Sports Empty Netters Penguins at Lightning - Game 4 - 04-20-11
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The Penguins, hockey and more, by the PG's Seth Rorabaugh. |
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PREGAME
-Hey, guess where we are:
-No, not quite:
(Kudos to EN reader Dean Gething for the on-site picture.)
-So... Mike Comrie or Eric Tangradi? Who you got?
-Dan Bylsma has Tangradi. He'll start the rookie and presumably put him on the second line with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy.
-The Penguins starters are Arron Asham, Pascal Dupuis, Maxime Talbot, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik and Marc-Andre Fleury.
-Their scratches are Comrie, Matt Cooke, Deryk Engelland, Eric Godard, Dustin Jeffrey and Chris Kunitz.
-The Lightning's starters are Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Nate Thompson, Brett Clark, Mattias Ohlund and Dwayne Roloson.
-Their scratches are Marc-Andre Bergeron, Steve Downie, Blair Jones, Randy Jones and Matt Smaby.
The Penguins do have a switch in their forward combinations. According to Root Sports their lines will look like:
James Neal - Jordan Staal - Tyler Kennedy
Pascal Dupuis - Maxime Talbot - Chris Conner
Eric Tangradi - Mark Letestu - Alex Kovalev
Mike Rupp - Craig Adams -Arron Asham
FIRST PERIOD
19:31: Off a nice drop pass by Lecavalier on the left wing, Thompson releases a big wrister from the left circle. Fleury fights it off.
19:09: Sean Bergenhem puts a quick wrister on net from the right circle. Fleury eats it up.
18:20: Off a steal by Neal in the offensive zone, Letang snaps off a wrister from the right wall. Roloson eats it up.
18:13: Niskanen has a one-timer from the top of the slot blocked by Dana Tyrell.
17:54: And the Penguins' lack of discipline bites them again. Bergenheim roughs up Asham with a few hits in front of the Pengiuns' bench. Asham responds with a subtle cross check to the hip. Bergenheim sells it a bit with a fall. An official puts his arm up. A stupid penalty by Asham. Adams Dupuis, Orpik and Michalek take the ice.
17:27: Stamkos booms a one-timer from the top of the slot wide to the right of the cage.
16:44: Eric Brewer punches a slapper from the left point. Lecavalier re-directs it wide to the left of the cage.
15:54: The Asham minor is killed. Not much going on for Tampa Bay that two minutes.
14:05: Dupuis snaps off a wrister from deep on the left wing along the goal line. Roloson kicsk it out. Conner is there for the rebound but can't get a stick on it.
13:51: Talbot spins and whips a wrister at the cage from along the goal line on the right wing. Roloson denies that.
13:00ish: This photo is terrible, but behind the Penguins' bench, some Penguins fans have a sign giving a shoutout to the kids at Plum High School for their latest lipdub video:
12:41: Lecavalier is called for holding up Letang. Kind of a ticky tack call. Michalek, Letang, Kovealv, Neal and Staal take the ice.
12:21: Adam Hall recovers a loose puck in his zone and taps a pass to center ice. Nate Thompson seems to have a clean run at the net but before he can get started, Letang strips him of the puck at the red line. Very nice play by Letang.
11:55: Michalek takes a pass in the left circle and has a clean look at the net. He grips and rips a heavy wrister wide to the near side. It hits the end boards and deflects out of play.
11:46: WHAT!?! A power-play goal? By the team in white? Tyler Kennedy. What a shooter. Off a faceoff win in the left circke, Kennedy shuffles the puck with a backhanded pass to Michalek at the left point. Michalek controls it and deals it back to Kennedy. Kennedy moves into the left circle and snaps off a disgusting wrister which sneaks through Roloson. Tangradi appeared to have a nice screen on that play. What a shot by Kennedy. Michalek and Letestu get assists. Penguins 1-0.
10:23: Bergenheim whips a wrister from the right circle. It misses the mark and deflects out of play. Bergenheim is dumped to the ice by Staal for his troubles.
10:09: Rupp settles a pouncing puck in the right circle and shuffles a backhanded pass to the crease. Asham crashes in and dislodges the net. Roloson managed to keep that puck out of the net somehow.
9:27: Pavel Kubina snap off a wrister from right point. it sneaks through a forest of legs. Fleury kick it out with his right foot.
