Post game analysis and notes
–Olli Maatta is the real thing. His set up of Taylor Pyatt for the Penguins second goal was smooth. His fake shot and ability to skate down low showed patience, instinct and skill. Pyatt returned the favor, in his own way, on the game-winner by firmly screening Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth. The Penguins could use a lot more of both.
–The Washington Capitals third and fourth lines were noticeably better than the Penguins counterparts. Brooks Laich, Jay Beagle, Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer were able to create pressure and gain momentum against the Penguins. While credit must be given to the Capital’s lines, Brendon Sutter looked exposed. (Hehe) Seriously, though, he failed on numerous clearing attempts in the first and second periods. Fans will remember his set-up of the third period tying goal, but prior he was not strong.
–Kris Letang. Just so many head scratchers. Yes, he scored the Penguins first goal…on a fanned attempt. He was also primarily responsible for the Capital’s first goal. His wild outlet pass was lazy, then he misplayed the Capitals subsequent rush. Letang had trailing help from Jussi Jokinen, which effectively neutralized the Caps 2-on-1. However, Letang left his feet and took himself out of the play allowing Laich a clean attempt at point blank range. Letang also inexplicably left his feet, sliding to the mid boards, midway through the second period, as well. His game is uneasy right now. Is he pressing in an effort to live up to last year’s Norris Trophy nomination? An out-of-sync high wire act?
– I like Robert Bortuzzo. He is a needed presence on the Pens blueline. He muscled Ovechkin away from the Penguins cage on at least one occasion. I really like Brooks Orpik. But I don’t like the Bortuzzo-Orpik pairing. Their games are too homogenous and thus don’t compliment each other.
–Matt Niskanen looked like a poor man’s Letang, in a bad way, on the Caps second goal. He got caught in the high slot while Jason Chimera was camped in front of the net. Chimera didn’t waste the opportunity. Niskanen redeemed himself with a few cancellations in the 3rd period.
–I still haven’t gotten used to the hyrbid icing. At least once per game, I find myself surprised by a whistle or lack of. I’m getting old. Things were better in the old days. Always.
–I liked Zach Sill making a point to hit Alexander Ovechkin in the second period. That’s the kind of play the Penguins need more of….much more!
–The coincidental minors on Evgeni Malkin and Jon Erskin midway through the third were garbage calls. Erskin will take that trade every time and Malkin did little to earn the call. NHL referee’s are usually smarter than to allow a guy like Erskin to take Malkin to the box in a big situation. Malkin has a reputation as a guy who will retaliate and that penalty looked like a reputation call.
–Was Letang playing forward on that same 4-on-4, where the Caps went ahead 3-2?! He certainly wasn’t playing defense. He looked lost skating over to Marcus Johansson, who fed a cross ice pass to Ovechkin in the high scoring area. Letang MUST do more in that situation to slow the pass or make it more difficult.
–The following interference call on Malkin, which the Penguins killed, is most often overlooked. Tanner Glass, from the Penguins bench, called out Brooks Laich for the dive. The Penguins did nothing on the ice to confirm the message. Was Glass ever on the ice?
–I saw more intelligent offensive hockey, but not significant change from “globetrotter” hockey. A few times in the final four minutes, it appeared the Penguins were in a 1-4 trap position, but there certainly wasn’t any ugly hockey.
–After watching the game winning goal, and the shift of Evgeni Malkin, would you take Ovechkin or Malkin with the 2004 number one pick? Former Penguins GM Craig Patrick said he preferred Malkin. I can’t say he was wrong. The pair may be the most prolific 1-2 selections in NHL since 1971 when Guy Lafleur was followed by Marcel Dionne.
