Ann 22009 NHL Playoffs – Round 2: Penguins Knock Out Capitals With Crushing 6-2 Win
May 15th 2009 04:54
When the Washington Capitals pushed their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins to a decisive Game 7, hockey fans everywhere were salivating with glee. After all, nothing could be better than hotly contested Game 7, right? Wrong. Bolstered by their appearance in the Cup final last season, the Penguins ran a clinic against the Caps who were simply overwhelmed by their opponent's intensity and organization.
The game was defined by two key moments in the first period. First, Marc-Andre Fleury came up with a great save on Alexander Ovechkin's breakaway early in the game. Although commentators called it a miraculous save, I noticed that Ovechkin tended to go a lot for Fleury's glove side except when he was able to one-time his teammates' passes while posted in the left face-off circle. So, for me it was simply a great save. Then, a rare event happened. The Penguins scored twice in the span of eight seconds to take a 2-0 lead on the home side. Although the Capitals are reputed for their ability to come back, the Penguins' complete domination in the first twenty minutes showed that it wouldn't be a small task. The next goal would prove to be very important.
Bill Guerin scored Pittsburgh's third thirty seconds into the second period and when Kris Letang made it 4-0 two minutes later, even Ovechkin couldn't bare to watch the massacre happening on ice. Neither was I. When Jordan Staal made it 5-0, I switched over to the Bones finale and only came back during commercial breaks. I managed to catch Ovechkin's goal on a wrap-around – a gift from Fleury – that, at least, prevented the Penguins from subjecting the Capitals to total humiliation.
Sidney Crosby showed why he was the captain of this team from the start of the series. Last night was no exception as he scored his second goal early in the third. Both of his goals came on the powerplay and it was his third point of the night as he picked up an assist on Guerin's goal in the second period. Finally, Brooks Laich scored another consolation goal for the Caps who were simply not on the same level as the Penguins who showed great calm and concentration. After watching Pittsburgh's performance last night, you have to wonder how that series went on for seven games. But then again, perhaps it was just a case of Washington running out of gas since it was their second Game 7 of the postseason.
So, the Penguins return to the Conference finals for the second year in a row. They are only four wins away from another Stanley Cup final appearance where they'll be looking to get their revenge.
My 3 Stars:
3. The 'Rob Scuderi – Hal Gill' defense pairing who were excellent against Ovechkin
2. Evgeni Malkin
1. Sidney Crosby
The game was defined by two key moments in the first period. First, Marc-Andre Fleury came up with a great save on Alexander Ovechkin's breakaway early in the game. Although commentators called it a miraculous save, I noticed that Ovechkin tended to go a lot for Fleury's glove side except when he was able to one-time his teammates' passes while posted in the left face-off circle. So, for me it was simply a great save. Then, a rare event happened. The Penguins scored twice in the span of eight seconds to take a 2-0 lead on the home side. Although the Capitals are reputed for their ability to come back, the Penguins' complete domination in the first twenty minutes showed that it wouldn't be a small task. The next goal would prove to be very important.
Bill Guerin scored Pittsburgh's third thirty seconds into the second period and when Kris Letang made it 4-0 two minutes later, even Ovechkin couldn't bare to watch the massacre happening on ice. Neither was I. When Jordan Staal made it 5-0, I switched over to the Bones finale and only came back during commercial breaks. I managed to catch Ovechkin's goal on a wrap-around – a gift from Fleury – that, at least, prevented the Penguins from subjecting the Capitals to total humiliation.
Sidney Crosby showed why he was the captain of this team from the start of the series. Last night was no exception as he scored his second goal early in the third. Both of his goals came on the powerplay and it was his third point of the night as he picked up an assist on Guerin's goal in the second period. Finally, Brooks Laich scored another consolation goal for the Caps who were simply not on the same level as the Penguins who showed great calm and concentration. After watching Pittsburgh's performance last night, you have to wonder how that series went on for seven games. But then again, perhaps it was just a case of Washington running out of gas since it was their second Game 7 of the postseason.
So, the Penguins return to the Conference finals for the second year in a row. They are only four wins away from another Stanley Cup final appearance where they'll be looking to get their revenge.
My 3 Stars:
3. The 'Rob Scuderi – Hal Gill' defense pairing who were excellent against Ovechkin
2. Evgeni Malkin
1. Sidney Crosby
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