Penguins chase Holtby, beat Capitals to take 2-0 series lead

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) celebrates his goal during the second period of Game 2 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in Washingt. The four teams that played Saturday combined to have only two power-play goals.

Because of that disadvantage at center, Olczyk also noted that Washington needed more than Alex Ovechkin (two assists Saturday).

Guentzel added an empty-net goal to seal it for the Penguins, his playoff-best seventh.

Did coach Mike Sullivan take a page out of the Lightning’s 2016 playbook, or did the Penguins find this counterstrike identity organically?

“I think I closed my eyes when I shot and thankfully it went in”, Pageau said of the victor. “It’s fun to be a part of it”. They did just that, relentlessly attacking Pittsburgh 16 shots on goal, compared to just 5 for the Penguins.

This spring it was Murray, fully installed as the starter, cruising towards the playoffs with better stats (.923 save%) in his first full National Hockey League season than Fleury had in a career. Washington had 19 shots at that point.

“It was very intense”, Hagelin said. “We’ve been talking about that for a couple of weeks”, Sullivan said. I’ll show you puck management.

As for Kessel, if he has a reputation these days, it’s as a big-game player.

Niskanen raised his stick and hit Crosby flush. He gave up two more goals. We’ve got a lot of guys on our roster that we can say that about. “They’re scrappy. It’s a never-say-die attitude”. But I do know this: His body of work has been excellent.

This isn’t the first slow start Pittsburgh has had this postseason, and that’s some cause for concern.

The Marc-Andre Fleury story of the last 12 months may be described best as patience. The large contingent of Penguins fans who made the trip to Verizon Center celebrated the victory on the steps of Washington’s National Portrait Gallery, and they also used the opportunity to brutally troll their Metropolitan Division rivals via a clever banner.

What’s even more impressive was how important all four goals were. “But certainly moving forward, I think we have to do a better job of not relying on it as much as we have to this point”. The stakes are higher now. But Crosby’s importance goes beyond what he does on the ice.

To be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs. I think he has the ability to park things, and he’ll park it. He beat Braden Holtby with his first two shots of the second period. “It’s been exciting when those two play each other since the beginning”. We’re not going to shy away from it. He leads the Capitals in scoring chances for per 60 at 11.26.

Holtby, a 2017 Vezina Trophy finalist, was pulled before the start of the third period. “We can’t just put it on Braden Holtby“.

For a team with a reputation of early playoff exits and one that hasn’t made it past the second round in the Ovechkin era, there’s no shortage of urgency.

“He’s always been up for the task, making those big saves at big moments”, veteran winger Chris Kunitz said.

“I’m playing with great players and I’m just trying to be around the net”, Guentzel said.

It wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see Sheary in yet another new lineup spot come Game 3. “He’s a game-changer for us, and so when he didn’t change the game I just looked to change the mojo there a little bit, that’s all”. Philipp Grubauer took over, but only turned aside seven of nine shots.

Teams that have lost the first two games of a best-of-seven series at home are 18-69 (21.7 percent) all time in the Stanley Cup playoffs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. We try not to change our game.

Game 3 is on Monday night in Pittsburgh.

Now in a deep but not insurmountable hole against the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Capitals reportedly held a players’ only meeting following this latest defeat. We’re aware of that, we know that.