Penguins-Capitals Weekend Recap

#4 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (3-2) over the WASHINGTON CAPITALS (2-3) 4-3 OT

In 48 Hours, the Penguins regain control of series thanks to wins on back to back nights, capped off by the above game winner

(Photo Credit: AP)

In just forty-eight hours, the Washington Capitals went from controlling their own destiny to being on the verge of falling off a cliff, as the Pittsburgh Penguins managed to take a 3-2 lead in this best of seven series, and swiping the home-ice advantage in the process. Game six is tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins will look to put the Capitals away for good, and advance to their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals. It seems as if the ghosts of playoffs past are coming back to haunt the Capitals, who prior to game four, seemed to have the edge in this series. How did this reversal of fortune come about? Lets start with game four on Friday night:

Game four, at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, was the first game in this series that was decided by more than one goal. The most prolific goal scorer in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin, was held to only two shots and one assist and the magic wore off for rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov, who was suddenly exposed by the Penguins.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the first goal thirty-six seconds into the game, to give Washington an early 1-0 lead. That would quickly be erased as the Penguins regrouped and scored three times in a twelve-minute span to leave the first period with a 3-1 lead. Throughout the remainder of the game, Pittsburgh would never trail. Early in the third period, the Penguins Sidney Crosby and Miroslav Satan caught a Washington defender in a 2 on 1 situation. Satan dished the puck to Crosby for an easy deflection and a 4-2 lead at 4:16. Two minutes later, Milan Jurcina brought the Caps back within one goal by scoring shorthanded, cutting Pittsburgh’s lead 4-3. Maxime Talbot would score at 14:46 to give the Penguins back their two-goal cushion. The Penguins went on to win 5-3 and tied the best of seven series at 2 games apiece.

Pittsburgh was dealt a major blow in this game, however, when defenseman Sergei Gonchar had to leave the ice following a knee-to-knee collision with Alexander Ovechkin. While some thought the hit was negligent, Ovechkin insisted it wasn’t intentional. "Yeah, it probably was knee on knee -- I tried to hit him with my shoulder and he just moved left [into] the same spot," Ovechkin said. “I don't know what's going to happen, but I didn't want to hit him. I wanted to hit him, but I don't want hurt him, especially knee on knee." Gonchar’s agent, J.P. Barry, was outraged with the hit. "We now have Exhibit A of the extreme double-standard that exists in the NHL's approach to discipline," Barry told TSN, a Canadian network. "Alex clearly cuts back with his knee after missing his check, with devastating results. But of course, because it's Alex, it’s all Sergei's fault.”

Simeon Varlamov, who has been amazing in goal for the Caps so far in the playoffs, suddenly looked like Achilles when he was struck in the heel by Paris’ arrow. Varlamov was torched for five goals, four of them softies according to Washington coach Bruce Boudreau. "There were four soft goals out of the five," Boudreau said. "But he'll bounce back. He's a real competitive guy." Varlamov came into the game with a 1.64 goals against average and appeared dumbfounded at allowing four soft goals. He probably couldn't be blamed for Guerin's go-ahead goal on a rebound of Crosby's in-close forehander midway through the first period. However, Varlamov had a good look on Gonchar's tying goal from close to the blue line, which came slightly more than 3 minutes after Washington took the early lead.

"We said we've got to get two at home and now we've got to try to get one on the road," said Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi. He was also named the second star of the game with two assists.

It was on to Washington and the Verizon Center last night as the Penguins came, conquered and left with the home-ice advantage. In another one goal game, Evgeni Malkin, the NHL’s regular season scoring leader, who hasn’t made much noise in this series, gave Pittsburgh the win when his shot went into the goal off a deflection by a Capitals player. Malkin was skating up the right wing and put a shot on goal just as Capitals defensemen Tom Poti tried to make a sliding play to block the puck. The puck deflected off Poti’s stick and into the net, giving the Penguins a 4-3 victory, at 3:28 into the extra period.

No team scored in the first period as both Washington and Pittsburgh net minders, Simeon Varlamov and Marc Andre-Fleury, respectively, managed to block every shot on goal. It was the first time in this series that the first period ended without a goal being scored. Penguins forward Jordan Staal gave his team a 1-0 lead at 5:17 of the second period after whistling a wrist shot past Varlamov after Brooks Orpik fed him the puck from behind the net. Alexander Ovechkin, quiet in game four, tied the game a minute later when he rifled a wrist shot from the top of the left circle. Nickolas Backstrom scored a power play goal at 14:35 to give Washington a 2-1 lead, after the Penguins were whistled for a too many men on the ice penalty.

