We needed a split in DC and we got it. Was it cheezy? Kind of, but I don't really care. Our D sucks and we all know it. The year MAF won the cup he was out a good portion of the year and fresh as a daisy. Same holds true this year, he is very fresh.

So before we all cry about how we won, let's remember we got our split and move on.

Holtby with his .857 SV % didn't deserve to win.
- madmike71

That is true

Great blog Ryan. Can anyone tell me how Fleury was not even chosen as one of the games three stars?? Also Ovechkin complaining about no penalty calls, holy I seen him get away with two obvious infractions and another cap with a vicious cross check. Whoever picked these stars have got it in for Fleury. imo

Great blog Ryan. Can anyone tell me how Fleury was not even chosen as one of the games three stars?? Also Ovechkin complaining about no penalty calls, holy I seen him get away with two obvious infractions and another cap with a vicious cross check. Whoever picked these stars have got it in for Fleury. imo
- joegreif17

Or, the game was in Washington.

It's an arbitrary process.

Hate to say it but the ice really tilted after Geno got hit. Not sure why the Pens got so overwhelmed after that but it happened. We are counter punching in this series similar to what Tampa tried to do against us last year. The good news is we are lethal and need few chances the bad news is that's how I expect most of the games to look. I think it goes 7. I'll go with the Pens for obvious reasons.

What's with Hags? If he's skating he should be good to go no? It was just his foot right? Seems weird that he can obviously skate but isn't playing. Must be conditioning.

Or, the game was in Washington.

It's an arbitrary process.
- jmatchett383

I know it is pretty sad sometimes. I have seen home teams lose and still get two of the stars, sad but true. Likely Washington though not wanting to give Fleury any momentum. Fleury is the real deal and considering the D in front of him is made the scapegoat far too often. I hope he gets MVP and the cup and then see what Pittsburg does with him, ie will he go to Vegas haha

I know it is pretty sad sometimes. I have seen home teams lose and still get two of the stars, sad but true. Likely Washington though not wanting to give Fleury any momentum. Fleury is the real deal and considering the D in front of him is made the scapegoat far too often. I hope he gets MVP and the cup and then see what Pittsburg does with him, ie will he go to Vegas haha
- joegreif17

I doubt MAF cares if he was a star of the game or not. It's just a silly thing for the fans that means zilch.

I doubt MAF cares if he was a star of the game or not. It's just a silly thing for the fans that means zilch.
- jmatchett383

It's stupid the 3rd star gets 3 stars but the 1st star or best player in that game only gets 1. F that

"The Pittsburgh Penguins did not deserve to win Game 1 against the Washington Capitals, they did. In what was one of the least impressive games the team has played in the Crosby/Malkin era."

What the? Again with this deserve crap. Did they not deserve to go up 2-0 early in the second? The fact they they held on to win despite letting off the gas and allowing Washington to possess the puck for the last 30 minutes of the game doesn't mean they didn't "deserve" to win.

Maybe the Caps didn't deserve to win because they came out flat for most of the 1st and to start the 2nd period and didn't put up much of a real fight until they got behind by 2 goals. Please, stop with the self-loathing "don't deserve it" crud. It's really obnoxious. They scored 3 goals and not of the garbage/gimmie variety and kept the Caps to only 2, that means they deserved to win more than they didn't.

One of the least impressive games the team has played in the Crosby/Malkin era? Haven't been watching much Pens hockey for the past 10 years, have you? There have been many, many more less impressive outings in this era of Pens hockey and especially in the playoffs. You really just lost any cred as a knowledgeable hockey blogger with this nonsensical drivel. Go back to posting Corsi charts and BS stats, as that seems to be your only saving grace here.

It's stupid the 3rd star gets 3 stars but the 1st star or best player in that game only gets 1. F that
- dbell646

Yes, but that 1 star is golden.

Ryan Wilson: Stolen capital
Stolen capital
- Ryan_Wilson

fear the Guentzel Washington

I hate MAF but be really stole the game last night. 9/10 nights that should've been a loss.

I think Hansey might be a worse skater than Hal Gill was.
- Francois Leroux

But a better skater than Francois...not that that is much of an achievement.

It's stupid the 3rd star gets 3 stars but the 1st star or best player in that game only gets 1. F that
- dbell646

It's stupid that the local media fan boys in any city get to pick the stars and they are posted nationally as some kind of official stat. Did you expect anything less in D.C.? Crosby could have had a natural hat trick and that would have probably lessened his chances at a star.

The short version of what Ryan is saying here is that the Penguins are defying the fancy stats and analytics narrative and therefore the win must be damned with faint praise as something they didn't deserve.

The short version of what Ryan is saying here is that the Penguins are defying the fancy stats and analytics narrative and therefore the win must be damned with faint praise as something they didn't deserve.
- Emperor Filonius

Yeah but don't you kind of agree that if the possession of the puck looks the same for the rest of the series that it'll be very tough for the pens to win?

The short version of what Ryan is saying here is that the Penguins are defying the fancy stats and analytics narrative and therefore the win must be damned with faint praise as something they didn't deserve.
- Emperor Filonius

I am not a big fan of advanced stats. Some can be interesting over the entire season to analyze players or team usage in certain situations. Don't really care about them in the playoffs since it usually takes some luck, a hot goalie, and burying your opportunities to win.