9:16: Rupp barges up the right wing, makes a power move by Matt Lundin and pokes a little shot on net from a tough angle. Roloson fights it off.
7:27: Conner lifts a wrister from the left circle. Roloson snags it with his glove hand.
5:20: Letang snaps off a wrister from the right point. St. Louis blocks it.
4:10: Simon Gagne tries to tap the puck by Conner on the left wing of the Penguins' zone but Conner holds his ground. He turns around, stops the puck and plays it back into the neutral zone. A very nice subtle defensive play in a one-on-one situation with a dangerous offensive player.
3:11: Bergenheim clips Kovalev in the mush with a stick. That's two minutes. The Penguins' suddenly ultra, mega ,super dangerous power play takes the ice in the form of Michalek, Letang, Neal, Staal and Kovalev.
1:57: Letang makes an impressive push up the left wing into the offensive zone, He skates by a few defenders, draws pressure from Brewer in the left circle and flips a backhander from a tough angle on the goal line. Roloson eats it up.
1:11: The Bergenheim minor is killed. Worst. Power. Play. Ever.
1:04: Clark flips a puck up ice from his own zone. Bergeheinm picks it up in the neutral one and fights off pressure from Niskanen all the way to the net. Bergenheim punches a backhander on net. Fleury fights it off. Lecavalier follows up on the rebound but Fleury's left leg kicks it out. Great work by Niskanen to prevent Bergenheim from getting a clean shot off without taking a penalty. And to Fleury to denying both shots.
0:15: Talbot gains the offensive zone the right wing and pushes a forehand pass to Dupuis on the left wing. Dupuis moves in and lifts a wrister from the left circle. Roloson fights it off. Tough save.
0:07: Off the rebound, Talbot battles for the puck in the right wing corner and taps a backhanded pass above the crease. Dupuis is there and one-touches it on net. Roloson stands tall again.
0:00: End of period. Penguins 1, Lightning 0.
FIRST INTERMISSION
-A good period all around for the Penguins. They limited the Lightning's offensive chances. They scraped something out of their own power play. And they were disciplined for the most part.
-Where is this team without Tyler Kennedy?
-The goaltending has been strong for both teams once again.
-Has anyone seen Steven Stamkos?
-It might be too early to pass judgement on the new line combinations, but the first two lines offered about as much as they were in the first three games.
-The Penguins lead in shots, 12-6.
-Dupuis leads the game with three.
-Bergenheim leads the Lightning with two.
-Brewer leads the Lightning with 8:38 of ice time.
-Michalek leads the Penguins with 8:13.
-The Penguins have a 12-8 advantage in faceoffs (60 percent).
-Letestu is 3 for 4 (75 percent).
-Bergenheim is 2 for 2 (100 percent).
-Adams, Brewer and Ryan Malone each lead the game with two blocked shots.
-Fire Ray Shero.
SECOND INTERMISSION
19:39: Staal coasts up the left wing and launches a wrister on net. Roloson eats it up.
19:13: Neal booms a one-timer from above the left circle wide to the far side.
18:01: Gagne takes a pass at the right point of the Penguins' zone and appears to have a chance to attack the net with speed. But Paul Martin is able to poke check it away.
17:43: Malone booms a slapper from the left wing. Fleury makes the save and kicks out a rebound. Stamkos follows up on it but before he can get a clean shot off, Martin stick checks him. What a play by Martin.
17:35: Tangradi lifts a wrister from the left wing. Roloson eats it up.
17:21: Arron. Flipping. Asham. Ben Lovejoy punches a pedestrian slapper from the right point. Rolosn kicks it out wit his righ leg. Ashma collects the rebound in the slot and throwing it on net. It hits off the left skate of Thompson and takes a funny hop through the five hole of Roloson and into the cage. It's Asham's fourth point in four playoff games. The man has come to play. Lovejoy gets the only assist. Penguins 2-0.
15:25: Dominic Moore whips a wrister at the cage from the right wing. It hits a body in front.
15:07: Tangradi leaves a pass for Letestu at the red line on the left wing. Letestu picks it up, races into the offensive zone and snaps off a wrister from the left circle. Roloson fights it off.
14:06: Off a pass from Stamkos, St. Louis races in off the right wing and flips a backhander at the cage. Fleury fends it off.