The Penguins responded quickly in the third period when Ruslan Fedotenko and Matt Cooke scored goals less than six minutes apart to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. Fedotenko’s goal came fifty-one seconds into the period when he fired a blast from the top of the left circle that hit the upper right portion of the crossbar and down into the net. With just over four minutes left in the game, Alexander Ovechkin beat Marc Andre Fleury with a short wrister to tie it up and get the fans at Verizon Center out of their seats. Enter those ghosts of playoffs past, who some in Washington say may have caused Caps forward David Steckel to miss a half open net from point blank range just 19 seconds into overtime. "If Steckel puts it in, in overtime, we're talking about all different things, all different questions," said Boudreau.

Not too long after Steckel’s miss, Evgeni Malkin scored the game winner. "These games come down to mistakes and bounces," Crosby said. "And we got a good bounce there on the last goal." Said Simeon Varlamov, “It's always hard when you play in overtime and you allow a silly goal like this. That's twice now. But winners make their own luck."

Game six is set for Monday night in Pittsburgh and the Capital’s backs are against the wall. Since 1991, Washington has lost five series in which it blew a lead against Pittsburgh, including two 2-0 advantages in 1992 and 1996. "Desperation and urgency," defenseman Brian Pothier said Saturday night. "It's another elimination game for us. We're getting used to these."

Hard Hits…The reason there were back-to-back games in this series was because of a Yanni concert in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. Capital’s owner was not happy about this, but hey, at least you still have a home game. Unlike the Rangers who used to get kicked out of their own arena when the circus came to town…Evgeni Malkin scored his first career postseason overtime goal. Since he has awakened over the last three games, the Penguins have won three straight. Washington will need to find a way to contain him if they want to win game six. Handling Crosby is bad enough. If both of these guys are hot, it’s going to be an early summer for the Capitals…Marc Andre Fleury is 5-0 in postseason OT’s. Varly may make highlight reel saves, but Fleury has that veteran savvy that has helped lift Pittsburgh to a lead in this series. He’ll give up goals, but he a lot of offensive support that can take them back. And he’s been clutch so far when he needs to be…Washington is 5-1 in playoff elimination games over the last two seasons. The one loss came in game 7 at home in OT against Philadelphia last year. The Caps trailed 3-1 in that series…Talk about bad breaks; both OT game winners scored by the Penguins deflected off Capital players into their own net. Good thing this isn’t Brazil and that there are no “hockey hooligans” waiting in the parking lot.

Title Fight: Crosby vs. Ovechkin
Round 4
Crosby- 1 Goal, 1 Assist, +1, 4 Shots on Goal, 1 Hit, 18:06 Time on Ice

Ovechkin- 0 Goals, 1 Assist, +/- 0, 2 Shots on Goal, 2 Hits, 25:22 Time on Ice


Result: Crosby takes round 4 as Ovechkin barely makes it onto the score sheet. Crosby’s corner men came up with a game plan to keep Ovechkin in check, while Crosby did more damage in less time. Crosby takes this round 10-9 and the fight, like this series is tied 38-38.

Title Fight: Crosby vs. Ovechkin
Round 5
Crosby- 0 Goals, 0 Assists, -2, 5 Shots on Goal, 1 Hit, 21:58 Time on Ice

Ovechkin- 2 Goals, 1 Assist, +1, 5 Shots on Goal, 6 Hits, 24:04 Time on Ice


Result: Ovechkin came out swinging in this round and battered Crosby by recording three points in this game, as opposed to the pretty boy’s none. Even though his team lost, Ovechkin scored both game-tying goals and gave his team a fighting chance. Ovie wins the round 10-9 and leads 48-47. It’s a close one folks.

Information from the AP, Washington Post and Pittsburgh Gazette was used in this story.

Ducks-Red Wings Game 5 Recap

#2 Detroit Red Wings (3-2) over the #8 Anaheim Ducks (2-3) 4-1

Jiri Hudler puts one past Jonas Hiller for the eventual game winner

(Photo Credit: AP)

A second straight dominating performance has the Detroit Red Wings one win away from their third consecutive trip to the Western Conference finals. Four different shooters beat Jonas Hiller late Sunday afternoon in Motown, while the Detroit defense limited the Anaheim attack to just 17 shots on goal. The Red Wings put 38 pucks on Hiller, outhit the Ducks, 35-18, and won 55% of faceoffs.

Johan Franzen opened the scoring at 3:23 of the second period with a wristshot as he moved off the right wing boards. It was his seventh goal this postseason and his 20th in 25 playoff games over the last two springs. Jiri Hudler deflected a puck out of mid-air past Hiller 39 seconds later for a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Whitney scored for the first time as a Duck before the second period ended, and Hiller was sharp for most of the third, but there was no Anaheim comeback because of Detroit’s puck control. Darren Helm erased any doubt with his first goal of the playoffs with 3:08 to go. Henrik Zetterberg’s empty-netter provided Detroit’s fourth and final goal.

