The Penguins Flyers series is 0-2 Pittsburgh, and there isn’t time for despair. There isn’t time to dwell. There isn’t time for Letang to find the fountain of youth. There is only time to win two games in Philadelphia. The Penguins are down 2-0. Game two, last night, showed a much better version of the Penguins as compared to the putrid performance in game 1. While the effort was better, it wasn’t good enough, and the result was the same. The team played better but could not muster even a single goal despite a great push at the start of the third period. The playoffs started and the team began to look exactly like the team everyone assumed them to be before the season began. It’s disgusting to have that happen during the playoffs, even more so when the Flyers are your first-round opponent. Every single player, except Stuart Skinner, in that room should be frustrated and embarrassed by the outcome of their first two home playoff games in four years.
It seems like Sullivan is back behind the bench. The team tried to go through the Flyers trap less than in game 1, but still too often for comfort. The power-play looked overly cavalier allowing more chances (and goals) against than offensive generation. The fourth line, maybe with good reason, seemed to be on the ice far too often. They dominated the deserve to win o-meter but lost. It’s like deja vu as we saw this script with Sully many times over the past few years.
None of the above matters though. Just find a way to win game 3. They make these series 7 games for a reason. This isn’t the first time a Crosby led team is down 2-0 in series, they were down 2-0 in a Stanley Cup final to the Red Wings and won the series. They can do it. They have to do it. It starts on Wednesday. They are the better team, but they need to play like they’re not. They need to come out on Wednesday and do literally whatever it takes to win a hockey game. Dump the puck and grind. Attack the net as if they’re John Wick after someone killed his dog. Score the greasiest, dirtiest, goals you have ever seen. Playoff hockey.
I am a broken man right now. I have no voice, I barely have a will to live, and nothing will feel right until the Penguins win a hockey game. However, I have belief in this team. Remember in December when they blew a million leads at home? The worst home-stand in Penguins history? The team got on the road and began to go nuclear, which ultimately led them back into the playoffs. That’s what they need right now. Sometimes the pressure of playing at home, especially when you haven’t done so in the playoffs for so long, can become too daunting. Maybe that’s what has happened to the Penguins. Maybe hearing the “Crosby sucks” chants will ignite the flame that is missing. Maybe Sid, or Muse, will stand up in the locker-room and look at Geno and say to the team “do you all really want this to be the last impression Kyle has of this season?” Find something to spark the interest in playing the right way. If that spark isn’t found there’s a chance the city of Pittsburgh just witnessed the last time Evgeni Malkin skated for their team on home ice. The same goes for Letang. I won’t even mention the real doomsday look at what that could mean if they both depart in the offseason. All empires fall eventually, but this one will not fall in this manner.
Not everything is doom and gloom. There are still games to be played. The Penguins have received very good goaltending. Truth be told, they possessed the puck for almost the entire game in game 2. One bad shift by Connor Clifton and one embarrassing effort by Novak/Letang on the power-play led to both Philadelphia goals. Each were essentially tap-ins. If the goaltending continues to perform well and the Penguins continue to dominate possession, they can win game three with ease. They need to actually hit the net with their shots rather than shooting off the mark over 20 times. They need to limit, or eliminate, the odd man chances against because it’s seemingly the only time Philadelphia is getting chances. The Flyers really haven’t enjoyed a legitimate offensive push, cut back on the dumb mistakes and you can easily beat this team. Dan Muse smartly reunited Sid with Rakell, and Chinakhov with Malkin, leave it that way. Get Brazeau back into the lineup. If you deem Soderblom worthy of a jersey than banish Dewar or Novak. Find a way to get Mantha more ice time. Change the power-play personnel or let Sid play in Geno’s place to limit the shorthanded chances against. Tactically these changes can be made, some already have been made, and it can turn the tides of this series. The Penguins have had several times this season where everyone thought they were dead in the water, this isn’t the first, so it’s time to do what they have done all year and prove everyone wrong.
Some actual takeaways are thrown in the above paragraphs, but none of them matter. Only Wednesday night matters, it matters more than the air filling all our lungs. Letang has been God awful, in this series and most of the year, but he has to find a way to be 2016 Kris on Wednesday. Crosby has been strangely held off the scoresheet against a team that has never stymied him before, he needs to find a way to dismantle his bitter rival one more time. Malkin has had two points, but has been feeding the opposition chances, he needs to gallop for his team like it’s 2009 one last time. If the big three cannot collectively find a way to elevate themselves it might just be the end of them together, don’t let the Flyers take that from you Pittsburgh. Karlsson, not a member of the big three, but is the reigning team MVP, is the only hall of famer on this team without a ring. On Wednesday he needs to play like a guy that doesn’t want his hall of fame induction to include only individual awards, play like the team MVP you were all season EK65. Bryan Rust has always shown up in big games, you have another one in front of you tomorrow, Rusty, go do what you have always done.
I am forever the optimist when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have been the most consistent, often times the best, team in this city since Mario Lemieux first put on the black and gold. My optimism will not wane. It seems dark right now, as maybe it should, but this group of Penguins can still win this series. It all starts on Wednesday, one win and you’re right back in it. Go into the Lion’s den not feeling like the prey, but rather show that a group of Penguins, playing together, are more powerful than any apex predator.
