Pens/Caps Game 3 Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
May 7, 10:31 AM | Hype this story!
Penguins dominate
Need OT to win
Now they’re back in the series
Welcome back Geno
Offense: B
They took it to the Caps most of the night, but just couldn’t get anything by the Antimoose. They had lots of good pressure and better net presence, but it took a couple lucky bounces for them to get anything by the Antimoose at even strength. From about the 10-minute mark in the first period on, most of the play was in Washington’s end. The forecheck was strong, and Fedotenko’s goal came off the rush. If they could just finish…
Defense: A
The team defense was absolutely superb. They allowed very few quality scoring chances, and only 19 even strength shots to the offensive powerhouse Capitals. They limited Ovechkin to only 5 shots, and he was rather invisible most of the night. Again, once the Pens took control, they really limited the Caps’ chances.
Yeo play: C
As usual, it was godawful. They totally whiffed on their first six chances, rarely generating anything even remotely resembling a good scoring chance. But then, at a key moment late in the third, Geno comes into the zone and fires a wicked wrister past Antimoose. So they get credit for scoring a key goal at a key time. But most of the night, all the power play did was sap their momentum. There was one hilarious shot on Versus where Coach B. was arguing with the refs after the Caps had been called for a penalty. I was sure he was arguing that it was NOT a penalty. But anyway, Yeo just keeps sending the same guys out in the same alignment time after time. Hey, genius, how about switching things up and trying something different?
Penalty kill: F
Likewise, they allowed a power play goal at a critical time, despite taking only two penalties all night long. Of course, that was more on Fleury than the four guys in front of him.
Goaltending: C
I will give Fleury credit for not letting that first horrendous goal affect him. But that one was just malodorous. I have never in my life seen a goalie just lose his stick as he goes to play the puck. How can that even happen, other than lack of concentration? Had he not lost it, he might have been able to stop the puck when it took the bad bounce out front. It just sapped the crowd energy for a few minutes. The other goal wasn’t a thing of beauty, either. He overreacted to a possible cross-crease pass, then saw the puck ricochet in off him has he tried to get back when the pass never made it. He did have some dazzling saves in between, though, and he did win the game.
Overall: A-
Well, they got some secondary scoring last night, and it got them a win. Other than the inability to beat the Antimoose, they played about as well as they can play. They dominated the action most of the night. And they were rewarded with a win. It at least gives them a chance in the series, with tomorrow night’s game now really being the key to the series.
And now, the rest of the story…
Sid: A
He was his usual self, though he didn’t score a goal for the first time in the series.
Geno: A
He finally joined the series last night. From about the midway point of the game on, he was dominant. The light bulb just seemed to go on. He was generating chances, and finally put one in himself to give them the lead. They have a chance if he keeps playing like that.
Jordan Staal: C
His line is generating no offense at all. But they did a fantastic job against the Ovechkin unit all night long. They really made Washington’s top guns rather invisible.
Sergei Gonchar: F
Invisible.
Kris Letang: B
I thought he was actually pretty bad most of the night. He was constantly flubbing passes on the PP. But then out of nowhere, he gets the game-winner.
*Faceoffs: A
While they lost 56 percent on the night, they won the only one that mattered.
The Empty Sweater Brigade
Satan: 3 shots
Fedotenko earned removal from this list with his second goal in four games.
Kunitz: 0 shots
Staal: 0 shots
Kennedy: 3 shots
Adams: played 6:45 invisible minutes
Cooke: only one hit
Coach B.: A
Sometimes “stay the course” works out just fine. Well, except for the power play.
The Antimoose: A
It takes a lot for a player not to get totally frustrated when a goalie just keeps stoning your team time and time again. I don’t know how he does it, but he is like the Moose in that you never quite know what he’s going to do. That’s hard to figure out.
