Faceoff Factor

After a dominating performance from the Penguins in game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs against a very uninterested Senators team, the Pens came out and dominated the game, every inch of the ice, every aspect of the game, except for the goal category.  Somehow, while being completely outplayed and made to look even foolish at times, the Senators banged home 3 goals on the Penguins tonight.  Thankfully for Pens fans, Ryan Malone, who left early in the game briefly, had other ideas.  He took a rebound shot and wrapped around the game winner with very little time left on the clock.  He also added an empty netter to seal the deal.

This was a game that the Penguins needed.  While nobody on the team wanted a close game, they needed to actually let in a goal.  They needed to feel that, and respond, fight through it.  Up to that point they really hadn’t been tested in 5 periods of hockey and it may have come back to bite them had they gone to Ottawa and not yet let a goal in.  Now, they know how to take it.  Marc-Andre Fleury can just sit back and play his game, not thinking about a shutout streak.  They can just go into hostile territory and play their game.

One aspect of the game that stands out (for the first 2 games really) is the cohesiveness the Penguins are playing with.  The entire team is clicking.  From the 1st line all the way down to the 4th.  From Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, to Gary Roberts and Max Talbot.  Everybody on the team is fighting for the puck, fighting to make plays, and not giving up.  They seem to be getting to tons of loose pucks and not giving the opposition much to work with.  The amazing chemistry of Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora has been nothing but lights out, and they continued that tonight, with back-to-back goals, both amazing plays.  The first a great bang bang bang play by Crosby, Malkin, and finished by Sykora.  The second, a great fake slapshot by Malkin, then the feed across to an awaiting Sykora, who one-timed it home, which made it 3-1.

The Penguins powerplay looked better tonight, going 3-6 and getting the game winner.  If they can keep pressuring the defense of the Sens, they will continue to take penalties.  The Penguins, like they did tonight, need to feed on that and make them pay.

While many people have mentioned the lack of scoring goals by Crosby and Marian Hossa so far, it must be pointed out that perhaps some of the reason Malkin and Sykora have been succeeding this series is that the opposition is focusing on the Crosby line…and if they take that pressure of that Crosby line and focus it on the Malkin line, that would leave the Crosby line the opportunity to open things up.  Point being…it’s not in spite of Sid and Marian that Geno and Petr are scoring right now, it’s directly related to them.  Just the way it was intended.