The Penguins’ Guentzel to the rescue again!

The Washington Capitals dominated our Pittsburgh Penguins last night in pretty much every department except on the scoreboard. They out hit our Penguins 44 to 24. They won 57% of the face-offs. And they out-shot the Penguins 34 – 25 (shot attempts were even more lopsided 72 – 50). Unfortunately for the Capitals, but fortunately for Penguins, Jake Guentzel came to the rescue and the Penguins topped the Capitals in the only stat that counts, goals.

After the 1st 17 seconds of the game I was ready believe the Penguins would be in for a long night. Kris Letang totally misplayed a 2-on-1, completely committing himself to covering Alex Ovechkin along the boards, at the Penguins’ blue-line and leaving Evgeny Kuznetsov wide open and all alone down the center of the ice. The Capital sniper wasted little time ripping the puck over Matt Murray’s glove.

The Penguins’ Defense stiffened to some extent and Murray settled down. Although the Capitals were still getting a lot of shot attempts, the Defense limited the Capitals to just 16 shots over the 1st 2-periods and when the Penguins’ “D” did leave Capitals’ shooters with open shots, Murray was there with a couple of incredible blocker saves and a kick save from point blank range. My wife started to really worry and left the room, believing that the Penguins wouldn’t start their comeback until she left the room.

After 28 seconds into the 3rd period Ovechkin converted another 2 on 1 with the usual suspects on the ice for the Penguins. Unlike Letang in the opening frame, Brian Dumoulin played the 2-on-1 a little better. He took away the passing lane and left the shooter to Murray, but Ovechkin, one of the highest scoring forwards over the last 10 years showed everyone why; he ripped a wrist shot over Murray’s glove. Maybe the Penguins would be better off not starting Letang on the opening face-off of the game or any period. Although they were able to overcome the 2 quick goals the Capitals scored, It’s not a good idea to put yourself behind the 8-ball so quickly into a period.

It was then that Guentzel and the Penguins’ captain, Sidney Crosby, went to work. Guentzel whipped a point-to-point pass to Justin Schultz who wristed the puck on net as he drifted toward the right wing boards. Patric Hornqvist got a stick on the shot and deflected it passed Brian Holtby and the Penguins were back into the game.

Then Hornqvist and Guentzel teamed up again, this time to set up Crosby for the Goal. Hornqvist one-touched a pass to Guentzel just inside the Capitals blue-line off of a Dumoulin lead pass. Guentzel pulled up and angled a long cross ice pass past 3 Capitals’ defenders to Crosby streaking down the Right Wing. Crosby finished the play off with a quick wrist shot and the Penguins were tied.

Guentzel then completed his rally with the help of Crosby and Hornqvist (even though Hornqvist didn’t get an assist). Olli Maatta dumped the puck into the Left Wing corner. Hornqvist and Guentzel went in hard on the fore-check forcing Holtby to move the puck quickly and give it away to Crosby. Crosby whipped the puck back toward the net as Guentzel circled back in front of the net to deflect it passed Holtby, and complete the comeback win.

Guentzel’s 4 goal and 1 assist performance in the game 6 comeback win against the Flyers was a real gem. Just 1 game later Guentzel lead the team back from the brink again picking up 1 goal and 2 assists. Playoffs are a time for heroes. As a rookie, Guentzel showed his playoff mettle last year. This year he is taking it to another level pacing the league in scoring at the moment and possible giving notice that the Penguins have more fire-power than just Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel.

It takes 4 wins to win a series, not 1 and there is a lot of hockey still to be played. I probably won’t stop worrying until win 16 but despite some holes that still need filled our Penguins are 1 win closer.

3elieve!!

Odds and Sods

Our Baby Penguins down in Wilkes-Barre Scranton (WBS) bowed out of the AHL playoffs. The Charlotte Checkers swept them winning game 3 last night 7 – 3. Charlotte notched 2 empty net goals as the Baby Penguins fought desperately to get back into the game. The big Center that I have been interested in Anthony Angello potted 2 of the 3 Penguins’ goals and was a +1 for the game. Teddy Blueger picked up 2 assists and Adam Johnson notched the other Penguin’s goal. Tristan Jarry gave up 5 goals on 30 shots in the losing effort.

Angello wasn’t the only late season addition to the WBS roster to shine last night. Another new comer to the Baby Peguins Niclas Almari, (6’-2”, 181lb, left handed Finish Defenseman, 5th round pick from 2016 draft) had a good night in the losing cause. Almari had 1 assist and was a +3.

Speaking of late season additions to WBS, Sam Lafferty, center and 4th round pick from the 2014 draft, who was recently signed to a 2-year entry level contract was released this week to make room for Linus Olund. Olund is a Swedish Center drafted in the 5th round of the 2017 draft. Lafferty had 1 goal and 2 assist in 9 regular season games for WBS but did not appear in any playoff games. Olund didn’t join the team in time to get into any games. He was signed after game 2 of the Charlotte series.

It will be interesting to see who will be called up as black aces this year.

Former Penguin Greg McKegg picked up one of the Checkers’ goals giving him 1 goal and 4 assists and was a +5 in the 3 game series to pace Charlotte scores. The player the Penguins traded McKegg for, Josh Jooris had 1 assist and was a -6.