Ranking the Russians
Varlamov
Malkin
Ovechkin
Kozlov
Gonchar
Semin
Fedorov
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
Mike Leggo mad an absolutely ridiculous interference call on Dupuis with 2 ½ minutes to go. Geno was carrying the puck and Dupuis was loitering near the blueline. Geno makes a cut, and the Cap player skates into Dupuis. Yet Dupuis gets the call. Yet they are setting picks for Ovechkin all game long, all series long. It gave them the game-winning goal in Game 2. But they call this one. Whatever…
Monk Moment
Fleury losing his stick on the first goal. Seriously, you’re sitting there watching, saying, “I can’t believe what I just saw.”
A Guide to the Grades can be found here
Comments
TheOneAndOnlySurge
May 7, 11:54 AM
I didn’t even see the first goal as I looked away to do something thinking there was no way anything would happen at that moment. It sucks but it happens.
Ray aka WildcatRay
May 7, 12:30 PM
The Flower looked like he was momentarily flustered between his stick slipping out of his hand and the puck taking that crazy bounce off the boards. But, he did what he had to do the rest of the way, so Kudos! to him.
As to the Dupuis penalty, I just asked about it in Matt’s “
Ovechkin, Caps Losing Grip On The Series?” post because I did not catch it as it happened. My focus was on Gino. Seeing the ref with his arm up, I first thought the Pens were going on the power play.
It does make you wonder who the league favors in this series, though, doesn’t it? I don’t think the penalty calling has been as obvious as, say, Game 5 of the Flyers series. However, there have now been three times when the Caps received the benefit of, first, two non-calls—Staal & Cooke on penalty kills—and one call—Dupuis—to end up with important goals.
daismog
May 7, 01:58 PM
Dupuis made an absolutely horribly play and fully deserved the penalty he took at the end of regulation.
As Geno is skating into the attacking zone, Dupuis is next to him, skating BACKWARDS, and pushes the guy. It probably should have been interference, rather than the hook that I believe was called, but it was still 2 minutes.
Atrocious.
Jon
May 7, 03:27 PM
I’m just surprised it took them until Game 3 to realize its a bad idea to leave Ovechkin wide open. Even the Rangers were better at neutralizing him.
Mike Adams
May 7, 05:05 PM
@ Tom,
One hit? One takeaway? Sorry, but he was terrible most of the night. I give him credit for a gutsy performance, but until the GWG, he really didn’t do anything at all. I’ve seen similar statements in several media outlets today, so I’m not the only one who feels this way.
meecrofilm
May 7, 07:25 PM
It was certainly a gutsy performance by Letang, but one cannot deny that he was absolutely abysmal on the Powerplay.
bag o' pucks
May 7, 07:34 PM
Tom can. Just watch him. =)
miami85
May 7, 08:13 PM
If Letang was to terrible all night then why did Mike Lange have a feeling that it would be him to get the game winner?
Albert
May 7, 09:01 PM
Letang had a game that most mortal men tend to have: he did some good things and some not so good things.
Hey, I was screaming at the TV when those passes got by him on the PP, too, but the bottom line for me is that he put in a gutsy performance w/ the tweaked shoulder, he didn’t allow any goals on his watch, and he lasered in the GWG.
Give him some damn credit!
bag o' pucks
May 7, 09:24 PM
Ah, Tommy Boy, you have no sense of humor. What I said was that you would defend Letang, and you did. I like the kid a lot, he’s a high-risk, high-reward player. He’s going to make some very apparent flubs, some very questionable decisions, then he’s going to make some great plays and score some points for his team, too. A benching here or there, then right back in a spot on the first PP. None of those things are unusual for a highly talented 22-yr old. He plays 20+ minutes per game, so apparently the coaches agree that, with Letang, the risk is worth the reward.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 7, 11:34 PM
I really don’t understand how giving Letang a “B” for the game is not giving him credit. He had an average game at best…until the game winner, which more than compensates for the rest. He had several mental errors that led to him fumbling the puck, hesitating on shots, and just not performing well (primarily on the power play). I think anyone would take such a performance every day of the week if the player came up clutch in overtime the way Letang did.
I find it funny that, when Letang is accused of having an average game, or if someone thinks Letang isn’t playing well, the “no respect” card is played, yet when Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Staal or anyone else is called out for mistakes, it goes overlooked.
