Hmm, The Penguins Actually Play Hockey Too!
I know that it didn't really seem like it over the past couple of days, but the Penguins do actually play some hockey. What has also been lost in the shuffle is the fact that they are coming off of two very impressive victories against opponents that tend to give them headaches. The team played what was probably its best game of the season Tuesday night against the Hurricanes.
What has the team done differently during the past two games that they hadn't done prior? Well, let's start with penalty killing. The team is still taking too many penalties, twelve during the streak, but has killed them all off. Max Talbot, Jordan Staal, Sergei Gonchar, Josef Melichar and Rob Scuderi have led the way. I would also like to point out that Colby Armstrong may not be scoring like the team thought he would, but he has been playing a very responsible game and logging plenty of time on the PK.
The team has also been blocking shots at a break-neck pace, something that they had struggled with since Mark Eaton went down earlier in the season. Penguin players have blocked 40 shots in the past 2 games, an astonishing total. They have put together two of the finest defensive efforts I have seen in quite some time.
They are also finding ways to manufacture goals. Of course that is a bit easier with Sidney Crosby on your team, however Cam Ward played a whale of a game Tuesday and still lost 3-0. Aside from the Whitney deflection goal, I really think that he could have been one of the three stars. When you are finding ways to beat hot goaltenders, you are doing something right in the goal-scoring department. That exact situation is where the Penguins have lost 1-0 or 2-0 after an empty netter in the past. They didn't allow it to happen.
Great goaltending from Marc Andre Fleury is not being wasted. He has played two of the finest games of his career and allowed only 1 goal during the streak. The more confident MA gets, the harder he is to beat. Notice he isn't making that many highlight real saves either; he doesn't have to anymore. Gilles Meloche has worked long and hard to teach him to be in better position. If your entire body is in front of the puck, you do not have to make spectacular stops all of the time. The shooter ends up hitting you. I look for him to have a very strong second half.
The Penguins will face a very tough test over the weekend. They have to travel to Buffalo tonight to meet the Sabres, who have given the Penguins fits over the past couple seasons. Not to mention, they are the beasts of the east this year. They will then head into a home and home series against the Tampa Bay Lightning beginning Sunday in Pittsburgh. You all know that Vinny will get his points in those two games, he always does! When the Penguins thought they were going to hold him off of the board in an earlier match up this season, all he did was steal the puck in OT and score the game winner on a break away.
All of the things I mentioned above will have to stay consistent for the team to pick up these 6 points. A win tonight will get them on the right track.
*****
Do not forget the Save the Pens rally happening outside Gate 1 at Mellon Arena Sunday afternoon. It begins at 3:00pm prior to the game against the Lightning. Come out and support your Pittsburgh Penguins...if you need extra incentive, it is also Evgeni Malkin Bobblehead night!
What has the team done differently during the past two games that they hadn't done prior? Well, let's start with penalty killing. The team is still taking too many penalties, twelve during the streak, but has killed them all off. Max Talbot, Jordan Staal, Sergei Gonchar, Josef Melichar and Rob Scuderi have led the way. I would also like to point out that Colby Armstrong may not be scoring like the team thought he would, but he has been playing a very responsible game and logging plenty of time on the PK.
The team has also been blocking shots at a break-neck pace, something that they had struggled with since Mark Eaton went down earlier in the season. Penguin players have blocked 40 shots in the past 2 games, an astonishing total. They have put together two of the finest defensive efforts I have seen in quite some time.
They are also finding ways to manufacture goals. Of course that is a bit easier with Sidney Crosby on your team, however Cam Ward played a whale of a game Tuesday and still lost 3-0. Aside from the Whitney deflection goal, I really think that he could have been one of the three stars. When you are finding ways to beat hot goaltenders, you are doing something right in the goal-scoring department. That exact situation is where the Penguins have lost 1-0 or 2-0 after an empty netter in the past. They didn't allow it to happen.
Great goaltending from Marc Andre Fleury is not being wasted. He has played two of the finest games of his career and allowed only 1 goal during the streak. The more confident MA gets, the harder he is to beat. Notice he isn't making that many highlight real saves either; he doesn't have to anymore. Gilles Meloche has worked long and hard to teach him to be in better position. If your entire body is in front of the puck, you do not have to make spectacular stops all of the time. The shooter ends up hitting you. I look for him to have a very strong second half.
The Penguins will face a very tough test over the weekend. They have to travel to Buffalo tonight to meet the Sabres, who have given the Penguins fits over the past couple seasons. Not to mention, they are the beasts of the east this year. They will then head into a home and home series against the Tampa Bay Lightning beginning Sunday in Pittsburgh. You all know that Vinny will get his points in those two games, he always does! When the Penguins thought they were going to hold him off of the board in an earlier match up this season, all he did was steal the puck in OT and score the game winner on a break away.
All of the things I mentioned above will have to stay consistent for the team to pick up these 6 points. A win tonight will get them on the right track.
*****
Do not forget the Save the Pens rally happening outside Gate 1 at Mellon Arena Sunday afternoon. It begins at 3:00pm prior to the game against the Lightning. Come out and support your Pittsburgh Penguins...if you need extra incentive, it is also Evgeni Malkin Bobblehead night!
posted by Bmetzer66 at 3:47 PM
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