13:17: Off some solid work by Stamos behind the net, St. Louis chops a loose puck above the crease on net. Fleury smothers it to freeze play.
12:28: Off a faceoff win in the left circle, Talbot ships a quick wrister on net. Roloson eats it up.
11:56: Dupuis takes a drop pass from Conner on the left wing. From the half wall, Dupuis cracks a slapper wide to the far side.
9:38: Rupp forces a turnover behind the Lightning net emerges to the left of the cage and lifts a little wrister on net. Roloson fights it off. Rupp with another solid play.
9:22: Hedman races into the slot, takes a pass and has a chance at a clean shot but Niskanen slides down to block the shot. What a play by Niskanen.
9:19: Malone takes a tumble and falls on top of Fleury in the crease. Malone protests the penalty quite a bit on his way to the penalty box. Replays show why he protests. Fleury actually tripped him up. Sneaky play by Fleury. Letang, Michalek, Neal, Staal and Kovalev take the ice. That play by Fleury was the hockey equivalent of Scott Hall grabbing the ropes while delivering an abdominal stretch:
8:45: A slapper by Michalek from the left point is re-directs wide on the near side by Staal.
7:18: The Penguins did next to nothing with that power play.
6:26: Rupp booms a loose puck on net with a slapper from the right wing. Roloson kicks it out.
4:59: After some solid hustle down low below the goal line by Kovalev, Michalek booms a slapper from the right point. It gets blocked down low. Just some wonderful effort by Kovalev down low to posses the puck and create a chance for Michalek.
3:14: Brewer booms a slapper from the right point. Fleury fight sit of with a tough save.
2:54: Staal leaves a drop pass at the left point. Neal picks it up and
2:46: What a play by the Lightning's stars. Lecavalier controls the puck in the neutral zone and taps a pass up the right wing. Niskanen gets caugh flat-footed at the blue line as St. Louis flies to the net. Lovejoy chases down St. Louis and attempts a poke check. St. Louis fights him off and flips a little wrister by Fleury. What a play. The crowd comes back to life. Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell get assists. Penguins 2-1.
1:08: Lecavalier taps a feed at the blue line in the slot to Stamkos on the left wing. Stamkos races in with the puck on his backhand. Before he can get a shot off, Martin strips him of the puck with a wonderful play. Wow!
1:01: Martin booms a one-timer fon net from the left point. Roloson fight sit off.
0:55: Staal cracks a one-timer from the left circle. Brewer appears to get a piece of it.
0:41: Neal barges in on net, gets shoved by Ohlund and runs over Roloson. Roloson take a tumble. A scrum develops afterwards. Nothing comes of that. Neal is sent off for goaltenders interference. Tough time to take a penalty. Adams, Dupuis, Michalek and Orpik take the ice.
0:25: Brewer snaps off a wrister from the left point. Lecavalier re-directs it wide to the far side and is washed out by Orpik with a cross check. No call.
0:17: Brewer sneaks up the left wing and is stripped of the puck by Adams who sweeps it up ice with a backhander for a clear.
0:00: End of period. Penguins 2, Lightning 1.
SECOND INTERMISSION
-What action. There's not a lot of scoring in this game, but this has been a tooth and nail battle.
-The Lightning found a way to get its offensive start going late in the period. The Penguins needed the period to come to an end when it in order to stunt that momentum a bit. You have to figure Tampa Bay will still have a surge to start the third given the fact it will start on the power play.
-Martin has come through with a few solid defensive plays in the second period. A few fans have questioned why the Penguins have signed him, but he has meant just as much to the team's improved defense these playoffs as Zbynek Michalek.
-Roloson has kept his team in this game. If not for him, the Penguins have a 4-1 lead here.
-The Penguins are dominating shots, 30-14.
-Dupuis and Rupp each lead the game with four shots.
-St. Louis leads the Lightning with three.
-Letang leads the game with 17:52 of ice time.
-Brewer leads the Lightning with 17:02.
-The Penguins have a 24-21 edge in faceoffs (53 percent).
-Rupp is 5 for 7 (71 percent).
-Lecavalier is 9 for 17 (53 percent).
-Adams, Orpik, Brewer, Malone and Clark each lead the game with two blocked shots.
