Penguins Series Outlook

Looking ahead after games two and three in the series with the Islanders

By Matt Ebert

Game Two: Jarry’s redemption leads the way in game two

Goaltending may have been the weakness in game one, but Tristian Jarry put the haters to bed with a
tremendous performance in game two. Despite some juicy rebounds and nerve-racking moments near
the net, Jarry stood strong while facing 38 shots and only allowing one goal.

Luckily for Jarry, mechanics and rebound control do not have to be perfect if the team in front of you
plays with the energy the Penguins had last night. Feeding from the 9000+ fans in attendance, the
Penguins were shot out of a gun at the drop of the puck.

Bryan Rust got the scoring started early in the first with a low danger wrister from the right point. Rust
took advantage of an Adam Pelech mishandle in the neutral zone, skated into the Islanders’ zone, and
with no other option threw the puck on net at Semyon Varlamov. Varlamov, who had been nursing a
lower-body injury since the Islanders’ final regular season game, seemed fooled by the shot and let in the
fluky goal to let the Pens take an early lead.

Later in the first, the Jeff Carter trade continued to pay dividends when he scored five-hole from
between the faceoff dots. Jared McCann gave Carter a great pass from behind the net and Carter cashed
in on the opportunity.

The lone Islanders’ goal came from a Josh Bailey backhand with 5:16 remaining in the second. Bailey
made a smooth stick handle to move past Carter and roofed a well-placed shot glove side on Jarry. Play
got heated when Tanev crashed into the Islanders’ net shortly after the Bailey goal. A scrum ensued
sending Aston-Reese and Matt Martin to the sin bin on matching roughing penalties.

Things got interesting in the last half of the third period when Guentzel threw the puck on net after a
wrap-around. Varlamov was nearly beaten five-hole but froze the puck on the goal line. A few minutes
later the Pens continued the pressure with several shots in quick succession on Varlamov from their fourth
line. As the Pens like to do, they kept everyone’s stress through the roof until the final buzzer. Rust
closed his hand on the puck and threw it out of the zone which prompted an Islanders powerplay for the
final 1:28 of the game. The Isles had a few chances, but nothing surmised, and the Pens were able to
take game two with a final score of 2-1.

Three Takeaways

1. Jarry’s strong performance: The end of game one left big questions for the state of Penguins’ net
   minding. Jarry did not play well, Desmith’s health is in question (he will not be making the trip to
   Long Island for games 3 and 4) , and Maxime Legace has only played 10 professional games all
   season (9 in the AHL and 1 NHL). Jarry responded with a great performance to snuff out any
   questions of who will be guarding the net in game 3.
2. Physicality and energy: The Pens, being backed by a 50% capacity arena, played with the energy
   they were missing in game one. The first period was controlled by the Pens (shots 19 – 13 Pens)
   with the Isles pushing back in the second. In the third the Pens regained momentum to put the
   Islanders away. The energy brought by the fans and team was tremendous and is something
   that has been dearly missed all season. What is concerning, however, is the physicality the
   energy brought. A physical game is Brandon Tanev’s forte, but not for others such as Guentzel,
   who had a tough game, and Dumoulin who was taken awkwardly into the boards by J.G.
   Pageau. If the Pens want to make a run at Lord Stanley, they will need to control the physicality
   and be mindful of the hits they take.
3. Still no Geno: Geno has been skating on his own and taking part in practices but was not in the
   line up on Tuesday night. It is needless to say his presence on the ice is being missed, but with a
   return to the lineup still uncertain doubts are still present about the Pens ability to keep up
   playoff teams. Note: he will be making the trip for games 3 and 4…for what its worth.

Game Three: Carter (2G) and Letang (3Pts) drag Pens to game three victory

The leading headline going into game three at the Coliseum was the return of Evgeni Malkin who had
missed the first two games with an undisclosed injury. That story was lost immediately at the drop of
the puck when Islanders’ fans turned the Coliseum into a bedlam.

The energy, noise, and pandemonium that was in the air was quickly gone when Kris Letang opened the
scoring just two minutes into the game with a soft wrist shot from the point. The Pens would go on to
control most of the first period with 12 shots on net.

Backed by a buzzing crowd of 7,200 fans, a rejuvenated Islanders team took the ice in the second period.
Matt Martin, Ryan Pulock and Leo Komarov led the way with physical play and big hits. This play paid off
for the Isles when Scott Mayfield toe dragged around Aston-Reese and beat Tristian Jarry high glove side
to tie the game at one apiece.

