May 12, 2013
New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) of Kazakhstan looks down as Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Pascal Dupuis (9) scores in the second period of Game 6 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey series in Uniondale, N.Y., Saturday, May 11, 2013. New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic (3) looks on. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – It neither minimized nor erased what Ed Westfall, John Tonelli and David Volek had done to Pittsburgh in decades past but the Penguins finally got one over on the New York Islanders.
Veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik was the most unlikely hero, scoring on a slap shot at 7:49 of overtime as the Penguins advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-3 win at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday. It was Orpik’s first goal in 112 games and first ever in the postseason. “Definitely a good feeling, I’d much rather get one now that get one in the regular season,” said Orpik. “I couldn’t tell you where I was shooting.” Paul Martin tied the game at the 14:44 mark of the third after the Penguins were completely out-played – and out-shot for the better part of two-thirds of Game 6. Jarome Iginla and Pascal Dupuis also scored as the Penguins, who will next face the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. John Tavares, Colin McDonald and Michael Grabner scored for the Islanders, who never trailed until Orpik’s goal, despite numerous chances. New York held a 38-21 lead in shots yet couldn’t get much past goalie Tomas Vokoun, who made 35 saves for his second straight win since replacing Marc-Andre Fleury as the starter. “They played the way we expected them to play but ultimately we felt we did a better job in certain areas,” said captain Sidney Crosby. “But you have to give (the Islanders) credit. “Every game’s not going to be perfect and you’ve got a find a way to win.”
Chris Bradford
KEY MOMENT
In overtime, the Penguins played with a greater sense urgency and it culminated at 7:49 of the extra frame. Evgeni Malkin collected a puck below the goal line, carried it around the net and slid a pass to C Tyler Kennedy, who quickly passed to D Brooks Orpik at the left point. Orpik one-timed the pass and it seemed to deflect a bit before hitting G Evgeni Nabokov’s glove and deflecting behind him to move the Penguins on to the next round. “I saw Brooksie with his stick up and he made a great shot, it went bar down, it was just a great shot,” said Kennedy. “I think everyone on the team can score, (Orpik’s) not really looked on to score but whenever he has the puck, you never know what can happen.”
HIDDEN STAT
2. Brooks Orpik became the second defenseman in Penguins history to score a series-clinching, game-winning goal in overtime. The other was Darius Kasparaitis in Game 7 of the Penguins’ second-round series against Buffalo in 2001.
NOTEWORTHY
- For the second straight game and the second time he’s been in the lineup, forward Tyler Kennedy was arguably the Penguins’ best player. As he did in Game 5, Kennedy provided plenty of energy and earned the assist on Brooks Orpik’s game-winner in overtime. A healthy scratch the first four games, Kennedy was happy to contribute. “It’s always nice to see the team win and I’m grateful to be in the lineup,” he said.
- The upstart Islanders certainly earned the respect of the Penguins by pushing them six games – including two games they won in overtime -- in a series that many predicted wouldn’t go five. “We’ve said it from the start, we respected that team and they way they play,” said C Sidney Crosby. “We knew they had a lot of guys that were dangerous.”
- The Penguins pushed their record in Game 6’s to 14-14, including 8-8 on the road.
- It was the Penguins’ first series victory since 2010, when they beat Ottawa in six games.
- It was also the sixth consecutive series victory that the Penguins have secured on the road.
- C Joe Vitale picked up his first career Stanley Cup playoff point, assisting on Pascal Dupuis’s second period goal.
- LW Pascal Dupuis extended his scoring streak to six games, scoring seven points (five goals) over that span.
- Several Penguins had scoring streaks come to an end in the victory, Chris Kunitz (three Games –five points), Kris Letang (three games – five points), Brandon Sutter (two games – two points).
- New York held a 31-23 edge in hits and won an alarming 60 percent of the faceoffs.
- C Evgeni Malkin won just 35 percent (6-of-17) of his faceoffs.
- The Maple Leafs and Canadiens are now the only team who the Penguins have never beaten in multiple playoff series. They are 0-3 all-time against Toronto and 0-2 against Montreal.
- In all-time Game 6’s at the Coliseum, the Islanders are 12-2. That included two previous wins over the Penguins in 1975 and ’93. Before Saturday, New York’s last home loss in a Game 6 was in 1977 against eventual Cup champion Montreal.
QUOTEWORTHY
“Anything can happen. Sometimes you have to find a way to win and it’s not pretty. For us to find a way to win in the most important thing.” D Paul Martin, who scored the Penguins’ tying goal in the third period.
STORYLINES
RIGHT ON
Jarome Iginla forged a Hall of Fame-worthy career as a right wing. So some thought it a little odd when Dan Bylsma tried to pigeonhole Iginla at left wing when the Penguins acquired him. After weeks of moving around and the lines seemingly set, Iginla has settled back on the right wing. He started Saturday night’s game again on the top line with center Sidney Crosby and the versatile Pascal Dupuis on the left. Not that it’s big a deal to Iginla. “Where it’s different is maybe some quick post-ups,” said Iginla, who scored the Penguins’ first goal in Game 6. “If you’re getting (the puck) on your forehand, it’s easier to dish it out to your centerman. The other side, you might get more one-timers. “I honestly don’t find it really that much of a difference as far as thinking ‘I feel way more comfortable.’” Nor does it change the way the 16-year veteran prepares. Having MVPs and scoring champions as your centers, tends to help. “I’ve been a very fortunate winger getting a chance to play with Geno and now with Sid,” said Iginla, who had eight points (seven assists) through the first five games. “I don’t change the way (I play), one or the other, you don’t really change anything. It’s the same style, we all bring what we bring. Either way, I’m a lucky guy to play with either of them.”
FAST START
With no margin for error the Islanders were sure to make a desperate push in Game 6 back in the friendly confines of the Nassau Coliseum. The Penguins were all too aware of the starts the Islanders had been getting of late. Though Pittsburgh held a 9-4 edge in first-period goals entering Saturday, New York was particularly strong in the opening 20 minutes of Games 4 and 5 and again in Game 6. “It’s been the case in the majority of the games, especially here with their fans,” said forward Brenden Morrow. “Limit the turnovers, have good puck possession and try not to let their team feed off their crowd.”
The Penguins failed to do that as New York took a 2-1 lead at the end of 20 minutes while out-shooting Pittsburgh 12-7 in the first period.
THE POWER OF FLOWER
Though he was relegated to back-up duties for a second straight game, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury remains wildly popular among his teammates. Defenseman Kris Letang bristled when asked if the Penguins play better in front of backup Tomas Vokoun. “I don’t think it matters who is in net, it matters how we play,” said defenseman Kris Letang. “We didn’t play well in front of Flower. (Media) can say anything about Flower but it’s not his fault. It’s us making bad turnovers, bad managing the puck. That’s on us.” Defenseman Doug Murray says the Penguins don’t play differently in style or effort for Vokoun or Fleury. Though Vokoun catches with his right hand, it doesn’t present any differences in terms of puck retrieval. “He’s good at playing it both ways (to the left or right of the net),” said Murray. “Maybe when they go hard-around they might go the other way but that’s about it. I’ve never thought about playing differently or asked by a goalie to play differently (because of catching hand.” Vokoun was a difference maker in the Penguins’ win Saturday stopping 35 shots, 16 alone in the second period, to earn the win.
Chris Bradford
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