Pens look to even series against Flyers

04/13/2012 09:34

You better believe the message was loud and clear! A 3 goal lead after one period and yet the Pens still managed to lose in overtime to the Red HOT Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. At yesterdays practice the players remained cautiously optomistic as they downplayed concerns that a season can be lost in the first game. While I agree there is obvious things that need addressed such as turning over pucks in the neutral zone, getting pucks deep and establishing an aggressive forecheck as well as getting the powerplay on track and tightening up defensively. I do however believe that the Wednesday fiasco was merely one game which can be forgotten if the Pens can win tonight and possibly steal one in Philly.

Things to look for tonight...........

1.) A reconfigured Power Play which the team worked on in practice yesterday. Hopefully we will see Crosby take more faceoffs during the PP. My feeling is if you don't win the draw you're already behind the 8 ball.

2.) A more consistant game. I feel the Guinners spent most ofthere energy in the 1st period and came ot flat the rest of the way. Perhaps a more consistant flow would better serve them.

3.) Tighter denfense. Expect a better performance from Kris Letang who was on the ice for over 20 mins. and @ times looked lost on the ice. Also, Brooks Orpik generally plays extremely well after a lackluster performance. Not theat he played poor although it his penalty that allowed the tying goal with under 5 mins in regulation.

 4.) Paul Martin............ Well, sometimes I just don't know what to say.

5.) The first line. Malkin, Neal, Kunitz......The Pens bread and butter all season looked almost non existent on wednesday. Although Kunitz had some big hits the rest of the line remained earily quiet. If they can get hot...Then Flyers beware. An angry Malkin is dangerous!

 

This series is FAR I repeat FAR from over. Don't think for 1 second that anyone on the Penguins team is willing to go down without a fight. They simply need to tighten up their game and play like the team that posted 108 points this season. If they can do that (along with the referees making the correct calls on the ice) then they could be well on their way to a 2nd round matchup. If not.....  they'll be nothing more than a statistic of a team with a great season that couldn't produce in the playoffs.

 

In my own opinion the entire team has gotten too fancy. They've gotten away from what made them succesfull in 2009 when they won the cup. They need to Dump n' Chase if you will. Pun intended! Perhaps if they get back to the nitty gritty we'll see a game 2 victory the Pittsburgh Penguins!

 

Let's Go PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!