Faceoff Factor

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.