On a day for resurrection it was the play driving Pittsburgh Penguins who returned to action to overwhelm the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime. Pittsburgh now takes a commanding 3-0 series lead in round one. The early goings of this one did not look great for the Penguins after finding themselves in a 3-1 hole. Pittsburgh did something they hadn't done all series, drive play.
The Penguins poured it on yesterday and deserved the outcome they received
When you combine that kind of volume with Sergei Bobrovsky's poor play you have a thrilling and successful comeback.
Jake Guentzel was the star of the game. He scored the game winner in overtime to cap off his hat trick. He is a budding star in this league. Playing with Sidney Crosby certainly comes with its advantages, but he is no passenger. During the regular season Guentzel finished the regular season with 2.60 primary points per 60 at even-strength. Only Evgeni Malkin was better at 2.64. Sidney Crosby was third at 2.33. He is a highly functional member of that line. Let's take a look at some of that work with Mike Lange as the backdrop
All three goals for Guentzel came from a similar area. He was down low to the left side of the net. His ability to make controlled plays when combined with his net front ability is what makes him so great. Some guys can do one or the other and Guentzel does both. I'm going to keep saying it until they make the change, he should be on the number one power play. He's the best option for the front of the net. Screening the goalie and falling on him isn't the only skill necessary to play the net front spot on the top power play. You need slick passing in tight areas, the ability to finish on those chances, and when you find yourself away from the front of the net you need to be able to make controlled plays to keep the zone time going. Guentzel does all of it.
Guentzel's hat trick was especially rare
Sidney Crosby's sequence on the game winning goal was vintage Sid. They may call it Gretzky's office, but The Great One never had the strength and skating to fend off players like this and make these kinds of plays. The greatest grinder of all-time made mince meat out of the helpless Columbus defenders. It wasn't just behind the net. It was everywhere in the offensive zone.
At the conclusion of the third period Brandon Dubinsky couldn't help himself. He's like an addict who is having the drug of choice waved in his face.
Unless addicts get help they won't be able to focus on the things that matter. It was Dubinsky who took a crosschecking penalty that led to Guentzel's second goal. Now in the spirit of fairness Dubinsky made up for that costly error by scoring the tying goal. His good deeds were not sustainable and Pittsburgh's mayor noticed something on the game winning goal.
Dubinsky did however lead the game with nine hits and his team won the hit battle 33-31, so there's that.
Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists in Game 3. He leads all playoff scorers with six points. With Pittsburgh's injury issues heading into the first round they needed their star players to carry the team. They have.
It wasn't all roses for the visiting team. The goaltending which was very good in Games 1 and 2 and significantly regressed in Game 3. Marc-Andre Fleury had an objectively bad day at the office. He finished with an .892 save percentage and on a lot of nights that would have cost the team a victory. The Flower's rebound control was spotty all night long and if it wasn't for a fluky save with his head Brandon Dubinsky would have had a game winning goal that was a carbon copy from the one that tied the game.
Among goaltenders who have played three games only Sergei Bobrovsky's .696 high-danger save percentage is lower than Fleury's .750.
I'll have some thoughts on the concept of "goalie insurance" in tomorrow's blog.
The game wasn't without some minor controversy. One of Pittsburgh's goals was scored when Columbus star defender Zach Werenski was hit in the face with a puck leaving him bloodied. Logic would dictate that the officials stop the game for an injured player, but that isn't how the rule is written.
In USA Hockey the rulebook gives officials the leeway to stop a play dead if the seriousness of the injury dictates so. This is how it should be in the NHL, it's not. Referees can't create their own rules on the spot. It wasn't a bad call. It's a bad rule.
The puck will cost Werenski the rest of the year
Terrible luck to one of the game's best up and coming players.
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night. Pittsburgh will have a great opportunity to put round one in the rear view mirror and rest up.
Thanks for reading!
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