Saturday, May 03, 2014

Defensive breakdown reminiscent of Columbus series

The Penguins’ breakdown on the game-winning goal for the Rangers might have looked a little familiar. It’s not the first time this postseason that the Penguins’ defensemen were caught behind the net and a forward tried to make an anticipatory play, only for the puck to end up in the slot and then in the back of the Penguins’ net.
Only instead of Columbus getting a big goal like it did to open Game 3 or a tying goal like it did late in Game 4, it was the Rangers who capitalized on the game-winner. The breakdown began with a flubbed push pass along the boards by Rob Scuderi. His attempted feed to Robert Bortuzzo was intercepted by Benoit Pouliot. Sidney Crosby tried to poke check the puck away from Pouliot, but the Rangers’ forward was able to slide a pass by Crosby to Derek Brassard. Lee Stempniak, apparently anticipating the push along the boards by Scuderi to Bortuzzo, left Brassard to try to pick up a potential pass. That left Brassard open for the game-winner. Even if Brassard’s shot hit the crossbar like the referees initially thought, the Penguins were scrambling so much from the initial breakdown that they never recovered in time to stop Pouliot from putting the puck back in the net a few seconds after Brassard.
Dan Bylsma tinkered once again, but ultimately he went back to more traditional lines for Game 1 against the Rangers. The Penguins coach put Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby together for portions of the first period, but it didn’t last. After a couple of early penalties against the Rangers in the second period, the Penguins stayed with their normal rotation of having Malkin and Crosby on separate lines. They weren’t united again, but it didn’t seem to matter, as Malkin’s line continued to generate opportunities. Malkin, James Neal and Jussi Jokinen combined for nine of the Penguins’ 36 shots. “I thought (Malkin’s) line in particular played real well in the offensive zone,” Bylsma said. “He didn’t score the goal, James Neal did, but it’s his play and drive to the net through the defenseman that opens up the space for James for the shot.”
KEY PLAY
Rob Scuderi and Robert Bortuzzo were caught behind the goalline three minutes into overtime, enabling Benoit Pouliot to slip a pass into the slot for Derek Brassard to bury as the game-winner. The refs initially waived it off, saying it hit the crossbar, and Pouliot scored on a rebound seven seconds later. Brassard got the goal, though, and the Rangers got the win.
NOTES
An errant whistle in the first period ended a Penguins’ scoring chance and drew the ire of the crowd. At first it was ruled offsides, though the puck never went out of the New York zone. The ruling was then changed to a hand-pass, which also didn’t occur. The officials recognized the error on the ice and awarded the Penguins a faceoff in the Rangers’ zone because of the errant whistle.
Brooks Orpik and Brian Gibbons remained out of the lineup, though Gibbons appears closer to returning. Orpik hasn’t skated since leaving practice prior to Game 5 against Columbus. Gibbons has been practicing and took part in warm-ups before being scratched Friday night. Gibbons hasn’t played since Game 2.
The Penguins dropped just their fourth series opener in the last 14 Game 1s that they have played on home ice.
All three losses the Penguins have suffered this postseason have come in overtime.
Jussi Jokinen had an assist on James Neal’s second period goal, extending his postseason points streak to five games.
Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz were on the ice for all three Rangers goals. It’s a season low for both since a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on March 15.
QUOTEWORTHY
I think if we come out with a quicker start out of the box, I think we’ll be in good shape…We’re not worried. We’ll be fine.” – Marc-Andre Fleury
THREE STARS
3. Stempniak
2. Girardi
1. Pouliot

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