Pens Take Game 1 with 4-Goal Showing

Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 9, 09:24 PM | Hype this story!
1 2 3 Tot.
0 0 0 0
 
Tot. 1 2 3
4 2 0 2
 
Series: Pens (1) – Sens (0)
 
Summary

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered this game with something to prove.  After last years horrible performance against this same Ottawa team, in this same first round the Penguins needed to come out, bang some bodies, take it to the Sens, and never let up.  From the start of the game that is exactly what they did. They played a hardnosed playoff game, one that they couldn’t have played last year.  

The warrior Gary Roberts started the scoring in the first, before some of the crowd and commentators realized what had happened.  He drove the net and swept a shot behind a stunned Martin Gerber.  Later in the first Evgeni Malkin cleaned up his own zone, chipped the puck past the blueline defender and created a 2 on 1, that Petr Sykora smashed into the back of the net.  While the remainder of the 1st and 2nd period was scoreless, it wasn’t without action.  Both teams were playing just as one would expect in the playoffs, creating chances, but mostly finishing their checks.  After giving up 2 goals in the first Gerber seemed to settle down and find himself in the 2nd, but the remainder of his team couldn’t help him out, and eventually the Penguins pursuit broke through.

In the third period, it appeared as if things would be more of the same, tight, hard-hitting hockey, until a beautiful skate to stick goal by Malkin made it 3-0, and then a nice setup to give Roberts his 2nd of the night made it 4-0.  That was all the Senators could take, and they started trying to send a message for game two, by roughing up Crosby and anybody who might be around.  However, the tactic didn’t seem to phase the mighty Penguins on this night.  They matched that physical abuse with some of their own, and even the usual shy-hitting Ryan Whitney mixed it up in a fight, and won it cleanly.

Marc-Andre Fleury posted his first playoff shutout, the first by a Penguin since 2001.  He continued his stellar play making key saves and looking confident between the pipes.  The only areas of concern for the Penguins were at the faceoff circle, where they were pretty much man-handled by the Sens, and on the powerplay, where they went 1-5.  In the playoffs, not scoring on the man-advantage is a bad sign, and can cost games.  Granted, Ottawa went 0-for, but that’s what kept the game at bay, the Penguins great penalty killing.

 
Three Stars
# Player Team Pos. Stats
1 Marc-Andre Fleury Pit G 26 Saves
2 Gary Roberts Pit W 2 Goals
3 Evgeni Malkin Pit C 1 Goal, 1 Assist
 
Stat Line
  Shots Faceoffs Power Plays
  1 2 3 OT Total Won Lost Converted Total
Pittsburgh 10 15 10 - 35 28 37 1 5
Ottawa 8 10 8 - 26 37 28 0 7
 
Scoring Summary
Per. Time Team Goal Assist Assist
1 01:08
12:28		 Pit
Pit		 Gary Roberts
Petr Sykora		 Laraque
Malkin		 Talbot
2 -
3 13:58
18:25		 Pit
Pit		 Evgeni Malkin
Gary Roberts		 Whitney
Malkin		 Malone
Hossa
 
Penalty Summary
Per.
Team Penalty Time Player
1
 Pittsburgh holding – 2 min 4:25, J. Staal
 Ottawa holding – 2 min 14:39, C. Schubert

2
 Ottawa hooking – 2 min 6:51, C. Bass
 Ottawa interference – 2 min 9:37, A. Meszaros
 Pittsburgh holding – 2 min 14:56, R. Whitney
 Ottawa roughing – 2 min 15:59, M. Lapointe
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 15:59, M. Talbot
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 15:59, M. Talbot served by Sykora
 Pittsburgh holding – 2 min 19:29, R. Malone
3
 Pittsburgh high sticking – 2 min 0:38, J. Staal
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 5:40, T. Kennedy
 Ottawa roughing – 2 min 5:40, B. Lee
 Ottawa tripping – 2 min 7:04, W. Redden
 Pittsburgh hooking – 2 min 11:04, P. Dupuis
 Pittsburgh fighting – 5 min 16:35, R. Whitney
 Ottawa roughing – 2 min 16:35, W. Redden
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 16:35, S. Crosby
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 16:35, P. Dupuis
 Ottawa roughing – 2 min 16:35, D. McAmmond
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 16:35, P. Dupuis
 Ottawa fighting – 5 min 16:35, W. Redden
 Ottawa roughing – 2 min 16:35, W. Redden
 Ottawa roughing – 2 min 16:35, D. McAmmond
 Ottawa unsportsmanlike conduct – 2 min 19:48, C. Bass
 Ottawa unsportsmanlike conduct – 2 min 19:48, C. Neil
 Pittsburgh boarding – 2 min 19:48, G. Roberts served by Talbot
 Pittsburgh roughing – 2 min 19:48, G. Roberts served by Talbot
 Pittsburgh unsportsmanlike conduct – 2 min 19:48, G. Roberts
 Pittsburgh misconduct – 10 min 19:48, G. Roberts

Comments

  1. Eric

    Apr 9, 09:42 PM

    I would’ve paid MILLIONS to sit behind the Sens bench to scream at Murray, asking him why he’s tanking the game.