THIRD PERIOD
20:00: The Lightning will start the period with 1:19 of power play time on fresh ice. Michalek, Orpik, Adams and Staal take the ice.
19:47: St. Louis races into the offensive zone and leaves a drop pass int he left circle for Gagne. Gagne grips and rips a wrister wide to the far side.
19:26: Brewer chucks a wrister at the cage from the left half wall. Fleury kicks it out.
18:41: Neal's minor is killed. Huge effort by the Penguins.
16:59: Letang pinches in at the right point and jabs a loose puck on net with a slapper. It hits something in front.
15:37: Kennedy gains the offensive zone on the left wing and snaps off a wrister wide on the near side.
14:51: Lundin corrals a wraparound attempt on the left wing wall of the Penguins' zone and chops a shot on net. Fleury eats it up.
14:37: Bergenheim runs over Fleury. No call. It looks like Martin may have made contact with Bergenheim.
14:22: Bergenheim coasts up the left wing and flings a wrister on net. Fleury eats it up.
12:18: Michalek airmails two slappers from center ice. Roloson gloves the second one and freezes play.
12:13: Off a faceoff win by Letestu in the left circle. Letan gs drive sa slapper on net from the left point. Roloson fight sit off with his stick.
11:58: Letestu sweeps a wrister on net from the slot. Roloson fights it off.
10:06: Kennedy zips up the right wing and snaps off a wrister from the right wing. Roloson kicks it out. The rebound is loose int he slot. Neal jumps on it and punches it on net. Roloson says no. Roloson and Malone battle for it behind the cage. Neal gets his stick up in the face of Malone. That's high sticking. Not a good penalty to take. A huge moment in the game. Staal, Michalek, Orpik and Adams take the ice.
9:12: Lecavalier booms a one-timer on net from above the right circle. Fleury kicks it out. Letestu clears the rebound down ice.
8:25: Purcell fires a wrister from the right circle. Orpik kneels down and blocks it.
8:15: Stamkos cracks a one-timer from the top of the slot which sails WAAAY over the cage.
8:06: Neal's penalty expires.
8:01: Stamkos fires another from the top of the slot. Adams slide down to block it. What a play by Adams.
7:51: With an icing call, Dan Bylsma calls a timeout to give his team a breather. Michalek and Staal and sucking wind. They need this badly.
7:00: Is it us, or does Lightning coach Guy Boucher remind anyone else of Mads Mikkelsen, who played Le Chiffre, the bad guy in the more recent version of "Casino Royale?"
-Both have a french accent, a scar and an intense stare. Le Chiffre used a bull rope to torment people. Boucher uses the 1-3-1 to get the same results.
5:11: Argh!!! St. Louis forces Michalek into a turnover near the left wing corner of the Penguins' zone. St. Louis takes it and deals to Stamkos in the slot. Stamkos has the puck, gets Martin to twist around and out of position and deals to St. Louis just to the left of the slot. St. Louis has Fleury completely beat but he taps the puck wide. Whew. He had that goal.
3:33: Talbot has a chance above the crease but Malone dives and knocks the puck away. HUGE play.
3:17: Oh wow. Kubina chucks a wrister on net from the right point. Bergehin re-directs it on net. Fleury makes the inital shot. There's an intense battle for the puck. Bergenheim finds a way to poke it by Fleury and two or three other bodies and into the cage. Tie game. What an effort by Bergenheim. Lovejoy and Niskanen have been on the ice for both Lightning goals. St. Louis and Kubina get assists. Lightning 2, Penguins 2.
2:37: Neal fire a one-timer from the right wing. Roloson kicks it out.
1:37: Kovalev moves up the left wing one on one with Clark and releases a big wrister on net from the left circle. Roloson eats it up.
1:22: Brewer slams Talbot into the glass with his left shoulder to the side of Talbot's head. Play is halted. No penalty. Not in this Garage League. In the IIHF, the OHL or the NCAA that's a penalty. Talbot is slow to recover. Athletic trainer Chris Stewart attends to Talbot. He eventually recovers to his feet and heads to the locker room to undergo an examination by a doctor under the NHL's new protocol for concussions.
0:51: Neal pushes the puck into the slot and deals a drop pass to Staal sneaking in from the right point. Staal chops a one-timer on net. Roloson fight sit off.