I'm thrilled the Pens won and will go back with at least a split in the series. All the pressure in the world is on the Caps for the 2nd game. The Pens won the game, and I won't say they didn't deserve to since they made the most of their opportunities and Holtby didn't stand on his head. With that said, it was pretty easy to see the Pens were outplayed the majority of the game and continuing to play like that is not likely going to lead to a series win.

The short version of what Ryan is saying here is that the Penguins are defying the fancy stats and analytics narrative and therefore the win must be damned with faint praise as something they didn't deserve.
- Emperor Filonius

No, he's saying that goalies can steal games and you can be happy he did, but letting a 7 game series playout like this isn't likely to result in 4 wins.

This is why, over a short sample size ( a best-of-seven series, for instance), all of the advanced stats mean jack squat.

I would not say 'jack squat' however... both Tanner and Wilson spend a a heck of lot of time proving how to analyze them wrong.

Fancy stat people are starting to get rediculous.
The Penguins were not lucky to win that game, they have been using the same game plan for 6 games now. Its worked for 5 of them, but since their plan is counter to what the fancy stats say should happen they are lucky or fortunate?! Piss off.

The Pens coaching staff have identified that their defensive corps doesn't have the players to win in speedy fluid movement of the puck to the forwards. Letang is too big of a loss to maintain that strategy. So like all good coaching staffs do theyve adapted.

The Pens are collapsing and at closing off the centre of the defensive zone. They are conceding the perimetre and letting the Caps and CBJ shoot all they want from there. They are a counter attack team right now and its working like a charm! The best part of this strategy is the more it works the more effective it will become when the Caps start second guessing and passing up shots.

The way they are playing is completly sustainable.

Fancy stat people are starting to get rediculous.
The Penguins were not lucky to win that game, they have been using the same game plan for 6 games now. Its worked for 5 of them, but since their plan is counter to what the fancy stats say should happen they are lucky or fortunate?! Piss off.

The Pens coaching staff have identified that their defensive corps doesn't have the players to win in speedy fluid movement of the puck to the forwards. Letang is too big of a loss to maintain that strategy. So like all good coaching staffs do theyve adapted.

The Pens are collapsing and at closing off the centre of the defensive zone. They are conceding the perimetre and letting the Caps and CBJ shoot all they want from there. They are a counter attack team right now and its working like a charm! The best part of this strategy is the more it works the more effective it will become when the Caps start second guessing and passing up shots.

The way they are playing is completely sustainable.
- stackthepads

Also, what's not being discussed is; that let's say the Caps went up by a goal. The Pens have the skill to get it right back and proved it in the previous series. They never trailed in this game and after it was tied, they got the lead back. But I guess they didn't deserve to get the lead again. Did I miss something, was it welfare check night?

Regardless of possession time and allowing the Caps to throw a bazillion shots at Fluery in the 3rd, they persevered and won. Saying deserved or not is such a lame thing to say in any contest unless blatant cheating is involved. Every team in the competition deserves to win, but ultimately only the better and/or luckier ones do.

People who say didn't deserve...F off!

Hate to say it but the ice really tilted after Geno got hit. Not sure why the Pens got so overwhelmed after that but it happened. We are counter punching in this series similar to what Tampa tried to do against us last year. The good news is we are lethal and need few chances the bad news is that's how I expect most of the games to look. I think it goes 7. I'll go with the Pens for obvious reasons.
- dbell646

I thought Geno himself looked awful after that hit. I'm fearing that it messed up his shoulder. I mean Geno was BAD after that...

Fancy stat people are starting to get rediculous.
The Penguins were not lucky to win that game, they have been using the same game plan for 6 games now. Its worked for 5 of them, but since their plan is counter to what the fancy stats say should happen they are lucky or fortunate?! Piss off.

The Pens coaching staff have identified that their defensive corps doesn't have the players to win in speedy fluid movement of the puck to the forwards. Letang is too big of a loss to maintain that strategy. So like all good coaching staffs do theyve adapted.

The Pens are collapsing and at closing off the centre of the defensive zone. They are conceding the perimetre and letting the Caps and CBJ shoot all they want from there. They are a counter attack team right now and its working like a charm! The best part of this strategy is the more it works the more effective it will become when the Caps start second guessing and passing up shots.

The way they are playing is completly sustainable.
- stackthepads

Buddy, you couldn't be more wrong.

I would not say 'jack squat' however... both Tanner and Wilson spend a a heck of lot of time proving how to analyze them wrong.
- sufi-judge

Both of these guys should look harder into careers as fry-cooks.

Also, what's not being discussed is; that let's say the Caps went up by a goal. The Pens have the skill to get it right back and proved it in the previous series. They never trailed in this game and after it was tied, they got the lead back. But I guess they didn't deserve to get the lead again. Did I miss something, was it welfare check night?

Regardless of possession time and allowing the Caps to throw a bazillion shots at Fluery in the 3rd, they persevered and won. Saying deserved or not is such a lame thing to say in any contest unless blatant cheating is involved. Every team in the competition deserves to win, but ultimately only the better and/or luckier ones do.

People who say didn't deserve...F off!
- NJPensfan

Have you ever heard Sullivan in his post game pressers after a loss say "I thought we played well, and probably deserved a different result... but that's hockey." or something along those lines?