  2. Ashley Gallant

    Apr 9, 09:43 PM

    That is why Gary Roberts is a hockey god. He has 32 goals in the playoffs, and 14 are against Ottawa.

    Can’t wait for game 2.

  3. Matt Bodenschatz

    Apr 9, 09:48 PM

    Really, there is nothing bad to say about this one. They played with full intensity from the time the game started until the very end. When you play with this much intensity and determination, it doesn’t matter what you do on the powerplay and it doesn’t matter that Crosby was held pointless.

    This was a team effort, which is exactly what will be needed as they work their way to the Stanley Cup.

    One down, 15 to go!

  4. TIM

    Apr 9, 09:55 PM

    I thought the physical presence of the Pens tonight will pay dividends for them the rest of the series. They got pushed around last year and OTT took over from the get go. I loved seeing the guys stick up for themselves. TK, Max sticking up for Fluery etc. I will say that they should be way more careful about taking penalties. The Sens had WAYYYY to man chances with the man advantage. Luckily the D and obviously MAF bailed them out. Will need to keep a cooler head in game 2, but I am proud of the way they played.

    Was anyone else amazed at how strong Letang looked with the puck? I thought he might get cold feet about being in the playoffs but he was in position, pushing up ice, making chances. I have loved him all season, but he looked fast and, really dangerous.

    MAF What can you say he is a different goal tender and is playing fantastic hockey. He should be pleased with his play.

    LET’S GO PENS!

  5. Jonathan Farzalo

    Apr 9, 10:01 PM

    I was also very impressed with Kennedy. He played a great game tonight. His speed creates great backchecking chances and he crashes behind the net great. Overall, as I said though, I think they need the PP to score more, 1-7 isn’t enough, and the FO circle needs to improve, as it has needed all season. Again, Staal just simply can’t win the important draws, and I would hate to see it burn them down the road.

    All in All…great great game though…as I said, the type of game I’m not sure they could have mustered up last year…

    ...on with Game 2!

  6. Eric

    Apr 9, 10:03 PM

    They did what you need to do to win in the playoffs.

    - Solid puck possession.

    - Initiating the physical play.

    - Clearing the shooting lanes. Fleury was able to see everything tonight, which allowed him to pick up the SO.

    Only problem I have with the game is they took too many penalties. And the final result wasn’t 8-0.

    As well as Therrien used the same exact lines I would’ve used (Except I might have went with Hall over Laraque, with a game time decision – Laraque proved he was worth it). Though I expect to see Roberts bumped up to line 1 a couple times on Friday. Not the entire game, because he shouldn’t be asked to keep up with Crosby and Hossa’s speed.

    Kudos to Kennedy and Letang looking good in their 1st playoff game. They both played their parts exceptionally well.

  7. Ashley Gallant

    Apr 9, 10:08 PM

    Matt – “One down, 15 to go!”

    I think I’ve said that 100 times since the end of the game!

    But Gerber played fairly well and kept the Sens in the game until the third. This should be a good series.

  8. DaBich

    Apr 10, 05:58 AM

    Tim and Eric~I’m with you, Letang and Kennedy proved they CAN and WILL play with the “big boys”. I was thrilled with their play last night.
    Way to go Roberts!! The Hockey God strikes again!
    Fleury was phenominal, especially in the 5 on 3’s we allowed Ottawa to have.

    Bring on game 2!

  9. Head Coach Michel Therrien

    Apr 10, 08:55 AM

    I suspect you all enjoy de game last night?

    Did you notice Jordan Staal playing solid hockey? At center?

    Did you see how i was not afraid to use any of my forward agains’ Dany Heatley and Spezza?

    As I said before, we will not change our style to suit need of message board poster. I make de decision to play de best player we have. I see de practice, de attitude of all de player an’ know who will bring solid play.

    But we can play any way we have to. We have the weapon. We can be physical. We can score de goal. We can win a hockey game eider way.

    I look forwar’ to hearing more from de faceoff of the factor. Perhaps I will get some more tactical hockey advice, like to scratch Ryan Whitney and play Jordan on de wing.

    Remember, Ryan Whitney could kick all of your ass just like he did to Redden.

    Enjoy tomorrow game,
    Michel

  10. Ashley Gallant

    Apr 10, 09:36 AM

    HCMT – haha you’re really funny. Or should I say, “t’es tellement drôle”?

    I hope to see you more. Bonne chance demain soir!

  11. DaBich

    Apr 11, 05:57 AM

    We have been blessed with your next visit Michel, thanks for coming =D

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