0:17: Clark snaps off a wrister from the top of the slide which gets deflects wide to the right of the cage.
0:00: End of period. Lightning 2, Penguins 2.
THIRD INTERMISSION
-What a game. This is what playoffs are about. Just an absolutely nail-biting nervous experience.
-We dont' know what to say about the hit on Talbot. It's a garage league.
-How huge was Malone's strip of Talbot on that near goal right before the goal by Bergenheim?
-Neal, Kovalev, Staal, etc. need to produce something.
-The Penguins dominate in shots, 40-22.
-Michalek and Bergenheim each lead the game with five shots.
-Orpik leads the game with 28:15.
-Brewer leads the Lightning with 26:05.
-The Lightning have a 34-30 lead in faceoffs (53 percent).
-Rupp is 6 for 8 (75 percent).
-Lecavlier is 12 for 22 (55 percent).
-Adams and Orpik each lead the game with three blocked shots.
-Brewer, Ohlund, Malone, Clark and Moore each lead the game with two blocked shots.
-Fire Ray Shero.
-EN reader Dean Gething spotted a Mario Lemieux jersey on sigte:
OVERTIME
20:00: Talbot begins the period on the bench.
18:49: Michalek hustles into the offensive zone offside. Michalek bumps him off the wistle and St. Louis takes an awkward tumble. He tried to sell a penalty there. The officials aren't buying though.
17:44: Rupp whips a wrister from a tough angle on the left wing. Roloson fights it off.
17:34: Michalek chucks a wrister from the right point. Roloson makes the save and allows a rebound to his right. Asham is there but punches it wide to the left of the cage.
17:31: Martin pounds a slapper from the left point. Roloson knocks it dead.
16:57: Stamkos hustles into the offensive zone on the right wing and cranks a slapper. Martin blocks it over the cage.
16:27: Michalek and Malone engage in an improtu Roman-Greco wrestling match in front of the Penguins' crease. No call.
15:41: Lundin flicks a wrister on net from the left point. Fleury kicks it away. Orpik skates the rebound away.
14:29: Stamkos flicks a wrister from the right circle. Fleury fights it off.
14:04: Tangradi pushes the puck into the offensive zone and tosses a wrister at the cag efrom the left circle. Roloson knocks it away.
11:26: Moore skates in offsides. Orpik give shim a shot in the back. Moore turns around and gives some back to Letang. Nothing comes of it. Dupuis is a little shaken up after taking a forearm to the head by Lundin at the Tampa Bay blue line. No call.
9:42: From the slot, Staal taps a little pass to the right circle for Kennedy. Kenney has a clean look at the net but Hedman poke checks the pass away at the last second. Good play.
9:03: With a stoppage, attendants clean some snow on the ice. There aren't any television timeouts in overtime so they usually clean up the ice around the midway point of the period.
8:34: WHAT. A. SAVE! Staal makes a nice move by Clark on the left wing and deals a pass to the slot. Asham is there and punches a one-touch shot on net. Hedman is there and interrupts the shot a little. Roloson holds out the puck with hisleft leg. Wow!
8:18: Letang coasts into the offenisve zone and snaps off a wrister. Roloson eats it up. Letang moves in on net. Hedman takes offense and gives the business to Letang. Nothing comes of it.
7:29: Fleury gloves a wrister by Lundin from the left point despite a screen by Stamkos.
7:02: Neal pushes a puck up the right wing one-on-one with Ohlund. He sweeps a backhander but Ohlund's long stick breaks it up.
6:52: Lecavalier tries to take on Orpik and Letang one-on-two. Orpik knocks him to the ice for his trouble.
5:00: Letang drives a loose puck at the net from the right point into a cluster of bodies. It hits something in front and fails to get to the net.
4:40: Talbot chops a shot on net from above the right circle. Roloson kick it out with a "thud."
4:10: Lecavalier gets a little space to work with on the left wing and punches a low heavy wrister on net from the left circle. Fleury kicks it out.
3:10: Adams leads a two-one-one up the right wing and hops a pass to Kennedy on the left wing. Kennedy chas a chance but can't settle the bouncing puck enough to get a shot off.
3:06: Letang spins off Lundin in the left circle and flips a backhander into the crease. Roloson fishes it out despite a train wreck in front of his net and freezes play.
