Facing elimination for the first time in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins responded better than most expected. Against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6, the Penguins controlled the pace, and Pittsburgh won pretty easily, 5-2.
Matt Murray got the start in net and the vote of confidence from his team. Allowing two goals (one was a self-inflicted goal by Phil Kessel), Murray responded well after being benched in Game 5 for Marc-Andre Fleury. Murray played especially well in a wild third period that Tampa Bay controlled.
After the Lightning made it close in that third period, trailing by just one, Bryan Rust scored Pittsburgh’s fourth goal to put the game out of Tampa Bay’s reach — Nick Bonino’s open-net goal (the Penguins’ fifth) was just the cherry on top. The Penguins were out-played in a few instances, but, overall, the offense outperformed the Lightning’s.
Thank you for stopping the stress, @rustyyy_92. You don’t know what it means to all of us. pic.twitter.com/8cLKVsJBmm
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 25, 2016
Now that the Penguins have forced a Game 7, if successful, Pittsburgh has the opportunity to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals in front of its home crowd.
Execution of the Gameplan
Able to hold on in the final moments, the Penguins never veered from the gameplan put together by head coach Mike Sullivan. Sure, Pittsburgh took its foot off the pedal for a few moments and allowed Tampa Bay to make things interesting late in the game. However, an overly aggressive Lightning team couldn’t keep the hot Penguin offense from scoring.
After the game, Murray admitted the win wasn’t pretty. The Penguins defense allowed 31 shots on goal, 19 of which came in the third period. (An early Tampa Bay goal was called back because of offsides.) But that doesn’t matter much because he and his team stepped up in a major way.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, many were unsure whether starting Murray in net was the right call by Sullivan. Fleury had looked pretty good in Game 5 — the loss wasn’t his fault, and he looked good in his first game back since March (concussion) — and, as the veteran, he’s faced tough situations before. But Sullivan stuck with his 21-year-old netminder, and Murray made his coach look good with that decision. Now, save for something crazy, Murray should start Game 7.
Stars Rising
The Penguins’ big names showed up when they were needed most, a trend that must continue into Game 7. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel all played major roles in Tuesday night’s win.
Although Malkin didn’t score a goal, his presence was very much felt. He played aggressively all night (he was sent to the box for a bad penalty, showing his frustration), and Malkin brought a much-needed energy to the ice. He had three shots on goal and one assist (on Kessel’s goal, the first of the game).
Crosby, who had four shots on goal and one assist, also scored what was one of the prettiest goals of the series. He scored a quick, beautiful goal through Vasilevskly’s five-hole — but not before whizzing past Tampa Bay’s defense and snapping the shot home.
Sidney Crosby may be in the eye of the storm, but he can weave through Lightning. pic.twitter.com/1BRUBt7NCR
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 25, 2016
What’s Next
The Pittsburgh Penguins have taken the series back to Consol Energy for a winner-take-all Game 7. The game, which will take place Thursday night, will determine whether the Penguins or the Lightning will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals (where they’ll face either the San Jose Sharks or the St. Louis Blues.)
Image credit: Chris O’Meara/Associated Press
