Monday, May 1, 2017

Round Two, Game Three shifts to the City of Champions

By: MF,


Downtown Pittsburgh / Photo credit to Shelly (@MsSunshinePlz) - reader
The Second Round Playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals has shifted to Pittsburgh with the Penguins holding a 2-0 series lead.

The Capitals have been pushed into a corner and they will be for deadly because of it as they will be fighting to get back into this series. Luckily for the Penguins, Game Three is in Pittsburgh and they have been dominant at home all season long.

A critical part of their wins has been none other than Marc-Andre Fleury. In the last three games, Fleury has made 166 saves on 122 shots, holds 2.00 goals against average (GAA), and .951 save percentage (SVP). In these playoffs, he has a .936 SVP and .967 SVP at home. His best playoff save percentage was .933 in 2008. The net isn't something that the Penguins have to worry about if anything it's they have yet to play a full complete game but they have managed to get the win regardless. They have stated that they still have another gear they have yet to reach. Tonight would be a perfect night to kick things into that gear and put the Capitals on the edge of the elimination cliff.
PPG Paints Arena / MF

This game will have to be one of the best the Penguins have played. They need to come out with speed, play smart, and handle momentum shifts accordingly. Lets Go Pens!

The Pens lineup is as follows:

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

Defense
Dumoulin - Hainsey
Maatta - Daley
Cole - Schultz

Fleury in the net!

Play by Play
Pens 2 Caps 3 OT

Overtime
The Caps get the 3-2 win in overtime, but the Pens shouldn't be sad. They fought and forced overtime. They showed they are never out of a game even when they can't get a break. One game that is all it is. The Pens look to win the series.

16:12 - Shattenkirk scores on the power play. Shattenkirk fires a hard shot that beats a screened Fleury. 3-2 Caps

17:20 - Johansson has a breakaway chance, but he is held up a bit by Daley. Daley will be penalized. Caps to the power play.

18:02 - The Caps get some quality offensive zone time. The Pens are finally able to clear.

18:57 - Kessel fires a shot that just goes wide. Holtby may have gotten a piece of it.

20:00 - The first overtime has started! This Pens team has a heart like to no other team! Show the Caps why you are Champions! Lets Go Pens!


3rd Period
0:00 - The Pens have forced overtime making this game 2-2.

1:05 - SCHULTZ SCORES! Schultz fires from the point with Guentzel and Hornqvist in front of Holtby! The puck is deflected by Oshie's stick past Holtby! 2-2 tie game

1:34 - Pens call a timeout and empty their net once again.

1:53 - MALKIN SCORES! Kessel puts the puck right in the wheelhouse of Malkin who snipes one short-side on Holtby! 2-1 Caps

3:12 - The Pens have an empty net.

5:33 - Sad to see the score like this after all that Fleury has done to keep this game close, which it still is. The Pens have gotten some quality chances and pressured, but one can tell there is uneasiness due to the unknown condition of Crosby.

10:14 - Kuznetsov scores. Caps get a three-on-two chance. Kuznetsov is left wide open at the side of the net. He holds the puck and waits for Fleury do go down as he shifts across the net. Kuznetsov puts one over him into the net. 2-0 Caps

10:44 - Daley wrists a shot that goes high over the net!

12:16 - Penalty time is up.

14:16 - Well the Caps are getting another power play chance. Malkin takes a seat for boarding, Kunitz for interference, and Wilson for charging.

15:18 - A successful penalty kill for the Pens. Fleury has been tremendous.

16:25 - Cullen gets a breakaway chance, but he is hooked up by Shattenkirk. No call.

17:18 - Fleury makes a diving glove save on Johansson's shot. He looked to have a wide-open net.

17:33 - Maatta receives a cross-checking penalty and the Pens bring out the penalty killers.

19:59 - No Sheary or Crosby on the bench.

20:00 - We are back for the third period! The Pens need to keep pressuring and get traffic in front of Holtby! Get it done! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - The second-period horn sounds and the Caps still hold the 1-0 lead.

0:37 - Fleury makes a save with his stick while falling back right at the goal line! What a save! Hornqvist comes in to bat the puck away!

2:02 - Holtby robs Bonino in front.

2:40 - Nothing comes of the power play chance.

4:40 - Kuznetsov heads right back to the box this time for holding. Pens to the power play again.

5:51 - Pens power play time comes to an end.

7:51 - Kuznetsov receives a tripping penalty and the Pens will head back onto the power play. Hopefully, they do a better job this time.

8:32 - Kessel and Malkin get a two-on-one chance, but Malkin is unable to handle Kessel's pass.

11:48 - That will be the end of the power play for the Pens. They were doing a better job five-on-five.

13:48 - Power play time for the Pens as Orpik heads to the sin bin for holding.

14:32 - Nice surge by the Pens. They are getting to pucks and putting getting quality scoring chances.

17:04 - Fleury with three back-to-back saves in front.Just fantastic.

17:36 - Hornqvist collides with Sheary. Sheary goes down and is attended to by the athletic trainer. Sheary heads to the locker room holding a towel to his face.

18:55 - Kunitz looks to have a goal that ties up the game. The goal is reviewed and ruled a good goal. The Caps challenge and the goal is called back for goalie interference. Pens not getting a break.  

20:00 - Time for the second period! Crosby is not on the bench to start, but the Pens need to forge ahead! Put the Caps in their place! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - The first period comes to an end and the Caps have the 1-0 lead.

1:55 - Rust gets in all alone as the Caps are changing. Holtby robs him.

5:49 - Successful penalty kill for the Pens. Fleury with a huge save in front.

6:54 - Caps still have a minute left on a regular power play.

6:55 - Backstrom scores. Backstrom throws the puck on net with traffic in front of Fleury and it makes its way into the net. 1-0 Caps

7:49 - Five-on-three power play for the Caps for 1:17 as Rust is called for delay of game.

8:32 - Now a power play to the Caps. Hagelin takes a seat for slashing.

9:36 - That will bring an end to the Pens power play.

9:44 - Sheary stickhandles through traffic to get a shot off in the slot, but Holtby makes the save. A rebound chance goes off the goal post. Rust then has a wide open net. He backhands the puck, but the stick blade of Winnik stops the puck. Unreal.

11:27 - Pens back on the power play for 1:51.

11:31 - Fleury with a pad save on Backstrom in front!

13:27 - Now we will get some four-on-four for two minutes hockey as Malkin heads to the box for closing his hand on the puck.

14:36 - Niskanen with a cross-check to the head of Crosby in front of the net. Crosby is down on the ice and hurt. The trainer comes out. Crosby skates off to the locker room. Niskanen gets a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Pens to the power play.

14:41 - Holtby with a huge poke check to deny Guentzel.

16:33 - Solid start for the Pens. Karl Alzner is back in the lineup for the Caps.

20:00 - It's playoff hockey night in Pittsburgh! The Pens need to come out with speed and use this home crowd to take control early! Lets Go Pens! 

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