2:30: Adam Hall tries to jam a wrap around from the left of hte cage. Fleury holds it out.
2:27: Adams kicks otu the legs of Gagne in the right circle battling for a puck int he Penguins' zone. Adams is sent off for tripping. A big moment here. Especially with Adams, a penalty killer in the box. Martin, Michalek, Dupuis and Staal take the ice.
1:56: Dupuis guns a slapper from the left wing on net. Roloson fights it off.
1:25: Stamkos grips and rips a wrister from the otp of the slot. Staal challenges and blocks the shots.
0:38: Kubina booms a slapper from the right half wall. Fleury kicks it out. A teammate sweeps it down ice for a clear.
0:27: The Adams penalty is killed. Huge effort by the Penguins.
0:00: End of period. Lightning 2, Penguins 2.
FOURTH INTERMISSION
-How nerve racking was that? You have to love playoff overtime. It's so addicting.
-It seemed like both teams were gassed in that period. Who can blame them? Play is only going to get more ragged and sloppy in the next over time.
-Talbot looked okay for someone who took a shot to the head. It just goes to show you how everyone's body reacts differently to a head injury.
-The Penguins have put 51 shots on net. Wow.
-The Lightning have 30.
-Letang and Rupp each lead the game with six shots.
-Bergenheim each lead the game with five shots.
-Orpik leads the game with 38:06 of ice time. Yeesh.
-Martin (29:48), Michalek (34:53), Orpik (38:31) and Letang (36:54) have played a ton. Not so much for Lovejoy (9:16) or Niskanen (10:38).
-Brewer leads the Lightning with 32:47.
-The Penguins have a 42-32 lead in faceoffs (52 percent).
-Rupp is 7 for 9 (78 percent).
-Lecavalier is 15 for 27 (56 percent).
-Orpik leads the game with five blocked shots.
-Brewer, Ohlund and Clark each lead the Lightning with three.
SECOND OVERTIME
19:36: Staal tries to hit Brewer in the boards below the goal line in the right wing corner. He stumbles and smacks his noggin into the boards. Staal is shaken up a bit and staggers his way back to the bench.
19:07: St. Louis hustles up the right wing and snaps off a wrister through the leg of Orpik and wide to the right side.
18:41: Bergenheim races up the left wing and launches a wrister. Fleury eats it up.
17:27: Orpik winds up and cracks a slapper from the left point. Hall blocks it.
16:40: Kennedy spins and shuffles an interrupted backhander from the left circle. Roloson smothers to freeze play. Hedman managed to get his stick on the shot and took some speed off it. Also, Staal is back on the ice.
16:22: Redemption. Thy name is James. Flipping. Neal. Staal backhands a pass from the left point to Neal on the left wall outside the left circle. Neal doesn't hesitate and whips it on net with a one-timer. Roloson doesn't appear to be ready and gets toasted by the shot over his glove hand. What a moment. Neal raises his hands in the air in relief. His teammates mob him on the boards. What a time for Neal to finally come through. Staal and Martin get assists. End of game. Penguins 3, Lightning 2.
POSTGAME
-You always find a few folks who always suggest they use a shootout in overtime. Generally, these are folks who only watch hockey when the playoffs roll around. Like a sports columnist for instance. Anyone who ever suggests that should probably be punched.
-In the face.
-What a moment for James Neal. He hasn't scored since "Hall Pass" was released in theatres. We think. And he comes through with an a clutch goal at a clutch moment. How good must that feel?
-What a weird goal for Roloson to give up. He was outstanding most of the night. The first two goals he allowed were hardly softies. He buttoned down for the rest of the game. He turned away 50-plus shots then he lets that in? Just bizarre.
-What an effort by the Penguins' top four defenders. Orpik, Letang, Michalek and Martin were workhorses. They deserve a day off tomorrow in a big way. It wasn't a coincidence the Lightning got its only goals with Lovejoy and Niskanen on the ice.
-The Penguins bottom two lines were their best units. The top two of some combination of Tangradi, Staal, Letestu, Kovalev, Neal, Kennedy and Chris Kunitz just are too inconsistent. Yes, Neal and Staal hooked up for the game-winner, but they need to offer more.
-How about Arron Asham? Four points in four games. He has come to play in the postseason.
