For the first time in the 2014-15 season, the Penguins will play with their season on the line in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tonight at Madison Square Garden.
In 2009, the last year the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, they went 3-0 in potential elimination games. The Penguins will have to match that output in the opening series if they hope to escape from the first round.
Since the last Cup run, the Pens have gone just 2-5 in games that they could be eliminated in and are 0-3 in their last three do-or-die games.
It may be a steep climb back from a 3-1 deficit, but the Penguins know it can be done. Just ask the New York Rangers, who pulled of the feat a year ago when the teams met in the second round.
“I went around the room the other day and asked how many guys have been involved in a 3-1 series one way or another,” head coach Mike Johnston said of his team’s mental mindset facing elimination. “A lot of guys had, so really, you draw on those types of experiences.”
Johnston also isn’t concerned about his younger players that may be facing elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time.
“I think for the young guys that are playing in their first playoff series, they’re kind of naïve, and they’re just excited to play, and they just play the game,” he added.
“We’re down, but we’re certainly going to fight,” said center Brandon Sutter. “We’ve got to play desperate and really have that jump. Win one to get to Pittsburgh, and you never know what happens.”
THE 4077: Defenseman Derrick Pouliot (upper-body) was again a full participant in morning skate, but again will not play, as he has not yet been cleared to return to action. Injured winger Beau Bennett will also not return to the lineup.
UP AND DOWN: The Penguins assigned defenseman Scott Harrington to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Harrington had not seen action with Pittsburgh since he was recalled at the end of the NHL regular season.
SCOREBOARD WATCHING: The Washington Capitals put an exclamation point on their Game 5 win on Thursday night, dominating the New York Islanders from start to finish and scoring five straight goals en route to a 5-1 victory.
The Caps outshot the Isles 51-23 and got two goals and an assist from Evgeny Kuznetsov. Four other Capitals recorded two points, but not Alex Ovechkin, who was held off the board with just one shot on goal. Game 6 is in New York on Saturday.
MINOR MATTERS: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will get their playoff run started tonight as they host the Syracuse Crunch in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at 7:05 p.m.
Despite his award-winning regular season, head coach John Hynes has not committed to starting rookie Matt Murray in goal for the postseason. Veteran Jeff Zatkoff played in the team’s final two regular season games.
The Wheeling Nailers overcame a 4-2 second period deficit to beat the Toledo Walleye 5-4 on Wednesday night. Riley Brace had two goals and David Gilbert scored the game-winner, his third of the playoffs. Eric Hartzell made 13 saves to earn the win in relief of Franky Palazzese, who left in the third period with an injury.
Game 4 will be tonight at 7:35 p.m. at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. The Nailers got some added help this morning, as defenseman Harrison Ruopp was assigned from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Ruopp had been out with an injury at the AHL level and could make his return to the ice tonight.
Photo credit: USA Today
