Just like that the pressures of the series have shifted eastwards towards Philadelphia. The Pittsburgh Penguins squeezed by the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in Game 5 earning a chance to keep their season going after falling behind 0-3 in the series.
The Penguins have been slowly finding their structure and have done a much better job keeping their composure the past couple of games. The Flyers were able to use their youthful enthusiasm to jump out to their commanding series lead. Now that the momentum has shifted they are going to have to mature quickly in order to not get swept up in a swell of doubt and uncertainty. Things move quick in the playoffs with emotions (both good and bad) washing over players. It is the ability to keep an even keel that can help teams keep aligned in their goals. For the Flyers, we are going to see if they have that ability.
Because now, it is officially a series.
Crosby setting tone for the team
Who better than Sidney Crosby to try and lead a team back from an 0-3 deficit? We can talk about his on-ice contributions (back to back two point games), but I have to imagine the role he plays behind closed doors is doing some heavy lifting as well.
It would be very easy for a team to mail in a Game 4 performance and start the offseason the way the first three games of the series played out. Having somebody like Crosby in control of the messaging can give a team that little extra boost they need to feel good about themselves. It keeps the group from quitting. It keeps them moving in the right direction. While it may not ultimately lead to a series win, an 0-3 hole is daunting, it does lead to a team showing a willingness to try and get better every game. Something I think the Penguins have done in this series.
You can also tell the longer the series goes the more the aura of Sid is starting to wear on the opposition. They know he is starting to get dialed in. They know his teammates take their lead from him. The Flyers can certainly feel the tide shifting. It’s why you see what happened at the end of the game by Travis Konecny.
Sid isn’t the type to forget and when he’s at his best he resembles the Terminator in both his focus and fierceness. For the Flyers, this is the version of the Penguins Captain that will be in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening
And his teammates will be right behind him.
Getting more contributions
I just detailed a lot about Sidney Crosby and what he does. He can’t do it alone. Earlier in the series I felt that the Penguins had a number of passengers. Players who could be making plays of their own, but are seemingly waiting for teammates to do something good. You can’t have that in the postseason.
One of the biggest culprits has been Anthony Mantha. He has been bad in this series. Mantha was a big reason why the Penguins were able to do the things they did in the regular season. He led the team in goals. Not only have the goals dried up against the Flyers, so did his ability to impact the game in any positive way.
Last night, he got back on track. It was his hard forecheck that led to the Penguins first goal early in the game, a tone setting goal. He smashed into Rasmus Ristolainen, earning full possession, and then feeding Elmer Soderblom for an all important first goal of the game
This is taking it upon yourself to make a positive difference. By scoring first, it takes the Flyers out of their defensive structure because they are chasing a goal. When they play with the lead they are a different team. They are able to keep their forechecking and the neutral zone shape they want. Three minutes into the game and they have to break away from it.
Speaking of Soderblom, I have come around on him significantly since he first showed up. Early in his Penguins tenure I thought he was just out there taking up space. He wasn’t being assertive. He wasn’t using his size. It was just a situation where the other players could get rest when he was out there. Soderblom has gotten increasingly better. He has become way more noticeable in his forechecking and is attacking the important areas on the ice.
Last night, he was doing a wonderful job of using his big frame and protecting the puck. What impressed me about how he is doing that now vs before is that he isn’t just protecting the puck just to protect it, he is trying to buy time to make actual plays. This is the kind of growth that will land him a regular spot as a top nine forward on a team trying to win playoff games. It will continue to put pressure on the opposition and waste their time and energy. This kind of stuff adds up over time and in a series.
Kris Letang is a Penguins legend. He was also in sharp decline this season. Letang only had three goals this season. He now also has game winning goals in back to back games. This is an example of a guy who need to step up and contribute.
Instead of Letang being a gross liability, like he had been, he is making really important contributions to the team. In the Penguins last two victories, Kris Letang has graded out as the top defenseman on the team, per Hockeystatcards
It sure makes the Penguins winning a lot easier when players like Letang are pulling in the right direction.
The Penguins fourth line is a very competent fourth line. It is one of the better ones in the league. Like any fourth line, if you can get a goal from them in a playoff game it is huge. Connor Dewar provided the Penguins with their second goal on an absolute ripper of a wrist shot. The puck was moving so quick the referee closest to the play didn’t even think it went in.
Dewar is also carrying a 52.99 xGF% in the series while adding two goals. Things get easier when fourth liners can contribute like this.
The Penguins have the day off today. They will get some rest and then head across the state. If they can continue to build off of the success they’ve had it is going to make for a real scene Saturday night in Pittsburgh. One thing is for sure, this team isn’t quitting, and they are taking their lead from one of the best to ever do it, Sidney Crosby.
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