Pens/Caps Game 5 Grades
Mike Adams | Report Cards
May 10, 11:58 AM | Hype this story!
No Sarge, no problem
Penguins step it up
Capitals, choking again?
We’ll see on Monday
Offense: A
They took it to the Caps again, registering 39 even strength shots, plus several goal posts. They had numerous quality scoring chances.
Defense: B
Not quite as good as it had been in previous games, but not bad, either.
Yeo Play: A++++++++++++
It was awesome. Amazing. Incredible. Scintillating. Jaw-dropping. Excellent. Unbelievable. All because Geno got a lucky OT goal with one second to go in the power play.
Penalty Kill: D
They allowed one in two chances. And some other good looks.
Goaltending: A-
His defensemen didn’t give him much of a chance, screening him on two of the three goals. As usual, he made several superb saves to keep the Pens in it. Early on, the Caps were just dominating, but Fleury just would not be beaten. That’s what defines clutch goaltending—keeping the bad guys off the board when your team is struggling.
Overall: A
Hey, it’s results that matter, and they somehow got it done. The power play was its usual awful self, but they scored a PPG to win it. Sid’s line struggled all night, but Staal’s line stepped up with two goals. That’s how you win in the playoffs.
And now, the rest of the story…
Sid: C
Not a great game by him and his mates. Too often, they got trapped in their own end. And Sid hit one post, and hit Varlamov when he had a whole open net to shoot at.
Geno: A-
Not his best effort, but he did have that tremendous bank shot for the winner. I wonder if he called it.
Jordan Staal: A
By far, his best game of the playoffs. He was making things happen offensively. When you get monster games from third liners, it’s usually a good omen.
Philippe Boucher: A
Tough situation for him. But he stepped in and was not noticeable. And that’s a good thing.
Alex Goligoski: C
It seemed the Pens got hemmed in their own end a lot when he was on the ice.
The Empty Sweater Brigade: A
Staal: 1 goal, 1 assist
Kunitz: 1 assist
Cooke: 1 goal
Kennedy: 1 assist
Satan: 1 assist
That’s all you can ask of the role players. Excellent.
Rick Barry: A
Well, at least somebody associated with the sport has the guts to call the Gonchar hit what it was—dirty.
‘‘We now have Exhibit A of the extreme double standard that exists in the NHL’s approach to discipline. Alex clearly cuts back with his knee after missing his check with devastating results. But of course, because it’s Alex, its all Sergei’s fault. ‘It was a extremely negligent hit and if anyone else in this league does the same we all know they will face serious discipline. Part of being ‘great’ means playing with respect.’‘
Look, I personally think the hit was a suspendable offense. But what I find ludicrous is that nobody, not one person on Versus even thought it worthy of discussion. That’s an absolute joke. Keith Jones and Brian Engblom just talked about how great Ovechickensh#t is and how hard he hits. Nothing from Darryl Reaugh. You cannot tell me the league didn’t lean on them to stop this debate, either. I can see both points of view on the hit, but you cannot tell me it was so clear-cut that no debate was called for. The league is just protecting its “charismatic” superstar. And as for Ovechickensh#t and his crocodile tears, you know darn well he is only upset that he did it to a friend. Had it been Orpik, he wouldn’t be the least bit sorry. The guy has been running players his whole career, and the chickens finally came home to roost.
Russian Rankings
1.Malkin
2.Varlamov
3.Ovechkin
4.Fedorov
5.Kozlov
6.Semin
Alex Semin: F
When was the last time a supposed star player had this great a disappearing act in the playoffs? I guess he’s off practicing the bongo drum somewhere. And oh, by the way, Alex, perhaps you want to retract those comments you made about Sid?
The goalposts: A
They played very well for Washington.
DirecTV: F
They cut to a commercial right in the middle of the action. Luckily, no goals were missed.
Brooks Orpik: D
Man, did he get abused on the first Ovechickensh#t goal. First, he could have pinched and didn’t. Then he just backs up and backs up, letting Ovie skate into the zone uncontested. Then he finally moves toward Ovie, just in time to screen Fleury on the shot. Just brutal.
Miro Satan: A
I thought he played hard and well. And he picked up another assist in only 9:18 of ice time.
Don Cherry Award
This award is given to the coach who nearly costs his team a playoff game by causing a too many men on the ice penalty, as Cherry infamously did. Yeo sent Hal Gill charging onto the ice at just the wrong time in an attempt to get a matchup. It cost them a power play goal. I think as his reward he should be forced to wear one of Cherry’s jackets for the next game.
Striped Buffoon Huh? Call of the Game
The whole game was a huh?. Of course, Bill McCreary was the ref, so you knew it would be a “let ‘em play” game. It most certainly was that. There were only four power plays the whole game. Guys were hitting from behind, running guys, hooking, holding, whatever it took. But at least they were consistent with it, so I can’t complain too much. Just don’t come out and do that the next game, boys, or it will be a penalty parade.
Free Cookie
He absolutely nailed Ovechickensh#t. As Razor said, he “erased” Ovie.
Kunikaze
He got Ovechickensh#t too.
Free Candy
He zeroed in on the human pinata, Matt Bradley.
Monk Moment
The Pens actually scoring a power play goal to win the game.
A guide to the game grades can be found here.
Comments
notbeinguseful
May 10, 12:23 PM
Can anyone name who else was in that box with Mario and Malkin’s parents? Who was the blonde wearing yellow that hugged Mrs. Malkin at the end of the game?