“When we keep the speed up and put the pucks behind their D, it’s going to be hard for them to create something,” Franzen said. “If we keep doing that the next game, I think we have a good chance to win.”

Game 6 is Tuesday night, and the Ducks have a lot of regrouping to do in the next 48 hours. They were in control of this series, leading two-games-to-one with Game 4 in southern California, but the Red Wings have taken flight over the last two games. Their scorers have solved Hiller, while Anaheim’s offense has lost its stride.

“We just have to get emotionally involved in the game right from the drop of the puck,” said Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle. Another game in Detroit in this series seems unlikely at the moment.

Odds & Ends…Anaheim has lost back-to-back games for the first time since early March…Defenseman James Wisniewski returned to the Anaheim lineup after suffering a bruised lung in Game 3…Ryan Getzlaf did not register a goal or an assist, ending his eight-game point-scoring streak…The Red Wings scratched Chris Chelios and replaced him with Derek Meech…Justin Abdelkader played for the first time this postseason as well in place of the injured Tomas Kopecky.

Bruins-Hurricanes Game 3 Recap

Carolina Hurricanes (2-1) over the Boston Bruins (1-2) 3-2 OT

Jussi Jokinen is becoming Carolina's playoff hero

(Photo Credit: AP)

Jussi Jokinen is starting to make this a habit. Jokinen scored the game-winning goal 2:48 into overtime to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 win and a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series. Jokinen, waived by the Lightning in December, now has 5 goals in the playoffs, two short of his regular season total. "Obviously it feels great, with the things I've been through this year," said Jokinen. "I found my confidence again here. It's been a great ride." This is the third huge goal of the playoffs for Jokinen. In the first round against the Devils, he scored the game-winning goal with 0.2 seconds left in regulation of Game 4 and the game-tying goal with 1:20 left in regulation in Game 7.

The Hurricanes game-winner is proof how much things are magnified in the playoffs. Zdeno Chara had the puck in the defensive zone with time to clear it. Chara failed to get it out however when Jokinen stepped up and held the puck in the zone. Sergei Samsanov took the puck and slid a backhander that got caught up in the traffic up front. Jokinen drove the net, found the rebound, and deposited the puck in the back of the net. All of this could have been prevented if Chara had successfully cleared the puck. Jokinen also assisted on Samsanov's goal in the second period. That goal came just 69 seconds after Eric Staal's 7th of the playoffs and gave the Canes a 2-1 lead. By the way, the line of Eric Cole, Eric Staal, and Ray Whitney had 9 combined shots-on-goal. Chara has been very physical against them, but it apparently isn't enough. Staal does not need much room to score, as he showed on his goal last night.

Lost in the Hurricanes win was Tim Thomas's outstanding effort. Thomas was the only reason Boston made it to overtime. Thomas stopped 38 of Carolina's 41 shots, including a remarkable save on Matt Cullen 13:00 into the first. The rest of the team played more like they did in Game 2. "We had some chances, but there's such a thing as hockey gods, and sometimes they'll give the breaks to the team that deserves it," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "Unfortunately, we didn't really deserve this game, the way we played." It's clear that the Bruins will need to get a better effort from everyone to defeat the Hurricanes.

Capitals-Penguins Game 3 Recap

Pittsburgh Penguins (1-2) over the Washington Capitals (2-1) 4-3 OT

Brooks Orpik and Penguins Stun Capitals in OT Thriller

(Photo Credit: AP)

It’s only fitting that at least one game in this series between the top three heavyweights in the NHL goes into overtime. The 17,132 white clad Penguin fans at the Igloo were fired up from the get-go as the Washington Capitals came to town for game three of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. Less than a minute and half into the game, Alexander Ovechkin silenced them with his eighth goal of the playoffs and with less than two minutes to play in regulation, he helped silence them again by assisting on the game-tying goal. But it in the end, it would be Ovechkin and the Capitals who would leave the ice silenced, as the Pittsburgh Penguins emerged victorious in overtime with a 3-2 win last night at the Mellon Arena.

Not too long after the first puck dropped, Marc Andre-Fleury came out of his crease to play a puck behind the net and in the process his stick fell out of his hand. The puck made its way around the boards back to Ovechkin and he rifled a shot past a diving, helpless Fleury to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 1:23. After being outplayed for the first half of the period, the Penguins responded by playing aggressive and battling for each possession. They would end up with eight shots in the period, after having only one shot on goal through the first ten minutes.
The Penguins retaliated in the second period when Ruslan Fedotenko attempted a short wrist shot that was stopped in front of net by Capital defenseman Mike Green. The puck bounced back to Fedotenko and he blasted a shot past Varlamov’s shoulder to knot the game at 1 halfway through the period.

