Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The Penguins have infiltrated the Capital

By: MF,

Tonight’s Pittsburgh Penguins at the Washington Capitals game is the Wednesday Night Rivalry Night matchup for NBC. The Penguins face off against a Capitals team that is on fire as they have won five straight. It will be a tough game for the struggling Pens, who are looking to gain more consistency and scoring, especially on the power play. This will be the first divisional game for the Pens and a critical one.

The Capitals return home tonight after a three-game road swing in which they outscored their opponents 16-3. They have the top-ranked offense in the National Hockey League that averages over four games per game.

The Penguins will have to come out with an entirely different approach than previous games. The defense will have to step up and keep the front of the net clear for Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been a solid consistent for the team and now the rest of the team has to step it up. The forwards have to create more offense and keep the puck in the offensive zone to give Fleury a break during the game. Fleury expect for Vancouver Canucks’ Ryan Miller have played eight games in a row to start this season.

An enormous problem that has plagued the team is the power play, which has been MIA. The opponents do a better job on the penalty kill then our power play does with the advantage. It has become a joke and fans now groan when the Pens get a call.
Mike Johnston has to show some emotion on the bench and get the guys going. It is like seeing a mannequin standing there. I mean cardboard Brooks Orpik gives more feeling than him (I miss that guy…along with the other great defensemen Jim Rutherford let go).

It has been a rough start to the season, but it is not hopeless. They have plenty of depth in the offense and Fleury has been on point. However, the managing of the lines has left a lot too desire. Things need to turn around quickly or some changes behind the bench need to be made.

On a side note, tonight is Kris Letang's 500th career game! Congrats to the Tanger! Also, Beau Bennett will be back in the lineup tonight and his 100th NHL game! 


Lets Go Pens! 

Forwards
Dupuis, Crosby, Hornqvist
Perron, Malkin, Kessel
Kunitz, Bonino, Sprong
Porter, Cullen, Bennett

Defense
Dumoulin, Lovejoy
Cole, Letang
Mattaa, Scuderi

Fleury between the pipes!

Play By Play
PENS 3 Capitals 1

3rd Period
0:00 - THE PENS WIN 3-1 OVER THE CAPS! GREAT WIN! FLEURY HELD DOWN THE FORT AND KEPT THE PENS IN THE GAME! BENNETT GOT THINGS GOING ON THE SCOREBOARD AND EVERYTHING FOLLOWED FROM THERE! 

1:43 - BONINO SCORES AN EMPTY NETTER! Just as Holtby gets to the bench, the Caps turn over the puck and Bonino sends it to the empty net! 3-1 Pens!

1:50 - Caps have an empty net!

4:58 - Ovechkin's slapshot is turned away by the blocker of Fleury!

6:00 - No shots for either team since Kessel's goal.

8:15 - The Pens kill the Caps power play and hold them to zero shots.

10:15 - Cole is sent to the sin bin for interference and the Caps get a power play chance. Huge kill ahead for the Pens.

12:48 - What an unreal save by Fleury as the Caps crash the net!

16:07 - KESSEL SCORES! Malkin makes a beautiful pass through the legs of Perron and the blue paint to Kessel! Kessel finishes things off! 2-1 Pens!

18:04 - BEAU KNOWS HOW TO SCORE A GOAL! Bennett first shot is saved by Holtby, but Bennett nets the rebound chance! 1-1 tie game

18:32 - Kuzentsov scores. Kuzentsov fires a shot that is deflected twice and through the five-hole of Fleury. 1-0 Caps

20:00 - Third period time! 1:39 of 4 on 4 hockey to start this one! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period ends and things are still scoreless.

0:21 - Fleury makes a save and temper flare. A scrum ensues and Hornqvist is dragged around by Wilson like a rag doll. Wilson and Cole get matching minors for roughing. 4 on 4 hockey time.

1:42 - There is not enough time in the offensive zone for the Pens. They dump in the puck, but rarely get control of the puck to set up plays or get it on it.

3:14 - The Pens fourth line working hard down low to create some chances. Best looks on net for some time now.

7:07 - Huge kill by the Pens and Fleury was a major part in it.

9:07 - Caps are going back onto the power play as Perron is sent to the box for cross-checking.

11:39 - The penalty is killed off. Fleury held down the fort.

11:51 - Fleury makes a unreal save on Oshie, who is stationed at the top of the blue paint.

13:39 - Letang will head to the box for slashing and the Caps will get their first power play of the game.

12:52 - Cullen has a chance driving down the center to the net, but the pass goes off his skate to Holtby.

15:53 - The fourth line of the Pens comes out with some speed and passion in their play. Really solid looking line.

20:00 - The guys are back on the ice for the second period! Pens have to put more pucks on net and create some traffic in front! The need to grind it out! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - First period ends and things are scoreless.

2:38 - Fleury stands on his head to make a few great saves. He didn't give up on the play and keep things at zero.

5:13 - Malkin's shot once again goes wide of the net! It was a rocket of a shot...at least he is shooting the puck.

6:55 - Fleury stands tall in the net and keeps a flurry of pucks from going in the net. He is holding down the fort and keeping the Pens in this one (once again).

9:32 - The Pens power play comes to an end and things are still at zero.

11:32 - Another power play for the Pens as Alzner goes for high sticking.

11:36 - Caps kill it.

11:51 - Regular power play for the Pens for 18 seconds.

13:36 - 5 on 3 power play for 1:45 as Orpik is called for boarding Kessel. 

13:51 - Stephensen takes a seat in the sin bin for elbowing. Pens to the power play. 

15:21 - Ovechkin's line, which includes T.J. Oshie, gets two amazing chances on net. Oshie and Ovechkin are both denied by Fleury! 

16:28 - The Pens have done a good job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone, but they need to generate more traffic in front of Holtby. 

17:27 - The Caps have come out with some physical hits to start. The Pens need to match it. 

19:30 - Orpik sends a early message as he lays out Dupuis, not once, but twice. 

20:00 - The puck has dropped and this game is officially on! The Pens have to come out fast and pepper the net with shots! Lets Go Pens!

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