Pens Win 3-2 in OT - Win Series 4-1

Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins

May 4, 04:33 PM | Hype this story!
1 2 3 OT Tot.
0 0 2 0 2
 
Tot. 1 2 3 OT
3 0 2 0 1
 
Series: Penguins (4) – Rangers (1) – Penguins win Series
 
Summary

After blowing a 2-goal lead to start the 3rd period, as well as failing to convert on a powerplay to begin overtime, the Pittsburgh Penguins sealed the deal and are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Penguins could not beat Henrik Lundqvist in game 4, and it looked like they may be in for more of the same after the first period of play.  However, eventually Marian Hossa took a beautiful passing play Ryan Malone and Sidney Crosby and hit the back of the net, hopefully showing his doubters that he is not a choker come playoff time.  Then, 4 minutes later Evgeni Malkin stormed through the neutral zone and into the Rangers end, was held up, and eventually threw a backhander up and over Lundqvist to make it 2-0.  The Penguins almost seemed to ease up after that, perhaps thinking that they had it in the bag.  

Poor judgment…lack of killer-instinct…and never-give-up play by the Rangers led to New York getting 2 quick goals to start the third, thrusting the momentum their way, and putting a little doubt in the Penguins and the fans at the arena.

The score stayed 2-2 for the remainder of the 3rd period, but that was mostly due to many outstanding stops by Henrik Lundqvist, especially when the Penguins were awarded a 4 minute powerplay towards the final minute of play.  The Pens failed to convert, but the time extended into overtime, yet once again, the Rangers penalty killers came up huge.

With the game on the line in overtime, Sidney Crosby carried the puck across the blueline and shovel-dumped it over to Pascal Dupuis who returned it to Crosby.  Sidney then tried to feed Marian Hossa in the slot, but the puck took a bounce off a skate, luckily for Hossa it landed right on his stick.  He fired a shot, and it went 5-hole on Lundqvist—ending the game…and the series in dramatic fashion.

 
Three Stars
# Player Team Pos. Stats
1 Marian Hossa PIT W 2 Goals
2 Evgeni Malkin PIT C 1 Goal
3 Henrik Lundqvist NYR G 37 Saves
 
Stat Line
  Shots Faceoffs Power Plays
  1 2 3 OT Total Won Lost Converted Total
Pittsburgh 10 17 7 6 40 25 25 1 6
NY Rags 7 4 11 0 22 25 25 0 4
 
Scoring Summary
Per. Time Team Goal Assist Assist
1 -
2 08:45
12:40		 PIT
PIT		 Marian Hossa
Evgeni Malkin		 Malone
Letang		 Crosby
Whitney
3 02:03
03:25		 NYR
NYR		 Lauri Korpikoski
Nigel Dawes		 Rozsival
Gomez		 Drury
Callahan
OT 07:10 PIT Marian Hossa Crosby Dupuis
 
Penalty Summary
Per.
Team Penalty Time Player
1
 NY Rangers hooking – 2 min 6:37, J. Jagr
 Pittsburgh holding – 2 min 12:57, J. Ruutu
 Pittsburgh interference – 2 min 17:23, E. Malkin
2
 NY Rangers hooking – 2 min 2:16, J. Jagr
 Pittsburgh slashing – 2 min 5:15, G. Laraque
 NY Rangers tripping – 2 min 7:50, M. Rozsival
 NY Rangers hooking – 2 min 8:55, M. Rozsival
 Pittsburgh holding – 2 min 13:21, J. Staal
 NY Rangers hooking – 2 min 17:02, M. Rozsival
3
NY Rangers high sticking – 4 min 18:42, C. Drury

Comments

  1. TIM

    May 4, 04:42 PM

    What a win. Edge of my seat the whole game. Big Big finals series. Let’s Go Pens!

  2. DaBich

    May 4, 04:47 PM

    OMG! I was freaking out…what a wonderful win!!!
    Good to see the guys stick together.

  3. Eric Politowski

    May 4, 06:35 PM

    Hossa dominated this game.

    What a player.

  4. Tom

    May 4, 07:04 PM

    Jonathan, A well played defensive game excepting a two minute lapse in the third period. In Mike Adams absence:

    Offense A: The Pens peppered Lundqvist with good shots. The scord ought to have been 8 or 9 to 2.

    Defense A-: The lapse in the third period almost cost the Pens the game. The first goal (Korpikoski)was not Whitney’s fault and the deflection off his skate was merely fortuitous. It came when a fast pass to him caught him alone as Letang had just followed his shot to the goal. The Dawes goal merely caught our defensive pair (Orpik and Gonchar) a bit flat footed. However, excepting a two goal lapse, the defense played well.

    PP B: Lots of shots, but a failure to score on the four minute PP at the end of regulation and into overtime was not impressive.

    PK A+: No shots by the Rags. Staal and Gill were outstanding as was Malone.

    Goaltender A-: Should have stopped Dawes shot, could not have anticipated the deflection on Korpikoski’s.

    Individuals:

    Malkin A: Great effort and physical play.

    Crosby A-: Good effort, great passing and stickhandling. I don’t believe his ankle bothered him.

    Staal A-: An A+ without the penalty. You could see how much he is missed on the PK when he is in the box.

    Roberts B+: Good hitting, not great puck handling or shooting — perhaps he is a bit rusty.

    Malone A: Good all around play with intensity. Nice high stick on Drury. How did he not get called? Gotta keep this guy.

    Hossa A+: Now we know why we got this guy. Great all around play and 2 goals including the game winner. He is worth the $.

    Gill A: Great job on Puff Nuts.

    Orpik A: Even better job on Puff Nuts.

    Letang B: Great all around game and a good exit pass on his assist. However, he got caught in the offensive end during the first goal and couldnt get back soon enough to save Whitney and Flower.

    Lundqvist A: A great performance, stopping shot after shot, many times in quick succession.

    Icehole: Puff Nuts. Hit him and he whines and shuts down. This is probably the last chance to rate his performance. He has been a great player despite all the negative aspects to his carreer.

    Mike: Come back soon I thoroughly enjoy your grades.

  5. DaBich

    May 5, 04:56 AM

    “Letang B: Great all around game and a good exit pass on his assist. However, he got caught in the offensive end during the first goal and couldnt get back soon enough to save Whitney and Flower.”
    Why does he HAVE to save Whitney and Flower, can’t they do their own jobs? LOL!

  6. Tom

    May 5, 01:21 PM

    Dabich, Letang had to save Whitney because he could not save himself. The deflection resulted from Whitney being alone and fearing a pass to another Ranger player whom he would also have to cover. He had position on Korpikoski but could not approach and commit to him because he might have passed to another shooter approaching the net. The shot got by Flower because it deflected off of Whitney’s skate and became undefendable. Had Letang been back, theoretically Whitney would be free to agressively engage Korpikoski (LOL) and either check him, check his stick or relieve him of the puck with no worry about a pass to another Ranger.

Commenting is closed for this article.