Just a couple minutes later, Jeff Carter raced into the Islanders’ zone after picking up a Freddy Gaudreau
chip in. Putting on his best impression of a sniper, he put a laser of a wrister past Semyon Varlamov’s
blocker side putting the Pens up 2-1.

In the late stages of the second period after picking up a Letang pass in the corner, Jason Zucker made a bit of a
give-n-go play with Malkin, danced around Mayfield, and ripped a beauty of a shot beating Varlamov’s
high glove.

Entering the third period down 3-1, the Islanders kept up the intensity leading to extended zone time where Cal
Clutterbuck banged home a Cizikas redirection. Shortly after, tempers flared and a large scrum around
Jarry sent all ten skaters on the ice at the time in the box. Guentzel received an extra two for slashing
and put the Isles on the powerplay. Just 18 seconds into the powerplay Anthony Beauvillier tied the
game at three with a shot that beat Jarry five-hole.

At the 7:00 minute mark in the third Carter got his second goal of the game and third of the playoffs
with a wrist shot that beat Varlamov’s glove after some hard forechecking on the powerplay putting the
Pens back up 4-3.

After more physical play and more penalties given out by Kelly Sutherland, the scoring continued with
Cal Clutterbuck tying the game at 4. Mayfield let a shot go from the point which was redirected off of

Clutterbucks body and beat Jarry who argued for goaltender inferences but was brushed off by the
officials.

Late in the third the Pens fourth line cashed in on the energy they had been providing all game. ZAR was
able to cycle the puck to Letang at the point who fired a slapshot. The puck was tipped in front of the
net and, being Johnny on-the-spot, Brandon Tanev batted the puck out of the air past Varlamov.

With around two minutes left in the game the Islanders pulled Varlamov in favor of an extra skater.
After a few non-lethal shots from the Isles, the final horn sounded giving the Pens a 5-4 victory in
regulation.

Three Takeaways

1. The Coliseum won: The most important thing the Pens wanted to avoid was getting sucked into
   a physical and heated game; they failed. All night the Coliseum was a madhouse feeding the
   Islanders squad the energy they needed and wanted. This led to the Penguins taking senseless
   penalties, getting into unnecessary scrums and letting the Isles get under their skin. The
   Penguins gave the Isles four powerplays on the night (Isles going 1/4) and put their top line in
   the sinbin for a full two minutes. Luckily for the Pens, they were able to outscore their mistakes.
   If Pittsburgh wants to win game 4, they need to avoid what happened in game 3.
2. Jeff Carter continues his dominance: Carter has been on a tear since he joined the Pens at the
   trade deadline, and he has continued that into the playoffs. He netted a pair in game 3, won 14
   of 20 faceoffs (70%), led all forwards in time on ice (19:50), and led all skaters in shorthanded
   time on ice (3:51). This man is showing exactly why Ron Hextall acquired him and showing the
   hockey world that he wants another cup.
3. Pens top line goes pointless: The Pens top line of Crosby, Rust, and Guentzel went without a
   point in game three. Although Sid may have made up for it during a diving play to block a grade ‘A’
   chance from Brock Nelson, the Pens need to have their first line contributing each game. When
   they go pointless and earn eight PIMs they are setting the team up for a bad night. Thankfully for the
   Pens, Geno is back in the lineup and Carter has been on another level to help them pick up the slack
   when the first line does not contribute.

Next Game

The Coliseum is going to be rocking again. The game 3 defeat left a bad taste in Islanders’ players and
fans which will fuel a wild atmosphere come Saturday afternoon. The Isles will come out ready to lay hits
and play an even more physical game than what was seen Thursday night. Whatever Penguin roster
steps onto the ice will need to maintain, not let the Coliseum take control, and not let the Islanders’
skaters get under their skin. We cannot expect Jeff Carter to score every game; contributions to the score
sheet must be made from elsewhere in the lineup (particularly from the first line and Geno).
If the Pens can follow head coach Mike Sullivan’s mantra of “just play”, they will be fine. Add in a couple timely
saves from Jarry and a goal or two from an unusual source and they may be returning to PPG Paints
Arena with a 3-1 series advantage. However, if the Coliseum atmosphere gets the best of the Pens, it
will not bode well for a positive outcome. I anticipate a tight-checking and physical game coming down
to the wire or even going into overtime.