Penguins Need A Positive Push

With a chance to take a stranglehold in this series and 20 minutes to play in Game 4, the Penguins lost their way.  A stat that is often looked at in the NHL is the team’s record when leading or trailing after the second period.  Trailing after two, the Canadiens were 4-29 this season and 0-2 during the playoffs.  Leading after two periods, the Penguins were 28-5 this year and 3-0 this post-season.  (Another reason to be upset by the loss of this game.)  It is highly unlikely that this will happen again.  I know the only stat that matters is the series is now tied at two.  The fact of the matter is, the Penguins, except for a few short lapses, have totally outplayed the Canadiens.  After being outshot in Game One (a game the Pens also really dominated) and over the seven period span from period 2 in Game 2 until that fateful third period in Game 4, the Penguins had outshot the Canadiens 81-33.  (In fact the second period totals for those games was 42-9.) 

In my last post, I wrote about the positive nature of Coach Bylsma and his ability to keep his players focused and in a solid frame of mind.  I would like to ask all PenguinPoop blog readers to be Dan Bylsma for a minute — Make a positive statement to the players in the comment section as to why they will win Game 5 and go on to win the series.  Click on the Comment Section and post your quote.  Let’s help push the Pens toward victory!   That’s the view from E-11.

Note — The behavior of the Canadien fans is deplorable.  The way that they react every time a Canadien takes a dive by begging the refs for calls is not the way that the self-proclaimed ‘most knowledgeable fans in the game’ should behave.  Their booing of Crosby is CLASSLESS. 

Note — Star players win big games.  The Penguin stars will shine in Game 5.