Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals: Pens Advance to Conference Finals

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

In the playoffs, hockey becomes a game of inches.  In Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, the Penguins won by a yard.

Marc-Andre Fleury

Fleury faced 21 shots and stopped 19.  The difference in this game was Fleury's huge saves on Ovechkin in the first period.  

About three minutes into the game, Ovechkin is sprung loose with an excellent outlet pass.  Ovie streaks toward the goal, blowing past the Penguins defense, and is robbed by Fleury.

Not long after his first chance, Fleury makes another key save on an Ovechkin shot.  AO ripped a wicked wrister from the left circle, intended for the corner above Fleury's blocker.  Unfortunately for Ovie, the puck connects with the upper shaft of Fleury's stick instead of the twine behind.

If either of these chances had gone in the net, the game would have gone in a completely different direction.  Ovechkin's breakaway would have been the first goal of the game.  The next chance would have tied the game at one goal apiece.

Fleury continues to have trouble playing the puck behind the net.  The blame for MAF's assist on Ovechkin's empty net goal cannot rest entirely on Fleury's shoulders, however. Watching the CBC replay of that goal, you clearly hear the Pens' defenseman yelling, "Marc!" to get the puck. 

Fleury, head down, passes the puck toward the voice, but Ovechkin is swooping in and easily intercepts the pass and coolly deposits it into the vacant cage.

Luckily for the Penguins, they had a five goal lead.  At 3-0 or 2-0, this goal may have been the spark the Caps needed to get rolling.

Sergei Gonchar and The Powerplay

Sergei Gonchar returned to the lineup after recovering (enough) from his knee-on-knee collision with Ovechkin in Game Five.  Sarge only played 15 minutes but his early shifts were the most important. 

His shot toward the net on the Penguins' first powerplay proved to be the primary assist on the first goal of the game after Sidney Crosby corralled the puck and banged it past the Capitals' netminder.

Both of Crosby's goals came on the powerplay.  In the first half of a four minute, high-sticking penalty to Brooks Laich, Washington pressed into the Penguins' zone short handed. 

The puck wandered off of Ovechkin's stick and Crosby was there to take it, unmolested, two-thirds of the ice and get the puck past Jose Theodore for the sixth tally of the game.

The final part of this story is the deadly, devastating, destructive Washington Capitals powerplay.  All five Capitals powerplay goals either tied the game or gave them the lead. In Game Seven, the Caps scored zero powerplay goals.  The reason for this is that the Penguins spent zero minutes in the sin bin.

Alexander Ovechkin

This guy is the most dangerous goal scorer in the NHL.  He scores great goals, clutch goals and celebrates with enthusiasm.  He strikes fear in the hearts of opponents with his scoring power and his hitting power.

In Game Seven, stymied by Fleury twice in the first period, Ovechkin struggled throughout the game to get his wheels turning.  He scored on a gimme from Fleury but just couldn't celebrate, choosing a businesslike and determined attitude after the goal.  I expected another goal within a shift or two.

Alexander was limited to three shots on goal and five hits on Penguins players.  His biggest hit came against Nicklas Backstrom after Malkin avoided the flying Ovie.  Backstrom got up slowly and headed to the bench.

Just when the Caps were pressing and threatening to get a short-handed goal, Ovechkin coughed up the puck to Crosby (see above).

Detroit Shut Down

This Game Seven reminds me so much of the Red Wings' performance in last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Detroit would get the lead and shut down the opponent.

Ovechkin, Semin, Green, Kozlov, Federov, Steckel...these guys were unable to accomplish anything n the game.  Almost every time a Capitals player controlled the puck, three Penguins were there to break up the play.  

The Caps were never able to get in the groove due to the Pens' pressure, puck control, effective sticks and shot blocking.  The Penguins also executed offensive zone puck possession very well—a good offense is the best defense.

In other games, the Capitals were able to blame their lack of flow on the large amount of penalties.  Tonight, you can only credit Pittsburgh's tenacity and commitment to solid defensive play and puck management.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?