good grades, MCM.
Shlim
Mar 26, 10:59 AM
Haha nope, they were trying one-timers with Cooke… no go!
Crosby had the best shot (for the empty netter), from the red line, and I think Jokinen got a stick on it… Malkin had a bad angle shot at it, also.
Chris
Mar 26, 03:18 PM
@Tom – Letang played 14:55 in this game. The least of all Pens’ defensemen. He played about 1 minute less than Eaton even strength plus Eaton had almost 3-4 minutes of SH time.
I assume that this is mostly because of experience and defensive zone responsibility. For his age Letang is a very good defenseman but he is not as solid in his own zone as the other 5.
Ashley Gallant
Mar 26, 04:12 PM
I wanted to see Fleury score a goal…too bad his attempt was as successful as the rest of the team’s attempts at the empty net.
LateHarvest
Mar 26, 06:32 PM
Fleury’s going to drain one…one of these days.
Letang > Boyle
Gill’s 65-game Warmup/Preseason seems to be paying off these days. He’s been incredible.
Pens1967
Mar 26, 09:56 PM
Bylsma will continue to get an F from me as long as he insists on dressing Godard for these critical games. With points at a premium, it might as well be the playoffs. An “enforcer” is a nice luxury, but not at the expense of being able to roll four lines and the loss of a skilled PK’er like Adams.
jawsh
Mar 27, 12:00 PM
@pens, I can see not being happy with the decision to dress Godard but I think giving IHCDB an F is pretty insane after how the team has responded to his coaching.
Tim
Mar 27, 03:58 PM
I could see why Goddard dressed…his former team. DB would likely realize the ncreased motivation for Goddard. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t have a tilt.
Fleury should NOT be trying to score a goal until he gets his head out of his tukas when handling the puck.
His decision making is awful when he makes a decision, the rest of the time, he takes way to long to do so and it is almost always worse than making a bad decision. Guaranteed, he will cost us goals going the same way…they will hurt, especially in the playoffs.
He played great, got a little lucky, but still needs to sh#$ or get off the pot when handling. Also, he has left some JUICY rebounds of late…lucky they haven’t been hurt by them.
Pens1967
Mar 28, 09:20 AM
If Godard is going to 2-4 minutes a game, it is not a smart decision to dress him. The Pens have been taking a lot of penalties lately and the coach should recognize it is more valuable to have a 12th forward who can kill penalties as well as take a regular shift without being a liability. Not.Smart.Coaching
While I can’t argue the Pens recent success, it’s just as likely the better play is a direct result of the players’ realizing they were not going to make the playoffs otherwise as it is attributable to the coach.
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