-The Penguins' penalty kill got it done after a few iffy games. They killed all four power plays for the Lightning.
-And how about getting something, anything out of the power play? The Penguins' special teams had a big rebound game.
-The Penguins led in shots, 53-31.
-Rupp, Letang and Bergenheim led the game with six shots each.
-Orpik led the game with 40:32 of ice time.
-Brewer led the Lightning with 34:51.
-The Penguins had a 45-41 edge in faceoffs (52 percent).
-Staal was 19 for 35 (54 percent).
-Lecavalier was 15 for 29 (52 percent).
-Orpik led the game with five blocked shots.
-Brewer, Ohlund and Clark each led the Lightning with three.
-The Penguins 53 shots were far short of the franchise record. They had 65 against the Capitals in Game 4 of a 1996 Eastern Conference quarterfinal game against the Capitals. The Penguins won in four overtime of a goal by Petr Nedved.
-Staal moved ahead of Paul Coffey and Marian Hossa for 15th place on the team's all-time postseason scoring list. All three have 26 points, but Staal (16) has more goals than Coffey (four) and Hossa (12).
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 08:13 PM
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- +1
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 08:15 PM
Big kill boys!!
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- +2
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 08:27 PM
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 08:27 PM
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- +4
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 08:27 PM
*rubs eyes in disbelief* I thought you had to be wearing the number 26 to score on a PP?
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- +2
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 08:33 PM
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- +0
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 08:46 PM
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- +1
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 08:47 PM
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- +0
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 08:48 PM
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- +1
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 08:56 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:06 PM
They grow up so fast these days ... *sniffle*
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- +7
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:10 PM
Sweet start to the second period!
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- +3
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written by Kibab1979, April 20, 2011 - 09:12 PM
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- +3
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:18 PM
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- +1
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 09:22 PM
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- +2
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:27 PM
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- +0
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written by saneman, April 20, 2011 - 09:28 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:32 PM
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written by jameshutton, April 20, 2011 - 09:39 PM
Staggy's making it sound like the game's already won. Didn't he watch the Kings last night?
As I type Saint Louis scores
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written by saneman, April 20, 2011 - 09:41 PM
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- +1
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:44 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 09:46 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:02 PM
Now *that* is a statement.
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written by saneman, April 20, 2011 - 10:09 PM
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written by Staal Tactics11, April 20, 2011 - 10:19 PM
I don't think he's comfortable with his role. He's most comfortable centering that third line and that's where he excels.
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- -7
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written by Staal Tactics11, April 20, 2011 - 10:22 PM
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- -6
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:22 PM
Horrible time for a penalty. Gotta kill this off boys!
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 10:22 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:25 PM
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written by Staal Tactics11, April 20, 2011 - 10:26 PM
You saw how frustrated Neal was after that last chance. He slammed his stick off the ice.
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- -7
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:27 PM
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- +0
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 10:28 PM
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- +2
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:29 PM
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- +3
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 10:30 PM
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- +0
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 10:34 PM
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- +1
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:34 PM
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 10:34 PM
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 10:36 PM
If the 'Bolts score they have this game in the bag.
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:37 PM
If I'm HCDB I'm blowing a gasket or twelve.
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 10:37 PM
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 10:37 PM
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 10:38 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:39 PM
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written by barrassosaysno, April 20, 2011 - 10:39 PM
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written by Louder_Is_Best, April 20, 2011 - 10:40 PM
I'd be shocked if the Pens won at this point. Tampa Bay has all the momentum, and the Pens just cannot score.
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- -8
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written by KRC, April 20, 2011 - 10:40 PM
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- -1
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 10:41 PM
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 10:42 PM
Sid needs to get back so Versus puts the Pens back on their TV schedule. Watching the games online and listening to the TB announcers is getting old.
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- +2
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 10:42 PM
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- +3
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written by KRC, April 20, 2011 - 10:43 PM
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- +0
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written by Staal Tactics11, April 20, 2011 - 10:45 PM
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- -4
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 10:46 PM
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- +2
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written by Bones, April 20, 2011 - 10:47 PM
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- +2
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written by barrassosaysno, April 20, 2011 - 10:49 PM
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 10:53 PM
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written by KRC, April 20, 2011 - 10:53 PM
Makes me wonder why I still watch hockey.
