Penguins Flyers Game 1 playoffs the team oozing with playoff experience and veterans looked like the moment was overwhelming in game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Truth be told, I am not necessarily shocked about the outcome of the game. The Flyers were the hotter team coming into the game seemingly playing playoff hockey for months now just to get into a playoff spot. On the other hand, the Penguins have had a few weeks with their spot locked in. Being locked in for so long with nothing to play for saw the Penguins rest half of their lineup for the past two weeks and thus made them fall out of sync. While for the fans this season has largely felt like house money due to expectations, the issue is that it is definitely not that feeling within the locker room. The players wanted this so bad, it was all Sid talked about, Geno too. They wanted their last dance; they wanted to be back here so badly that they gripped their sticks too hard in the first game.
The Penguins played one of their worst games in months and there isn’t much else to say about their performance. The Penguins skated tirelessly into the trap that was being set in the neutral zone. They got away from their game and reverted back to all-star hockey like Bylsma was back behind the bench. A different Dan is leading this team now and I am confident he will put this team in a position to get back on track tonight. The biggest tactical change that the Penguins can make is simply dumping the puck deep and going to work. In the few instances where the Penguins actually did this in game 1, they found success and extended zone time. The Flyers collapse defensively and struggle breaking it out of the zone whenever you pressure them on your entries. The Penguins are the tougher, bigger, and more skilled team but need to rely on the first two attributes to change the dynamic of the series.
I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom. The Penguins played some terrible hockey and were saved by Stu Skinner. One worry is that you wasted a great performance by your goaltender. However, the flip side, the fact you got great goaltending is a very good sign. The other good sign is the fact the Flyers only scored three goals, and only one came from the stick of a forward. The Flyers don’t possess a deep offensive group that can score with the Penguins. It would be hard for the Penguins to play a game as poorly as they did in game 1. Now, you have the opportunity to send the Flyers home not feeling so good about themselves if they lose game 2. Winning game 1 with that performance could have convinced the players they could get away with a lethargic performance against their opponent. Conversely, it could have demoralized the Flyers if they had lost that game. All and all, I believe the fact they had a chance to tie the game in the dying seconds, with such a poor performance, shows this team if they play the way they’re capable they can win this series. Win tonight and everything feels a lot better.
One thing that was surprising was how easily the big guys were drawn into losing their minds. The Flyers weren’t doing anything too scumbag like in this game, and it was the Penguins trying to turn the game into an old school rough n’ rowdy. Sid and Geno were the two largest culprits. I thought for a while that Geno was going to take one of the dumbest penalties we have ever seen with the way he was seeking out contact any chance he could. The Penguins got lucky this wasn’t the case even after a myriad of Flyers pestered him near the bench and his stick inadvertently struck someone on the Flyers bench. Sid uncharacteristically let the Flyers get under his skin quickly. He would be wiser to shut them up on the scoreboard, as he usually does, rather than engage in slash battles on the half walls. The Penguins as a whole have shown the ability to throw bodies around this season when they are in their own flow. On Saturday night, they searched for those opportunities and were punished for trying. The Flyers got the better of the physical play because the Penguins were not playing within themselves. If the Penguins reestablish their game, the physical part of the game will also start to tilt in their favor. All and all, the biggest thing is the Penguins getting back to the style of game that got them to this point.
In a game where the Penguins sucked they only lost by one, as previously mentioned. Malkin, much like Sid, typically finds a way to get points against Philadelphia. He gave the team, and the home fans, some life in the second period when he tied the game at one.
Rust scored with about a minute left to get the Penguins within one. Yet another player they have at their disposal that shows up in big moments.
Nothing pretty about either of those goals. They threw pucks at the net and gathered rebounds. The Flyers are going to collapse to their net hard making it difficult to adjust to a puck that bounces back in front of the net. That was the common theme for both goals and hopefully the Penguins learn from that and take a shooting mentality into game 2. Plus, Vladar has been pretty good the last couple of months so it’s easier to beat him off rebounds rather than getting one by him cleanly.
Everyone freaks out after any loss in the playoffs. The players won’t panic; they’ve been here before. Look for the Penguins to get their wings back tonight whenever they faceoff for game 2.
