Penguins Post-Game Audio
Dan Bylsma
Sidney Crosby
Tomas Vokoun
Jarome Iginla
Evgeni Malkin
Paul Martin
Paul MacLean
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Penguins notes from Game 1
-- Not surprisingly, Rick Tocchet predicted the likely scenario of the Pens-Sens’ Game 1 scenario. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Monday, Tocchet said the Pens held an advantage going into the first game by virtue of playing more recently than the Senators. Ottawa hadn’t played since last Thursday while the Pens finished off the Islanders on Saturday. Tocchet went on to say that all bets are off for Game 2, that the advantage only lasts for the first game of the series.
-- Goalie Tomas Vokoun stopped 35 of 36 shots, but he looked shaky at times – especially early on. Coach Bylsma doesn’t like to start a goalie in more than three straight games, so it will be interesting to see which tender gets the nod for Friday. I think he’s forced (in a good way) to continue playing Vokoun until he screws up.
-- Pittsburgh collapsed in front of its own net plenty of times Tuesday. Ottawa was unable to take advantage in Game 1 but will likely make adjustments before Friday.
-- I didn’t see tremendous team speed from Ottawa, at least not on the level of the Islanders. That said, the Sens did have plenty of opportunities and a Daniel Alfredsson model circa 2006 would have scored at least one goal last night.
-- I’m fine with Cory Conacher filling the pest role for the Sens. He looked pretty harmless in Game 1 and even took a bad penalty late in Period 2 that led to the Pens’ second power-play goal and a 3-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes. He’s no Casey Cizikas.
-- Speaking of that score, Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick got into a heated discussion during the second-period intermission about whether Ottawa was in good position after two periods. Milbury said no, that the team is thinking defense and will never get back into the game until it starts putting pressure on Pittsburgh offensively. Roenick went on a long-winded rant about how the Sens just need to keep playing how they’re playing and not think about the late, second-period Pittsburgh goal.
I never thought I would agree with Mike Milbury. Miracles do happen.
-- Kris Letang had pretty much of a sensational night, cleaning up in his own end, carrying the puck and creating offensive opportunities. He did all of those things in a single sequence which led to the Chris Kunitz goal. Sometimes it looks like Letang is driving 50 mph through a 15-mph school zone, but that’s his game and he does it better than anybody else.
-- Erik Karlsson didn’t seem to fully engage himself into the contest until the third period. He showed off his own moves during one play. From the right point, Karlsson stickhandled past James Neal and then Malkin. He shot wide right with some pressure from Paul Martin, but the play made a statement of what he’s capable of.
Karlsson’s downside also showed, as he pinched in way too far on Pascal Dupuis’s short-handed beauty. I suppose that can understood, however, with his team already down by two goals. Karlsson and the Sens had to take some chances. But still …
-- Jared Cowen played like a cow in Game 1. Could he have put Malkin’s goal on a bigger platter?
-- I don’t know if anyone else caught the strange play call with 7:22 to 7:16 left in the first period from the NBC guys. If you have the game taped, go back and listen. Here’s what I heard.
"Vitale around the boards but it’s held in “BY METHOT!!!!” and around the boards … "
Just a really weird sound track that is typically reserved for goal calling. You probably won’t understand what I mean until you hear for yourself.
-- Chris Neil trying to hit Sidney Crosby, click
here.
-- Sergei Gonchar apparently tried NOT to hit Evgeni Malkin when he had the opportunity at the Pittsburgh blue line. I guess he didn’t want to lose his training partner. Gonchar should’ve at least touched Malkin, shouldn’t he have? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Malkin’s vitals are still intact, but this is playoff hockey.
Colby Armstrong doesn’t have a problem hitting Sidney Crosby.
-- Unless I missed it, the NBC broadcast never made any mention of Malkin’s injured left shoulder. Malkin had an opening down the right side of the slot but didn’t take the shot until Cowen had time to get his stick in on the play. I’m just surprised NBC gloated over Malkin’s play but never touched on his injury.
-- I hate to bring this topic up, but there were plenty of good seats available in the first 10 rows on the ice with four-plus minutes left in regulation. I’d guess 20 percent of the seats where vacated, minimum. What is it with people leaving early? Hey, if you buy a ticket you have the right to do whatever you want, but this is the playoffs! The Pens should pick 100 kids watching on the big TV outside to come in and act as seat fillers.
-- James Neal better shape up real fast. He’s taking too many penalties and becomes an easier target for refs to single out and put in the box whenever they’re looking for a makeup call.
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Team Notes:
Pittsburgh improved to 26-28 all-time in Game 1s and 19-12 at home in Game 1s.
The Penguins have now won three-straight games. This is the first time Pittsburgh has reeled off three straight wins in the postseason since April 16-20, 2010 when the Penguins faced the Senators in the 2010 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
The Penguins have allowed only four goals in the past three games. This is the best three-game defensive stretch by Pittsburgh since May 4-8, 2010 when the Penguins allowed four goals to Montreal in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Penguins have scored three or more goals in 12 of their last 13 playoff games dating back to last season. Pittsburgh has three or more goals in seven-straight playoff home games.
The Penguins scored their league-leading ninth power-play goal during the second period – the team’s second man-advantage tally of the night. Pittsburgh’s 36-percent success rate (9-for-25) on the man advantage also leads the league. At home, the Penguins are 6-for-17 on the powerplay (35.3%) – tops in the Eastern Conference.
Since 2009, the Penguins lead the NHL in postseason power-play goals with 54.
The Penguins killed off all five Ottawa power plays to improve to 14-for-15 (93.3%) at home on the PK during the postseason.
Player Notes:
Pascal Dupuis scored his first career playoff shorthanded goal. Dupuis’ six goals this postseason lead the league. He has recorded a point in every game. The shorthanded goal is also the first recorded by a Penguin in the postseason since Max Talbot scored on the penalty kill against Ottawa on April 20, 2010.
Tomas Vokoun recorded his third-straight win – a new postseason career high. Vokoun has stopped 30 more shots in his last four postseason starts and has denied 101 of 105 shots (.962 SVP) he has faced so far this postseason.
Chris Kunitz scored his third goal of the playoffs – all on the power play – in the second period. It was his first goal since scoring a pair of goals in Game 3 against the Islanders in Round 1. Kunitz is now 10th all-time in Penguins history with 39 career postseason points (11G-28A).
Douglas Murray recorded an assist on Dupuis’ shorthanded goal. Murray now has three points (2G-1A) this postseason. The assist is his first in the playoffs since April 14, 2011 against the Kings when Murray was a member of the Sharks.
Jarome Iginla assisted Kunitz’s goal to give him the longest point streak of his playoff career (7 games).
Paul Martin scored the first goal of the night and his second of the playoffs. This marks the first time in Martin’s career that he has recorded goals in back-to-back playoff games.
Evgeni Malkin recorded a goal and an assist in the first period. Malkin has points in all seven games during this year’s postseason – and he has points in eight-straight playoff games dating back to last spring. Malkin’s 10 assists lead the league, while his 13 points (3G-10A) tie him for first in the NHL in scoring this postseason.
Malkin now has an assist in seven straight postseason games, eclipsing a previous career high of six games – May 9, 2009-May 23, 2009. Malkin’s six multiple-point playoff games are the most of any NHL player this spring.
Attendance: 18,621 (282nd consecutive sell-out)
Courtesy, Pittsburgh Penguins
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Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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