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 10:55 PM
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written by powergoat, April 20, 2011 - 10:56 PM
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written by Luiz Mello, April 20, 2011 - 10:56 PM
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written by powergoat, April 20, 2011 - 10:57 PM
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 10:58 PM
1. Errey will now stop cursing us with his comments.
2. Turtle time is over
3. Neal gets the game winner. We are into extra time after all.
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- +13
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:04 PM
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- +2
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 11:05 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:07 PM
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- +3
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 11:11 PM
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- +0
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 11:13 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:14 PM
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- +0
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:16 PM
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written by HamiltonPensLover, April 20, 2011 - 11:18 PM
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written by Staal Tactics11, April 20, 2011 - 11:19 PM
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- -4
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:21 PM
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written by KRC, April 20, 2011 - 11:25 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:27 PM
I sure hope Superstar is really okay.
And now would be a fantastic time for a short-handed goal by Staal.
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:31 PM
To quote an old OT hero, I was "dying alive" watching that TB power play.
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- +0
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written by D Sanchez, April 20, 2011 - 11:33 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:39 PM
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written by powergoat, April 20, 2011 - 11:41 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:47 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:52 PM
WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 11:54 PM
Sweet mercy!!!! Changing my handle to Nostradamus!!!
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written by Okel Dokel, April 20, 2011 - 11:55 PM
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written by Staal Tactics11, April 20, 2011 - 11:55 PM
Not sure who called it, kirker I'm guessing....sweetness.
Hope staal is ok.
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- -1
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written by krikker, April 20, 2011 - 11:59 PM
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written by bastage42, April 20, 2011 - 11:59 PM
Just before that, he shot a puck as hard as I've seen him shoot since the regular season, so I started hoping maybe we'll see him score soon ... but I wasn't thinking tonight!
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written by saneman, April 21, 2011 - 12:01 AM
It's too bad Rangers couldnt avoid choking that game. 3-0 lead . Damn . And to lose on that OT goal. The Ranger guy should have let Lundquist make the easy save
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written by Luiz Mello, April 21, 2011 - 12:06 AM
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written by bastage42, April 21, 2011 - 12:10 AM
I hope Talbot and Staal both aren't fighting headaches in the morning. Despite not being a fan of 3 days between games, given the bumps and bruises and 12pm start on Saturday, I kinda wish they had 5 games ...
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written by GenoSid, April 21, 2011 - 12:11 AM
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written by Matt Mc, April 21, 2011 - 12:15 AM
"-Neal, Kovalev, Staal, etc. need to produce something."
I'd call that production!
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written by bastage42, April 21, 2011 - 12:19 AM
Boucher uses the 1-3-1 to get the same results.
That snuck below my radar until I re-read the game log. Well done, Sir Seth.
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written by GenoSid, April 21, 2011 - 12:20 AM
But, James Neal basically willed that puck into the net out of frustration.
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written by Bones, April 21, 2011 - 12:22 AM
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written by tennpen, April 21, 2011 - 12:23 AM
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written by bastage42, April 21, 2011 - 12:29 AM
I've wanted Engelland in the lineup since he was taken out of it before the end of the season, but I can sorta see him having fits with St. Louis so maybe HCDB is calling "top six vs." rather than just "top six".
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- +1
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written by Luiz Mello, April 21, 2011 - 12:33 AM
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written by tennpen, April 21, 2011 - 12:35 AM
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written by tennpen, April 21, 2011 - 12:46 AM
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written by bastage42, April 21, 2011 - 12:48 AM
Prediction -- if TB wins in 5 or 6 I will never post again on this board.
(But I do hope we hear from him again. Despite his mercurial, hyperbolic nature, he's much better than he was early in the season and can be pretty amusing sometimes. But then, I don't get the whole -1 craze on posts just because they're from a specific individual, whether him or others, unless they're blatantly offensive or disrespectful)
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written by bastage42, April 21, 2011 - 12:58 AM
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written by Disgruntled Goat, April 21, 2011 - 11:40 AM
They killed all four power plays for the Lightning.
Shouldn't this read "They killed all four power plays for the Lightning, as brilliantly predicted in these pages by Senior Empty Netters Commenter and all around great guy Disgruntled Goat?
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Let's go Penguins!!!!