I like Letang as much as (if not more than) most people. Heck, because of Jesse Marshall, I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this kid since he was drafted. Ask my fiance (Dabich’s daughter) how excited I was to see him on the ice for the first time during his first pro training camp. She’ll tell you.
But my views of him as one of my favorites don’t and shouldn’t cloud the way I see him play. As Bag O’ Pucks said, he is a high risk, high reward player at this stage of his career. And he is worth the reward. But that doesn’t mean he is above criticism. Heck, Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury and others certainly aren’t. And neither were Lemieux, Jagr, Francis and other legends of the game. So why should Letang be?
bag o' pucks
May 8, 12:10 AM
Bodes, couple things:
1) How about keeping info about your fiancee’, anxious feelings, and excitement to yourself, there, pal. Keep it clean.
2) I agree, player’s should be viewed objectively. That said, anyone who jobs 66 should eat a bullet.
DaBich
May 8, 06:58 AM
Hey bags, I Like Matt’s feelings for his fiancee :)
Bodes, keep up the good work buddy, and yes were indeed excited about Letang making the lineup. As was I, he’s my fav player on the team.
Let me add this: I agree with Tom in that he is a dayum fine player. Is there room for improvement? yes.
Does Sarge make the same mistakes? yes. Not one hockey player is perfect. I do believe Letang will be a critical player for this team for years to come. The kid is good and he’s getting better. The “B” grade fits the bill. Good work, Mike!
Matt Bodenschatz
May 8, 09:45 AM
@Bag, well I suppose that was written a bit wrong..haha.
@Dabich, I think you’ve nailed the point. There isn’t a player who can’t improve. Letang fits the bill. Pointing out that his game wasn’t the best, but that his goal completely compensated isn’t disrespecting, it’s telling it like it is. As you said, the “B” grade is perfect.
Oh, and I agree that Letang has the tools to become a legit two-way defender in this league. I’m picturing stats similar to Brian Rafalski’s, though a few more goals. Like 15+40 for 55 points and +15 or so. If he becomes the main squeeze on the point during the power play, bump that point total to 65. The big difference between him and Rafalski is that Letang will make a hit when he needs to. But if he can pan out to have the career Rafalski has had, he’ll be very successful.
bag o' pucks
May 8, 12:24 PM
I’m bustin’ chops (a la Janitor, Scrubs). =) I forgot that smiley face again, Dabs.
Letang is high risk, high reward, right now. But he’s 22 years old, just a pup. I think the risk will decrease, and the reward will increase as he develops and improves his game. He has All-Star potential, and he’s just scratching the surface.
Goligoski reminds me of Rafalski. Less physical than Letang. Great skater, great instincts, great shot.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 8, 03:20 PM
@Tom, you wanted to use statistics to prove your point that Letang had a great game Wednesday night. From comment number seven above:
“He and Eaton were +2, better than any other Pen. He not only scored the game winning goal but also had an assist and 6 shots on goal (more than any Pen except Malkin). He skated 26:12 minutes (more than any skater but Crosbym Malkin and Gonchar). He had a hit and a takeaway and no giveaways.”
If we’re going by statistics, his regular season plus-minus rating of -7 (third worst on the team, behind Talbot and Guerin, who played for the horrendous Islanders most of the season).
Stats don’t tell the whole story, as his ugly -7 indicates. Letang is a developing player with a huge upside. Let’s leave it at that.
bag o' pucks
May 8, 04:25 PM
Finally, Tom, you show your sense of humor in comparing Letang to Pronger. Good one. =D
Matt Bodenschatz
May 8, 05:00 PM
@Tom, as I said, stats don’t tell the whole story. His -7 on the season is misleading — just as his +2 Wednesday night was misleading. Both are misleading in opposite ways, but misleading none-the-less.
DaBich
May 9, 12:44 AM
Pucks, when you smile, you REALLY light up :)
Tom, give it a break man. I don’t think anyone said Letang is playing poorly, he DID mess up at leas three times that I saw, then redeemed himself with the goal. No one has a great game every game.
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