Fast-forward 28 years. The Penguins, trailing heavy underdog Montreal one video game to none, held a precarious 1-0 lead Monday thanks to Sidney Crosbys goal in the fifth minute. As the video game grew older, the Penguins became a dump-and-chase group. Safeguard the lead. Play conservative.
It was a great relocation in Matt Murrays case.
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That lasted all of 189 seconds before the Canadiens scored to establish a tense finish. These Penguins are identified to travel the most challenging course possible.
The Penguins may have done it because the ice began bad and got even worse. Possibly wanting to exhaust Montreals big-minutes defensemen (Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry) figured in.
Desperate times call for unusual procedures. In the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs, the defending champion Penguins routed Washington three games to one. The Penguins were a high-octane flying circus led by Mario Lemieux, scoring a league-high 343 objectives.
Issue was, the Capitals netted 330 times, second-most in the NHL. The Penguins couldnt stop them.
Thats not the only problem with the man-advantage system. Nobody out there looks comfy, as going 1 for 12 on the series verifies.
That was a misstep in Patrick Marleaus case. He played even less than he did in Game 1 and played just as innocuously.
After 7 straight playoff defeats, Murray needed Mondays victory much more than the Penguins did. He will be a limited complimentary representative at seasons end, unrestricted the season after that. He will likely leave the Penguins quicker, not later.
So the Penguins began utilizing a trap. A 1-4 delay, in the parlance of the times. They contained Washington, counterattacked savagely off turnovers and won the series, then another Cup.
Coach Mike Sullivan made absolutely no lineup changes Monday. Its most likely that none will happen unless injury happens. He will live or die with those who played in Games 1 and 2.
It worked. It didnt necessarily close down the Canadiens (they got 14 shots in the 3rd duration). But it got the Penguins legs going, and ultimately caused Conor Sheary finding a sliver of ice to skate through and feed Jason Zucker for a 2-0 lead and some breathing space.
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Murray is playing for money and attempting to impress a new team. His playoff efficiencies of 2016 and 17 get smaller sized and smaller sized in the rear-view mirror. He apparently wants big cash– possibly $8 million each year over eight years– but considerably decreasing NHL revenues and Murrays significantly lessening performances make that a pipe dream.
The Penguins cant develop clear superiority regardless of skill that dictates they easily should. Maybe thats the love of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Mark Madden Columns|Penguins/NHL|Sports
Sidney Crosby answered the bell. He scored for a 2nd straight video game. Evgeni Malkin got 7 shots on objective, however didnt score. Thats after going 0 for 8 from the field on Saturday. Theres a lot to be said for shots. Big-money stars have to produce.
For a night, anyhow, Murray kept that dream and the Penguins alive. If he keeps playing like he did Monday, who understands?
Murray warranted Sullivans faith and soothed the echo chambers demand Tristan Jarry, at least for a couple days. Murray made 26 saves, including a handful of huge ones. Just as essential, the unstable saves that made everybody flinch in Game 1 were changed by confidence and control.
Thats being proven by the power play. Its obviously more essential to be right than it is to have a power play that doesnt stink.
The great: The Penguins played really responsibly Monday. A couple of players have actually been excellent in both games: Crosby, Zucker, Bryan Rust, Kris Letang and John Marino.
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The Penguins, routing heavy underdog Montreal one game to none, held a precarious 1-0 lead Monday thanks to Sidney Crosbys objective in the 5th minute. As the game grew older, the Penguins became a dump-and-chase group. It got the Penguins legs going, and ultimately led to Conor Sheary finding a sliver of ice to skate through and feed Jason Zucker for a 2-0 lead and some breathing space.
After 7 straight playoff defeats, Murray required Mondays success even more than the Penguins did. The good: The Penguins played extremely properly Monday.
