Saturday, May 6, 2017

Time to put a cap on the Caps

PPG Paints Arena / MF
By: MF, 

As everyone winds down from the Kentucky Derby, hockey nation ramps up as the Pittsburgh Penguins could eliminate the Washington Capitals in the Second Round of the NHL Playoffs tonight in Washington. The Penguins hold the commanding 3-1 series lead and this game is going to be a crazy one.

 In Game Four, the Penguins were without the services of their best player, and the best player in the world, Sidney Crosby. They still got the job done, showing their depth in scoring. The win was also in large part due to the efforts of Marc-Andre Fleury, who has been the MVP for the Penguins in these playoffs. Now the Capitals have their back against the walls and a cornered animal is a dangerous one. The Penguins will have to keep their focus on playing their style of hockey, not letting the Capitals get under their skin, and play a smart defensive game. Lets Go Pens!

Follow all the action here:

Conor Sheary and SIDNEY CROSBY are back in the lineup for the 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 4

3rd Period
0:00 - The Caps take Game 5 with a 4-2 win over the Pens. The Pens still hold a series lead 3-2 as things shift back to Pittsburgh. The Pens will finish things on Monday in Pittsburgh.

2:24 - Empty net for the Pens.

2:59 - Sheary is back on the ice.

4:50 - Just heard that Sheary is bleeding from the nose on the bench. Not sure what happened, but he is staying on the bench.

7:29 - Crosby blasts a shot from the point that is kicked out by Holtby.

10:19 - Fleury with an unreal amount of saves with bodies in front. The puck was bouncing all over the place. The Pens need to turn this around and get to attacking. Caps have had them on their heels for this entire period.

12:13 - Ovechkin scores. Ovechkin stick handles through traffic and past Hainsey. He gets to the slot area and is able to whip one past the glove of Fleury. 4-2 Caps

12:36 - Kuznetsov scores. Hagelin turns over the puck at the blue line. Carlson gets the puck and sends it bouncing around in the Pens' zone. Kuznetsov finally gets the puck and puts it short side. 3-2 Caps

13:20 - Holtby making elite caliber goalie saves for the Caps right now. The Pens need to keep peppering the net and get traffic in front. They can beat Holtby.

14:07 - The Pens cannot allow the Caps to pressure them. They need to put the pressure on the Caps and Holtby. Suffocate them in their own zone.

16:28 - Bonino is robbed by Holtby.

17:11 - Backstrom scores. Backstrom comes flying into the zone and receives the puck. He finds a shooting lane and is able to put a shot under the glove of Fleury. 2-2 tie game

18:22 - Ovechkin lets go of a rocket shot that goes off the goal post.

19:51 - Crosby wins the faceoff and heads right to the net. Holtby with the save on Crosby's shot.

20:00 - The third period is underway! Time to finish this series Pens! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - That is the end of the second period and the Pens hold the 2-1 lead!

2:01 - Another penalty killed off by the Pens. Fleury was once again on it.

4:01 - Power play chance for the Caps. Dumoulin loses an edge and falls thus tripping up Williams. He is penalized for tripping.

4:48 - Turnover by the Pens in the neutral zone and Williams recovers for the Caps. However, the play is broken up for a shot can be taken.

7:21 - Shattenkirk gives Kunitz some attention with two hits into the boards. One was a bit questionable, but nothing is called and Kunitz looks to be okay.

9:45 - Fleury with a smart poke check to keep Ovechkin from finding a rebound chance and Hainsey blocks him out also. Great teamwork.

10:42 - A good job by the Pens to shut down the Caps before they can enter the zone or even set up. They need to keep up the good work.

15:40 - KESSEL SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY! Tic-tac-toe passing my the Pens on the power play! Malkin is able to get the puck across the front of the net over to Kessel at the side! Kessel goes to one knee to rip a shot past the blocker of Holtby! 2-1 Pens

16:28 - Schmidt will visit the box for holding and the Pens get a huge power play chance.

17:06 - The Caps with sustained offensive zone time and Fleury comes up with some big saves to keep this one tied. The Pens are finally able to clear and get a change.

20:00 - We are back for the second period! The Pens need to limit the Caps chances, play smart, and never let up on Holtby! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - The first-period horn sounds and this game is tied 1-1.

0:29 - Burakovsky scores. Burakovsky toe drags around the stick of Cullen and rips a shot that beats Fleury blocker side. 1-1 tie game

2:24 - Rust is able to get a pass over to Maatta who is trailing on a rush. Holtby deflects Maatta's shot out wide with his blocker.

4:08 - The Pens kill off the Cole tripping minor. Fleury was mimicking a wall once again. He has been unreal, which is nothing new.

6:08 - Not a good time for the Pens to take a penalty, but nonetheless they will have to kill one off. Cole will take a seat for tripping.

9:36 - HAGELIN SCORES! Sheary enters the zone and fires a shot that goes wide! Hainsey pinches to keep get the puck to Bonino who slides it out to Hagelin driving center! Hagelin wrist one past Holtby, off the goal post, and into the net! 1-0 Pens

11:55 - That will be the end of power play time for the Pens.

12:29 - Holtby comes up big for the Caps as he is able to deny Crosby on a redirection in the slot area.

13:55 - Wilson is running around looking for players to hit. He takes Daley out from behind and sets his sights on Guentzel at the benches. He will head to the box for charging on Guentzel. Power play time for the Pens.

14:59 - Successful penalty kill for the Pens. Fleury was great on that penalty kill. He has locked into this game already.

16:59 - Not the greatest start for the Pens. The Caps will get the first power play of the game as Malkin heads to the box for hooking.

17:59 - The Caps come out laying big hits in the offensive zone. Fleury makes a pad save in front as the Caps get some zone time.

20:00 - Time for Game Five! The Pens just need to stick to their game, play smart, and finish this series tonight! Lets Go Pens! 

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