Tuesday, May 10, 2016

No place like home

By: MF,

Tonight is another chance for the Pittsburgh Penguins to eliminate the Washington Capitals and move onto the Eastern Conference Finals. They missed a chance to move things on in Game Five on Saturday in Washington but still lead the series 3-2. Now they can finish things once again in Pittsburgh, just like in Round One when they beat the New York Rangers in Game Five at Consol in overtime.

On the injury front, the Penguins will welcome Olli Maatta back to the lineup. This will be a nice addition after Maatta suffered an upper-body injury in Game Two due to a high hit from Brooks Orpik. Orpik will also be returning from his suspension for the Capitals.

The Penguins will have focused on improving their special teams in this game. After going 13-fo-14 on the penalty kill, the Penguins ended up giving up two power play goals (1-for-3) during Game Five that lead to a 3-1 Capital win. They must buckle down and keep the Capitals power play from capitalizing. The best way to do that is to stay out of the box. Also, the Penguins finally scored on the power play for the first time in this series after going 0-for-14 in the first four games. If they get any chances tonight, they need to finish things and take advantage.

Being at home is a huge advantage in the playoffs. The Penguins are winners of 13 of the last 16 home games. They have not lost a back-to-back home game since December 18-19. Since hiring Mike Sullivan, their 22 home wins ranked second in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team is 3-1 all-time at home in Game Six when they have a chance to clinch.

This is the time to put the Capitals away and move onto the another team. The Penguins have to come out focused, use their speed, play smart, stay discipline, and keep the pressure on the Capitals. Lets Go Pens!


The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Fehr
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Rust

Defense
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Daley
Cole-Lovejoy

Murray in the net!

Play by Play
PENS 4 Capitals 3 OT

Overtime
13:30 - BONINO SCORES! THE PENS HAVE WON 4-3 IN OVERTIME AND ELIMINATE THE PRESIDENT TROPHY WINNING WASHINGTON CAPITALS! THE PENS MOVE ONTO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS! WE ARE MOVING ON PITTSBURGH! HERE WE COME TAMPA! 

14:34 - Kunitz gets the up over to Malkin. He has a 2 on 1 with Fehr. Malkin with a saucer pass and Fehr goes crashing into Holtby as he comes out to make a glove save.

15:46 - The puck goes up over the glass in the defensive zone after a shot is deflected by Ovechkin. Referees get together and decide no penalty was committed.

17:17 - Daley has three unreal chances and the puck bounces all over the blue paint. I have not idea how that stayed out of the net.

18:10 - Sheary catches Orpik flat footed and he is tripped up. No call.

20:00 - Overtime is underway! The Pens need come out with speed and ends things early in their favor! Lets Go Pens!


3rd Period
0:00 - We are headed to overtime.

0:46 - Successful penalty kill for the Pens.

2:46 - Letang to the box for interference. The referees are being very inconsistent with calls and it's confusing.

5:28 - The Pens are back to full strength.

6:57 - Carlson scores on the 5 on 3 power play. Carlson beats Murray to tie things up 3-3.

7:26 - Cole with delay of game. Capitals once again get 5 on 3 for 1:04 now.

7:28 - Capitals with regular power play for 1:06.

8:22 - 54 second 5 on 3 power play for the Capitals as Bonino gets a delay of game penalty.

9:28 - Horrible time to take a penalty as Kunitz flips the puck over the glass and receives a delay of game penalty. Capitals to the power play. Biggest penalty kill of the game for the Pens.

10:58 - Rust battles for position in front of the net. He can't get a stick on the loose puck in the blue paint.

12:37 - Williams scores. Williams is open at the side and puts one top shelf on Murray. 3-2 Pens

14:06 - The Pens power play comes to an end. They had some good looks on net.

15:01 - Crosby tires to jam one home from the side of the net. Holtby hugs the post to prevent him.

16:06 - Ovechkin makes a visit to the sin bin for slashing and the Pens head onto the power play.

17:32 - Crosby with a beautiful backhand saucer pass through traffic to Sheary. Sheary is robbed by the glove of Holtby.

17:44 - Kessel brings the puck out from behind the net to the front. He backhands a hard shot on net and Holtby is able to deny him the hat trick.

