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The series started with comments from Senators
head coach Bryan Murray telling the media (ok, crying to the media)
about the fact that he believed it was obvious the Penguins ‘tanked’
their final regular season game against Philadelphia in order to get a
first round match up against his team, the Ottawa Senators.
While most people agreed that the Pens didn’t play well, ok, they were
down right horrible, against the Flyers, it was also not a tank job.
It was clear he was simply trying to churn up some emotion from his
team, who have been invisible the 2nd half of the year, but instead,
it seemed to ruffle the feathers of the flightless birds, the
Pittsburgh Penguins. The idea that they ‘wanted’ the match
against the Sens is rather interesting, and really not merited. Look
at the stats. Besides being ousted last year in the playoffs by
the Senators, they didn’t fare well against them this year
either. Here is a comparison of the Penguins, Senators, and
Flyers in 2008. You decide.
Pens vs Sens – 1 win, 3 losses – 25% winning percentage for Pens
Pens vs Flyers – 3 wins, 5 losses – 37.5% winning percentage for Pens
The idea that the Penguins ‘tanked’ their game to play Ottawa is
pointless and unfounded. “You can be sure that I wasn’t
trying to tank the game the other day,” Penguins winger Gary Roberts
said. "I’ve never put on skates and tried to lose."
With a chip on their shoulder and something to prove, the
Penguins came out in game 1 and completely took it to Senators.
A dominating performance by Marc-Andre Fleury and a emotional filled
game by Gary Roberts led the way for the Penguins. The Sens
looked just like they have for months, like a team uninterested and in
disarray. The Penguins stormed to a 4-0 victory, with
Fleury earning his first playoff shutout.
Game 2 appeared to be more of the same for both teams, with the
Penguins soaring to a 3-0 lead, but the Senators started to show signs
of life and tied it up with 3 unanswered goals, all from crashing the
crease. Without a nifty wrap-around goal with just over a minute
to go by Ryan Malone, this game could have ended with a disheartening
loss for Pittsburgh in overtime, instead, they got on the plane to Ottawa with a
2-0 series lead.
Just before game 3 Ottawa and fans of both teams
learned that their captain, Daniel Alfredsson would be returning to
the lineup, despite being injured. While Pittsburgh learned that
their workhorse, Gary Roberts, would be out with a groin injury.
This was supposed to give the
Senators a lift and propel them to success in front of their home
crowd. To begin the game, it seemed to have worked, as they had
a ton more energy and life than in the previous games and even scored
first. Unfortunately for the Senators and their fans, that was
all that they could muster. The Penguins turned it on and tied
the game, and unleashed their destructive offense to blow by the Sens
4-1, putting the hopes of a series comeback far out of reach for the
Senators.
Game 4 was the opportunity for complete and utter revenge on the part
of the Penguins, to not only oust the opponent that did the same to
them the previous year, but to do so in a sweep. That is
exactly what they did. Winning game four by a final score of
3-1. The game was the closest in the series from many angles but
that wouldn’t be enough to actually hold off the barrage that is the
Pittsburgh Penguins offense right now. However, the biggest
surprise for most was the amazingly great play of the Pittsburgh
defense and goaltending these four games. Their defenseman held
the Sens to very few second chance shots, got the puck out of their
zone well, and even boxed men out in front of the net. What the
defense couldn’t do, Marc-Andre Fleury did. He helped move the
puck along the boards, kept his rebounds down, and made the key saves,
all things he didn’t do in the playoffs last year.
The Penguins finished the series outscoring the Senators 16-5, never
allowing a first period goal against them in the four games.
This was the first time the Penguins had swept a series since their
cup runs in the 1990’s.
The Penguins dominated this series, giving up the lead for a total of 4 minutes, 28 seconds, in 4 hockey games (240 minutes).
Below you will find my personal three stars of the series as well as a
rundown of each player and their production this series.
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Comments
TIM
Apr 16, 11:40 PM
Total domination in this series and I am very happy to see it. Fleury was probably the MVP of this series, but they are playing as a team. Thanks for the coverage Johnathan
Eric
Apr 17, 01:24 AM
The overall team balance was outstanding. Look at the point production, outstanding. Statistically, I don’t know if you can play better…
There is a lot to like about the way they handled the entire series. Even when the games were tied, they played like they were in the lead. Played with great confidence and consistency. If they continue, there is no reason they can’t go very deep.
The 2nd round won’t be easy, and it rarely is coming off a sweep. The next test for this team is to see how they can bounce back after a loss or a disappointing performance.
DaBich
Apr 17, 05:52 AM
Good job Jonathan. I’m thrilled with the Pens’ play this series. Bring on the next!
Head Coach Michel Therrien
Apr 17, 09:15 AM
De funeral in de Ottawa after de game was refreshing.
De player are all having fun but de were very focus on de objective in dis game.
Marc-Andre has been de goalie everyone say he could become. De role player are all contributing and de star are shining bright. And de Ryan Whitney play a very good game las’ night. No more complaints about him for perhap’ a week now!
I kid. Dis is joke, I know de fan jus’ want what de coaches want and de player want. That is best performance possible and dat is what we got las’ night.
Now we can get some needed rest for our player, but rest does not imply losing de edge we have. We will remain focus on our game and de ultimate goal.
De fan support is amazing and de player do rely upon it. So, do not waver. You must remain focus too.
Have fun. Enjoy de win, de confidence. But you mus’ remember de all important words of dis playoff.
Focus. Sacrifice.
I would also like to tank de staff and writer of the Faceoff of de Factor for de wonderful coverage of dis playoff. You all do amazing job. Your skill and dedication are wort’y of much praise. Clearly de staff here understand what it mean to focus and sacrifice.
De Senator are bury and gone,
Michel
Jonathan Farzalo
Apr 17, 10:24 AM
I think was surprised me most, AFTER the series was over, is the point totals. I knew Sidney and Malkin were playing well, but I think Marian Hossa has had the quietest 6 points in 4 games I’ve ever seen in the playoffs. Here is a guy who people, even up through last night, are calling a post season flop again this year, only 4 games in. Can these same people not see his 6 points? Can they not see his tremendous back pressure and forecheck? He can steal the puck from right under an opponents nose, it’s something to behold!
I know he was supposed to come here and light the lamp while playing with Sidney Crosby, but they are looking better and better each game they play, and he and Sid racked up 14 points in the series, and he has been VERY solid on both ends of the ice. All this while haunting the opposing coach, who must decide….put our number 1 defense against the Malkin/Sykora/Malone line, or against the Crosby/Hossa/Dupuis line. That’s what those two lines do for one another…they give the other, space.
DaBich
Apr 17, 11:26 AM
Jonathan, I agree with you on Hossa. I have to admit, tho, that I was disappointed he didn’t have more goals. But you know what? It doesn’t matter, because like Malone and Talbot and all the others who go out there game after game and do all the “little” things, he MAKES things happen. I’m also thrilled with Dupuis. Heck, the entire team is doing what must be done to win.
I hope they keep it up for the next series.
Ashley Gallant
Apr 17, 01:16 PM
The stats sheets are very telling. It says a lot about your team when your top scorer for most of the series is Mike Commodore (2 assists), or when two of the most talented forwards, Spezza and Heatley, combine for two assists. Compare that to Crosby and Malkin, who had a total of 4 goals and 11 assists. Unreal..
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