Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Pennsylvania versus West New Jersey!

By: MF, 

It's another rivalry night at Consol as the Pittsburgh Penguins go into battle against the Philadelphia Flyers. When these two teams come together, it's never a friendly meeting. The Penguins are looking to get closer to locking up a playoff berth, while the Flyers have been officially eliminated from the playoffs. Tonight will be another tough and dirty game, hopefully the Penguins come out with the win and two much needed points.

The Penguins have to stick to their game and get on the board. The Flyers get an edge on the Penguins when they take them off track. They have to stay focused and try to stay out of the box. Evgeni Malkin has points in 25 of his last 29 games against the Flyers. He does well when he doesn't like the Flyers get under his skin. The Penguins will have to engage every line on every shift to keep the Flyers on their heels. Daniel Winnik has four points in his last five games, but that is in large part to playing on the first line with Sidney Crosby. Another key is the fourth line centered by Maxim Lapierre, who won 13 of 14 faceoffs during last Sunday's game against the San Jose Sharks. He also had 4:22 minutes of shorthanded time, which was his second-highest total this season.

A big focus tonight for the Flyers will be the Penguins defense, which is down to only five guys. The defense has to step up with a man down. All the guys minutes jumped up during last Sunday's game by almost nine minutes each, give or take a guy. Ian Cole was able to establish a new career high with his 12th point of the season (five goals and seven assists). A young guy stepping up for the Penguins and gaining confidence with every game, that guy is Derrick Pouliot. Four of Pouliots seven career goals have come on the power-play. He is ranked third with a 2:24 power-play, time-on-ice per game among rookie defensemen.


The Penguins will have to come out ready and with speed to start this game. They have to get on the board early and not engage in the Flyers side-business. If they can stay focused and keep to their systems, they will get the two points! Lets Go Pens!

Injury update: No news on Kris Letang. Christian Ehrhoff skated during the morning skate. Malkin will be out of the lineup tonight due to an injury. 

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Winnik, Crosby, Hornqvist
Kunitz, Sutter, Comeau
Perron, Spaling, Downie
Bennett, Lapierre, Adams

Defense
Martin
Pouliot, Lovejoy
Scuderi, Cole

Fleury in the net!

Play By Play
Pens 1 Flyers 4

3rd Period
0:00- That is it for this game. The Pens fall to the Flyers 4-1. Definitely missing Letang and Malkin. They have two days to rest and regroup.

1:36- Fleury makes a save on Giroux.

3:39- The Pens are having a difficult time transiting out of their zone. Letang helped with that...missing him big time.

5:06- The Pens have had a couple of chances on net, but they are lacking energy/fight in this game.

14:26- Colaiacovo Scores. Fleury makes two big saves, but the Pens are unable to clear the puck. Colaiacovo fires one over the shoulder of Fleury through traffic. 4-1 Flyers.

14:37- Kunitz and Rinaldo are released from their prisons.

14:49- Crosby backhands one that goes off Mason.

16:37- Some 4 on 4 hockey time as Rinaldo and Kunitz sit in the box.

19:05- B. Schenn Scores on the power-play. Voracek passes across the ice to B. Schenn, who is at the side of the net behind Lovejoy. Fleury has no chance as Schenn directs the puck in. 3-1 Flyers.

19:50- Martin is on the bench to start this period and looks to be fine.

20:00- 20 minutes of regulation left to go! The Pens have to start peppering Mason with shots and drive to the net! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00- Second period ends and the Flyers lead 2-1.

0:01- Martin takes a shot to the helmet as the period ends. He skates away and looks to be fine. Hope he is ok.

1:03- Downie sits again, this time for tripping.

1:58- Mark that down as another successful penalty kill for the Pens.

3:58- Perron will now keep the sin bin's seat warm as he is called for interference. Flyers to the power-play.

4:19- Crosby fires a high rising shot that goes off the corner of the goal.

7:17- B. Schenn scores. The Flyers come in three strong, the puck bounces around. Schenn finds the puck as he drives down the center. He rifles one into the net. 2-1 Flyers.

8:01- The Pens crash the net, but just can't get the puck behind Mason.

8:45- Chris "The Tank" Kunitz lays a punishing hit on Schultz and the plexi-glass can't handle it. The glass pops out and the crew gets to work on fixing it.

11:11- Huge penalty kill for the Pens. Fleury was sharped and Scuderi laid down his body to block shots.

13:11- Downie is sent to the box for roughing. It was nowhere near a penalty, but he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt on calls. Penalty killers come over the boards for the Pens.

14:10- Penalty time is up and Sutter is set free. Great penalty kill by the Pens, didn't give the Flyers a chance to set-up.

16:10- Sutter throws the puck over the glass in the defensive zone. He gets a delay of game penalty and the Flyers get a power-play opportunity.

16:36- The Pens power-play comes to an end. Way too many passes on that one.

18:36- Power-play time for the Pens. Winnik draws a slashing penalty on Schultz.

19:25- Kunitz is robbed by Mason!

20:00- We are back for the second period! The Pens have to come out with more speed and get back in the lead! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00- First period comes to an end and this game is all tied up at one.

0:48- The last few minutes have been in the Flyers favor. Fleury has been sharped and kept them in this one.

2:43- Lacavalier Scores. Lacavalier pushes Spaling off the faceoff to win it. Bellemare finds Lacavalier at center and he puts it in. 1-1 tie game.

4:09- The Pens kill off the Flyers' power-play. Fleury made two amazing saves on the penalty kill and held down the fort.

6:09- Spaling takes a seat in the box for cross-checking and the Pens bring out their penalty killers.

8:29- The Pens first line throws the puck on net a few times, Mason is up to the task. Great offensive zone time for them.

9:31- The Flyers are able to kill off the Pens power-play.

11:31- Time for a Pens power-play as Rinaldo skates to the box for tripping.

13:42- Fleury has made a few solid saves to start this game.

16:18- CROSBY SCORES HIS 300TH CAREER GOAL! Cole fires from the point and Crosby picks up the loose puck to put it past Mason! 1-0 Pens!

17:49- Cole fires a shot from the point and the Pens crash. Flyers clear and end up icing the puck.

18:13- Crosby sends a pass to Hornqivst, who goes up to Winnik. Winnik pushes the puck wide of the net!

20:00- The puck has dropped at Consol! Time to buckle up and get ready for this one! The Pens have to stay focus and get on the Flyers early! Lets Go Pens! 

No comments:

Post a Comment