The Penguins Aren't Playing Playoff Hockey
Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins
Apr 24, 12:19 PM | Hype this story!
Last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins had a chance to clinch their first round series against the rival Flyers and move on for a second round dance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Instead, they came out with a performance as spotty as FSN Pittsburgh’s coverage of the game.
After two straight playoff appearances, included last year’s elongated trip to the Stanley Cup final, we should all be accustomed to a playoff style atmosphere. The players are ramped up, the crowd is intense, and the play is aggressive and physical.
Last night, none of the above occurred. Okay, granted, I’m willing to give the first period to the Penguins, but first periods don’t win hockey games. The full sixty-minute efforts that the Penguins were plugging into games once interim head coach Dan Bylsma took over seem to be a thing of the past.
The only bright spot of the game offensively was the continued emergence of the third line. Cooke, Staal and Kennedy have perfected the art of the cycle. They’ve kept the puck moving, they’ve kept the Flyers defense on their heels, and they’ve found the ability to generate shots on goal from the around the circles and in the slot.
Perhaps the third line could run a clinic at practice today teaching the other lines how to produce results in that manner.
With about 12:00 on the clock, down 2 goals, the top two lines did the Flyers a huge favor: they burned extra time off the clock.
The puck would enter the zone, get cycled for thirty seconds with no semblance of a scoring chance or shot on goal created, only to then be cleared by the Flyers. Shift after shift, the Penguins shot themselves in the foot with lackluster play in the corners. It was as if they were playing keep away from themselves.
Now, with a 3-2 series lead, the Penguins head back to Philadelphia, a city which has given the fans in Pittsburgh a shameful reputation. Trust me; it isn’t the acoustics in Mellon Arena that stink, it’s been the crowds. I walked away from Games 1 and 2 relatively disappointed with the excitement and noise. Last night, during a decisive Game 5 of a rivalry series in which the Penguins were enjoying a nearly miraculous playoff berth, the crowd in Pittsburgh keeled over and played dead. The players followed suit.
The series is certainly far from over, but if the Penguins lose in Philly, they’ll have dug themselves a hole that might be too deep to get out of. The Penguins were dismantled in Game 3, and saved by an unreal performance by Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 4. Philadelphia, driven by their intense crowd, has not be kind to the Penguins.
The intensity that the Penguins had brought for this series disappeared with Bill Guerin’s overtime game-winning goal in Game 2. The tone that Chris Kunitz had set fifteen seconds into game one when he injured Kimmo Timonen in the boards is all but a forgotten memory now.
The slow and uninspired play put forth by the Penguins is playing right into the hands of the Flyers trap.
Let’s hope that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have a switch that they’re ready to flip for Game 6, because right now, the hull has a hole in it, and one more blow from the Flyers could put this ship underwater.
Comments
Nathan
Apr 24, 01:26 PM
On point with pretty much everything you’ve said.
Very dissapointed in the crowd, after that dissallowed goal, they need to step it up and give the Penguins a jolt. Everyone seemed to lay down after that. There was only a smattering of cheers after hits and clears.
THE PENGUINS NEED TO START PLAYING PLAYOFF/PENGUIN HOCKEY!
Stoosh
Apr 24, 04:56 PM
Guerin and Kunitz have combined for 2 goals and 2 assists in five games. Even worse, Fedotenko, Sykora and now Satan have all taken shifts with Malkin. Their combined production over five games? One assist (Fedotenko).
Those numbers, combined with the fact that the Pens still have a three-games-to-two lead, underscore the following:
1. just how much Crosby and Malkin are STILL asked to do on their own,
2. how effective the third line has been in terms of playing their game AND generating offensive production, and
3. how good Fleury has had to be at times, thanks to the overall lack of goal support coming from the top two lines.
Add to this a powerplay that plays far too often on the perimeters and seems to be having problems getting pucks to the net, and it’s almost a miracle that the Pens are up in this series.
It’s not that the Pens aren’t doing things well…they are. The PK has been awesome. The third line has been as good as could reasonably be expected. And the Pens have done a good job shutting down Philly’s top-line depth. In light of all that, it’s unfortunate that they haven’t been able to take full advantage of those things.
Bruce
Apr 24, 05:03 PM
The coach, once again is doing nothing to adjust to the changing game. The most effective line is the STAAL line, if Kennedy buries that rap around everything else changes. For the coach to keep playing Malkin/crosby as the solution shows a lack of understanding of the situation. The PP is terrible, they should have two 1 minute units with both Malkin and Staal centering them, let Crosby watch, he is not the player he was for what ever reason. The team goals are more important than his goals. But that won’t happen, we may win this series but not the cup, sorry to say
Matt Bodenschatz
Apr 24, 05:21 PM
@Bruce, you’re seriously suggesting sitting Crosby on the power play? This is the same as not shooting Crosby in a shootout. I’d rather see the Penguins lose while playing their best players than lose because they don’t play their best players.
There are only so many changes that can/should be made. At some point, the players just need to play better. And let’s not forget, as Stoosh pointed out, the Penguins remain ahead 3-2 in the series.
Brad
Apr 24, 05:25 PM
The lazy effort of their power play has spilled over into the 5 on 5 play as well. The Pens are simply being out worked by Philly. The next game is Sat @ 3:00 PM too. Every afternoon game this season has made me wonder if they had their skates on the wrong feet. Looks like there will be a game 7
Bruce
Apr 24, 06:10 PM
i am sugesting that performance dictates ice time, Sid just is not the same palyer he was, maybe less talking to the media, I dont know but how effective has he been? what he skates he’s great, but these drop passes to no one? east west does not win the cup
Ben Schmidt
Apr 24, 07:13 PM
One thing I noticed at last night’s game that had not been true when the Pens have been playing well: Crosby and Malkin are trying to do everything themselves. Instead of making use of their teammates, they’re trying to beat three or four opposing players and get to the net, which, of course, the Flyers aren’t letting them do. I think they’re feeling the pressure of being the big stars, but they need to take a step back, and realize that they simply can’t do everything themselves in the playoffs.
Frankly, I’d wager that this behavior is part of the reason their wings haven’t been putting up too many points. They can’t get points if they’re never given the puck, after all.
Gerard
Apr 24, 07:19 PM
Jonhn Stevens outmatch Dan Byslma
Jihlava
Apr 24, 08:26 PM
Really miss Ryan Malone this series….
Gerard
Apr 24, 10:25 PM
miss Therrien more
TIM
Apr 25, 12:54 AM
What?! If Therrien is the coach they don’t make the playoffs so pick your poison. I would rather be in the playoffs
Gerard
Apr 25, 02:16 AM
They fire Therrien and then Being Guerin , Adams ,and Kunitz
no doubt why those players ,Therrien will have the Flyers golfing by now
Pens1967
Apr 25, 04:09 PM
Since Therrien is still being paid by the Pens under his contract, they could probably bring him back to coach if they wanted.
Maybe the threat of HCMT becoming that again would inspire them to better hockey! LOL!
Gerard
Apr 25, 08:01 PM
LoL ! and they would look stupid
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