Faceoff Factor

Welcome To Game Seven

Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins

May 12, 01:37 PM | Hype this story!

If you look back at the playoff history of the Penguins over the course of the last two years, there’s one recurring theme in each series the Penguins have participated in.

It might not be on the front page of every newspaper, you might not even think twice when it happens, but its there, and it could be waiting for us on Wednesday.

To find the start of the trend, we have to travel back to April 14, 2007.

The Penguins had just come off of a brutal playoff baptism by fire; a 6-3 loss at the hands of the Senators in Ottawa in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

I don’t need to remind you that the Penguins lost the series 4-1. But what happened in game 2would set the stage for many performances to come.

Game 2 wasn’t about the Senators; it was about Marc-Andre Fleury. With 13.1 seconds remaining on the clock, Mike Fisher had a wide open chance in the slot.

The Penguins were clinging to a 4-3 lead after getting outshot 19-5 in the second period and finding themselves under siege for most of the game. Fleury robbed Fisher; the Penguins won their first playoff game with their core group.

Take a glance back at last season at that thrilling 3 OT game winner by Petr Sykora. That goal doesn’t go in if Marc-Andre Fleury doesn’t put in a stellar performance whilst facing 58 shots on goal.

Think back to a couple of weeks ago when the Penguins came out flat against the Flyers in Game 4 of the first round yet managed to earn a victory thanks to the efforts of, you guessed it, Marc-Andre Fleury.

Fleury just has a penchant for stealing a game in each series he’s participated in.

Staring down a game seven in Washington on Wednesday, the time is now for Fleury to steal his game. He has yet to do so against Washington thus far. In fact, he’s looked downright underwhelming at times.

Fleury has gotten beat cleanly on some amazing shots by Backstrom, Kozlov and, obviously, Alex Ovechkin. He’s made some sparkling saves, but hasn’t had the consistent effort needed to really nab a game himself. With Alex Semin taking more dives than shots on goal, Fleury has the opportunity to step in and be amazing.

With the stage set in Washington, we can only hope history repeats itself. Not just in the sense of Fleury stealing his one game, but the history of the Penguins coming out on top of a playoff series against the Capitals after early adversity.