With a little over five minutes left to play in the third, Evgeni Malkin, who has yet to score in this series, drew a hooking penalty from Alexander Semin. Malkin brought the sold out crowd to it’s feet when he bobbed and weaved around Capital center Brooks Laich and fired a bullet from the slot above Varlamov’s right shoulder to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 15:01. "Malkin was at another level," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "He was dominant with the puck and he had the goal, which was fantastic." Ovechkin apparently begged to differ, "No, he play the same. Same level."

The euphoria would not last long, however, as Pascal Dupuis was penalized for interfering with Tom Poti at 17:32. With traffic around Fleury’s net, Niklas Backstrom and Ovechkin took turns stabbing at the puck, trying to get it across the goal line. Backstrom won the battle as he managed to get the puck to deflect into the net off of Fleury’s skate to knot the game at two apiece. The goal, at 18:10, was Backstrom’s first of the playoffs.

Throughout the entire game, both goalies made impressive saves to keep their teams in the game. Once again, Simeon Varlamov was extraordinary in goal, making 39 saves, almost all of them exciting. At one point in the third period, he stopped Kris Letang on two consecutive rapid-fire blasts from the left circle. Letang finally beat him with his sixth shot on goal at 11:23 of the overtime period, giving the Penguins a 3-2 victory and cutting Washington’s lead in the series to 2-1. Sidney Crosby won the face off in the right circle and dished the puck backwards to Mark Eaton. Eaton passed it over to Letang who rifled a one-timer through traffic, which deflected off Capitals defenseman Shaone Morrison and over Varlamov into the net. It was Letang’s first ever career playoff goal, despite almost not playing due to a shoulder injury he sustained in game two.

"We knew we had Tanger set up for a one-timer if we won it clean," Crosby said. "I just got it back to [Mark] Eaton and we got a good bounce there. We've been working on those plays, so it's nice to see when it works."

The Penguins out shot the Capitals 42-23 and led the game in power plays at 7-2. The Capitals took six consecutive minor penalties at one point. Despite Varlamov nearly stealing the game, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau and Ovechkin took issue with the officiating throughout the game. "When you get a goaltending effort like that, you have to win because they don't come around every day," Boudreau said. "I think we might have deserved the penalties, but they sure as hell deserved a few more than they got."

"I don't want to talk about Varlamov. I don't want to talk about the referees too,” said Ovechkin. “They only had two penalties, it's kind of a joke."
Game four is Friday night in Pittsburgh.

Odds & Ends…Of the nine games Simeon Varlamov has played in this post-season, he has been named one of the top three stars in seven of them…Even though his team lost tonight, Varlamov has been the difference in this series so far. While Crosby and Ovechkin are offensive juggernauts, they cancel each other out, and what you’re left with are the two goaltenders, and Washington has the edge here. Varly made 39 saves and on almost every one I found myself yelling “Oh” along with the crowd. He keeps Washington in the game no matter what and had that goal in OT not taken a weird hop off of his own defender, this game could’ve easily went on to another OT. But that’s hockey. Unfortunately you can’t stop everything and you’re going to get a bad bounce against you. Varlamov has shown the presence of mind not to let it get to him…Crosby was quiet (as far as scoring goals) but he was still a major presence on the ice. If you can’t score, then you have to help your team in other ways and he did that by winning that last face off and assisting on the important goals. Evgeni Malkin also stepped up his game, leading both teams in ice time and when Crosby couldn’t find the net, he did. If Malkin gets going, the Pens have a deadly 1-2 punch with him and Crosby and they can turn this series around… 460 Penguin fans received cell-phone messages Monday that they had won four tickets to an upcoming playoff game. That's 459 more than were supposed to receive the message. Those who received the message in error received an automated phone call and were told that a team staffer would contact them. They were to get two tickets to a regular-season game in 2009-10, a Penguins T-shirt and cap and a $25 gift card. Now here is a great example of a professional sports organization going above and beyond the call of duty to rectify a mistake it made. Other teams across sports should take note of this, particularly the New York Yankees, who after this weeks rain delay fiasco, seem to be alienating their fans more and more every day.

Information from the AP, Washington Post and Pittsburgh Gazette was used in this story.


Title Fight: Crosby vs. Ovechkin
Round 3
Crosby- 0 Goals, 2 Assists, +1, 3 Shots on Goal, 2 Hits, 28:32 Time on Ice
Ovechkin- 1 Goals, 1 Assist, +1, 3 Shots on Goal, 7 Hits, 23:44 Time on Ice

Result: Crosby finally wins one from Ovechkin in round 3. Alex may have gotten a goal, but just about anyone who was in his position at that exact moment in time would have scored there. Crosby’s two assists help to set up the go-ahead goal and the game winner. After three rounds, Ovie still leads in the cards 29-28.