Steve
May 10, 01:38 PM
Not sure, but if she was noticeable I wonder if it was Larionov’s daughter. This her:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Ovechkin-parties-gets-friendly-with-Igor-Larion?urn=nhl,87954
If so, love the irony of that picture.
I too noticed the eery silence about the hit on Gonchar. The fact that the NHL didn’t even call Ovechkin about it is all you need to know. Legal, illegal, unfortunate accident or dirty, you at least have to have a phone interview with Ovechkin on that. Either way, the best revenge would be sending the Caps packing. Again.
Moq
May 10, 02:01 PM
Though I’m less critical of the Gonchar hit itself, the lack of debate 24 hours later is strange. Even Cherry had little to say and reducing it to the lesson: Don’t reach for the puck. Perhaps it would have been different if the “victim” had been Canadian.
I also thought that Bäckström was the best Washington player on the ice, but it was all Ovechkin. Rather predictable.
Sensible grades overall, though I think you go for the easy points on officiating again. The comment “Guys were hitting from behind, running guys, hooking, holding, whatever it took.” is a gross exaggeration. There were potential for extra calls, but the height of the bar was good for a fluid game.
Crosby could have had a really good game, but the margins were not in his favour. Fortunately, as opposed to the previous away games in the series, others were there to compensate.
Ron Davies
May 10, 02:55 PM
Mike, I’ve watched Ovechkin’s first goal a few times. Orpik could not pinch on the play because he was just stepping on the ice on a line change. If you watch the replay it is actually a 3 on 2 until ovechkin pulls up. Orpik had no choice but to try and block it. Any other player in the league taking that shot is a low percentage shot from outside the dots. I thought Eaton and Orpik both played very well yesterday. Both were matched up with a different partner almost every shift and both were huge blocking shots. The defense played very well yesterday in a situation where they were all asked to step up in the absence of their leader Gonchar.
Chris
May 10, 03:59 PM
CBC debated the hit and there was consensus that it was a dirty hit.
Shlim
May 10, 07:22 PM
That female is Alyonka Larionov, and she’s the Penguins PensTV hostess or whatever.
I don’t think the female in the box with the Malkin’s was Alyonka, but I was at a bar drinking & watching. Who knows what I saw, haha.
DaBich
May 10, 09:54 PM
What time is the game Monday night?
AdamBanks
May 10, 10:39 PM
I didn’t think the blonde was Alyonka. Her hair is a little darker and more wavy than the the girl next to Mrs. Malkin.
TheOneAndOnlySurge
May 10, 10:46 PM
@Tom, I gotta disagree on the second Ovechkin goal. I didn’t see it as I got called to work and my GF made a mistake on the recording but, based on what you said happened. Gill should have taken away the pass. Fleury can’t take the man without the puck thats just ridiculous. If he prepares for a shot from Ovie then Backstrom will have a wide open net.
About the Gonchar hit. Dirty or not it deserves a debate. Now follow it up with the fact he did it the game before on Orpik. Then last night he slew foots Malkin, do you need anymore evidence that he is a dirty player. I don’t think anything should be done this year but, on the first regular season game against Washington, I would love to see some take out Ovechkin. Now I’m not usually for this head hunting stuff but if the league can’t do something to send a message then the players should. Make sure he knows that if he plays like this then he will have to answer for it.
AdamBanks
May 10, 11:45 PM
The blonde in the yellow is definitely not Alyonka. Her and sister are shown in the Go Pens shirts right after the Cooke goal on the FSP feed.
TheOneAndOnlySurge
May 11, 05:28 PM
@Tom, the defensman is to handle a 2-1 by taking away the pass, not by taking the puck handler. You always take away the pass and let the goalie take the shooter. Anyone who knows the basics of hockey knows this. Fleury, the goalie cant do anything but lineup with the guy with the puck, otherwise its a wide open net. If the pass gets through to Ovechkin, then it is Gill who failed to do his part by not allowing the pass. If Backstrom scores then it is Fleury who failed to make a big save.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 11, 05:45 PM
@Tom and Surge:
The defender takes the player without the puck and the goalie takes the shooter on a 2-on-1 every time. No question about it. As Surge said, if Fleury took the player without the puck, he’d expose a wide open net. The goalie always — without exception — takes the shooter. Period.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 12, 05:50 PM
@Tom, the goalie always takes the puck. It makes no sense for him to cover the player without the puck, leaving the player with the puck with a free path to the net. Find a coach, player or strategy guide that says otherwise and I’ll be 100 percent stunned. It’s a ridiculous notion, and I’m moving on.
Matt Bodenschatz
May 12, 06:43 PM
@Tom, you keep saying the same things over, explaining how Fleury was supposed to take the player without the puck. But you’re not divulging anything that has persuaded me to think it is even remotely reasonable.
In general, if the goalie plays the player without the puck and the defenseman plays the player with the puck, the net is left wide open. Now, if the defender takes the guy without the puck, he can attempt to break up the pass, thus forcing the player with the puck to shoot — in which case the goalie is prepared for a shot.
I don’t have a clue why I even attempt to counter what you say because you’ll never give in. If you want to believe it’s better for Fleury to ignore the guy with the puck and cover a player without the puck, feel free to believe that. You won’t find many/any people who agree with you. That, I can guarantee.
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