This first round series has been a major bummer in a lot of ways. Sidney Crosby’s health situation leads the way in this regard. Rickard Rakell, who has been impressive for the Penguins since being acquired, has all of four minutes played in the series also due to concussion. The Penguins finally being able to score on the likely Vezina winner after years of a feeble attack in the postseason has been encouraging, but not enough. Unfortunately, another hallmark of this Crosby/Malkin era is they are not immune to their own goaltending just not being good enough. Having a third string goalie has them one defeat away from bowing out in the first round for the fourth consecutive year.
I said yesterday if Louis Domingue had a eight in front of his save percentage the Penguins should be in good shape. If he didn’t... they wouldn’t be. He had an eight and they lost. At this point if Tristan Jarry is healthy enough to play he needs to suit up in Game 7. I don’t think the risk of him playing is any greater than running out an AHL player in the most important game of their season. Louis Domingue is the reason this series is not over plain and simple. Some will say he is doing the best he can and it is a hard situation. Yeah, that’s playoff hockey. The other team doesn’t care if he is first string or seventh string. Whether he is first string or seventh string the standard isn’t to allow this
He has been tasked with a job and he hasn’t been good enough at it. No matter how good the team is playing you can’t overcome below standard goaltending and it is the number one reason the team is in the situation they are in. It sucks.
Pittsburgh out-attempted the rangers 54-44 at 5v5 and 11-7 in high-danger attempts. The Penguins had a 61.77 advantage in xGF%. The Penguins lead the playoffs in xGF% at 62.05.
Expected goals don’t win games
- internet troll
Yeah, about that. The Penguins lead the playoffs with 20 goals average over three goals per game. The players have done everything they’ve needed to do. How do you own the xGF% and total goals and find yourself in a Game 7? Goaltending.
It very well could have been the last time we see Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in a Penguins home game and that sucks, too. Malkin did what he does when he has the tools to work with. He was noticeably good throughout the game. He scored a breakaway goal which could only bring back memories of Mario Lemieux doing the same thing. The long reach, intercepting a d to d pass at the blue line, and turning it into a breakaway was a hallmark Lemieux play. Malkin, of course, drawing Lemieux comparisons for his size and skill during his own illustrious career.
I fully expect another great effort from Evgeni Malkin in Game 7. I also expect his teammates to have another great effort as well. They have to know they’ve played great so far this postseason and will bring it for another game.
We will have to see how things play out on the injury front. Things have the potential to look way different with the potential returns of Jarry and Rakell. I’m not optimistic about Sid, but that would be a dramatic return.
Enjoy the other three Game 7’s today before the anxiety crunch tomorrow.
Thanks for reading!
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