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Clinical. That best describes the Penguins efforts in Game 4. The Penguins came to play and the Rangers did not have an answer. The Rangers had 6 shots in the first period, 5 shots in the 2nd period, and 4 shots in the 3rd period. The Penguins did not let the Rangers come up for air.
No matter what game state you want to pull the possession stats from the Penguins crushed it. Corsi For% close? 68.9%. Corsi For% 5 on 5? 65.9%. All game states? 63.5%.
The Penguins have the highest Fenwick-For percentage of any team in the playoffs at 57%. Avg FF% of remaining NHL teams still playing: 51%.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) May 8, 2014
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Chris Kunitz led the way for the forwards as they combined for 5 points. Any time those 3 took the ice it was a complete domination. Crosby was a 79.4% possession player at even strength, Malkin was 78.4% and Kunitz was 76.9%. It was a slaughterhouse.
You know things are really good when Craig Adams is a 71.4% possession player at even strength.
The Penguins made a lineup change and put Brooks Orpik back into the lineup. This caused Robert Bortuzzo to find his old spot back up in the press box. Can't say I was a huge fan of Bortuzzo exiting the lineup and Scuderi staying, but oh well.
Late in the 1st period Orpik hurt his knee and had to leave the game. Looking over the replay I can't say it looks great for Orpik. This injury is not related to the one that has recently kept Orpik out of action.
Orpik's injury left the Penguins with 5 defensemen for the final 2 periods. No worries though, Paul Martin and Kris Letang were up for the challenge.
Paul Martin played 30:05 and was a 73.3% player at even strength, Letang played 27:56 and was at 73.7%. Just a terrific job by the Penguins top pairing to absorb all those minutes and play that incredible with only 5 d men.
The Rangers power play is a special kind of suck, the Penguins have scored more times on the Rangers power play than they have. Brian Gibbons has been one of the best penalty killers for the Penguins and his speed continues to create offensive chances during situations where the Penguins should be defending.
Ju$$i Jokinen scored another goal, he has an 8 game point streak going on in these playoffs. Jokinen’s 6 goals is tied for the playoff lead.
Evgeni Malkin has 12 points and is only 2 points behind Anze Kopitar for the playoff lead. Malkin is in Conn Smythe form. Goals like this have helped him rack up his point total:
Marc Staal decided he would try and take another run at Sidney Crosby’s head
And just like in Game 3 karma bit Marc Staal in the ass not soon after. Crosby torched Staal for the game winning goal in Game 3 and Staal was a central figure once again in Game 4’s game winning goal.
Amazingly enough Sidney Crosby finally drew his first penalty of the entire postseason when he was taken down by Chris Kreider in the third period.
Marc Andre Fleury picked up his 7th win of the postseason and his 3rd consecutive against the Rangers, but it wasn’t without a blemish this time. The second goal by Zuccarello was not the kind of goal you like to see given up. Fleury played strong at the beginning of the first period to keep the game scoreless, but he can’t give up the softies.
If the Penguins put forth this kind of effort on Friday night, this series is over and they will get some much earned rest. I don’t expect the Rangers to lie down with their season on the line, especially Henrik Lundqvist who has battled hard the entire series.
The Penguins are finally healthy, comfortable in their system, and playing well as a result. They have come a long way since December.
Not bad for what is supposed to be a transitional season.
Thanks for reading!
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