19:37 - Burakovsky gets around Maatta is all alone against Murray. Murray comes up with a huge pad save!

20:00 - Time for the third period! The Pens need to come out ready to face a Capitals team that is desperate! We need to put them down for good! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period comes to a close with the Pens leading the Capitals 3-1!

1:28 - Oshie scores on the power play. Backstrom finds Oshie open in the face-off circle. Oshie rifles one over Murray. 3-1 Pens

2:23 - Capitals will head back onto the power play as Kunitz heads to the box for tripping. Horrible penalty to take. Pens need another solid penalty kill.

4:02 - Fehr is set free after the Pens put forth a solid penalty kill. Murray was huge in net.

6:02 - Now the Capitals will have a chance on the power play as Fehr takes a seat for interference.

6:57 - Even though the Pens have been dominating the offensive play, Murray has been on point when needed. His effort should not go unnoticed.

9:01 - Hagelin is able to get free and ends up ringing a shot off the goal post!

10:48 - Ovechkin tries to force his way into the offensive zone, but Letang has a different idea. Great work by Letang and Dumoulin to separate Ovechkin from the puck and clear it.

12:22 - HAGELIN SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY! Maatta fires a rocket shot from the point and Hagelin redirects the puck right up front past Holtby! 3-0 Pens

12:50 - KESSEL SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY! Kunitz stick works at the blue line to keep the puck in play and goes to Letang! Letang makes a pass to Kessel at the side! Kessel brings the puck to the front and puts it around the outstretched pad of Holtby! 2-0 Pens

13:35 - The Pens get some sustained pressure in the offensive zone with a tired bunch of Capitals and end up drawing the first penalty of the game. Orpik sits for high-sticking Hornqvist and will be a double minor penalty. Pens power play time.

15:02 - Hagelin is robbed by the pad of Holtby!

15:42 - Kunitz has been owning Niskanen this period. He is finishing his hits and pushing Niskanen off the puck.

17:31 - Hagelin uses his signature speed to develop a chance with Bonino. He dishes a pass over to Bonino driving the net. Holtby denies his shot.

18:09 - The Capitals get some scoring chances to start this period. Murray with solid work and the guys doing a good job of moving the puck out of their zone.

20:00 - We are back for the second period! The Pens need to keep pressuring the Capitals and not let them have any room! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - First period horn sounds and the Pens have the 1-0 lead over the Capitals!

0:31 - Dumoulin stands tall at the blue line to force Ovechkin off the puck.

2:17 - Kunitz creating some quality chances with his extra efforts. Solid start for him.

4:20 - Some great scoring chances for the Pens. The Capitals finally get a chance to cycle the puck and get things going a bit. Murray shuts them down with a flash of his glove.

5:25 - Kessel gets a up ice pass and has Bonino and Letang entering the zone with him. Kessel goes to Bonino who gloves it down and makes a pass over to Letang while falling down. Letang almost puts one behind Holtby. Great play.

6:58 - Ovechkin is able to get a strong shot off while crossing through the slot area, but Murray is able to close the pads for a quick save.

7:53 - Letang has a hard drive from the blue line that is directed wide. Good cycle by the Pens.

10:30 - Capitals get 2 on 1 chance, but Murray makes a solid save on a shot by Johansson. He stayed square to the shooter.

12:07 - The Pens get a 4 on 2 chance, but can't capitalize. That sends the Capitals the other way with a 2 on 1 chance, however Daley does a great job to break things up.

14:19 - KESSEL SCORES! Hagelin makes a solid pass up the middle! Kessel comes flying up the wing with the puck! He uses Alzner as a screen, pulls back, and snipes one past the short side of Holtby! 1-0 Pens

15:01 - Ovechkin has some speed coming into the offensive zone, but Lovejoy is able to knock him off the puck. Nice work by Lovejoy.

17:44 - Letang with a rare turnover in the defensive zone leads to a chance for Richards. He fires wide and Murray scoops up the rebound off the boards. 

17:56 - The Pens come out with an aggressive fore-check to start this one. 

20:00 - The puck has dropped at Consol! The Pens have a chance to clinch at home! They need to come out with speed and get on the board early! Lets Go Pens

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