Frustrating Loss by Penguins

The good news for the Penguins last night is that they got Jordan Staal back in the line-up and he looked relatively healthy from his foot injury. The bad news is that the Penguins blew a great chance to put a stranglehold on this series and move one step closer to their Stanley Cup goal. The loss was especially frustrating because the Pens are up against a Montreal team that is relying on their goaltender, luck and momentum for success in these playoffs. Despite Montreal’s comeback from a 3-1 series deficit in the opening round against Washington, a win last night for the Pens and the series would have been all but over. It was a game that championship teams must win.

If Montreal had come out and taken it to the Penguins, that would be one story. The Penguins, however, dominated this game from the start outshooting Montreal 26-9 in the first two periods and 35-25 for the game. The Penguins also drew four power-plays to Montreal’s two. As well as Halak played once again, the Penguins had ample opportunities to put the puck behind him and failed to do so. Evgeni Malkin had a break-away in the 3rd period which could have tied the game. Crosby and Letang both whiffed on shots that were to an open net. Time and again the Penguins failed to put the Canadiens away in the game, and for all practical purposes, the series.

In the end, Pittsburgh and Marc-Andre Fleury in particular, gave this one to the Canadiens. Fleury continues his frustrating play of making the spectacular save while allowing too many of the soft goals to sneak in. I probably would not trade Fleury for any goalie remaining in the playoffs, but at some point he needs to stop allowing these nonsense goals if he is ever going to be considered in the Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy elite status of goalies.

The Penguins have given the opposing locker room a belief that maybe this is meant to be. Somehow the Canadiens keep finding ways to win. The deeper they get in the series the more one lucky break or one great goaltending performance can mean pulling the upset. That is what Montreal is banking on.

I do think the Penguins take it to Montreal in game five at home and then put the series away in game six back in Montreal on Monday. They are simply too talented and too motivated not to win this series against a Canadiens team that is probably lucky to still be playing at this point. But what if, and it’s a big if but not impossible, Halak stands on his head Saturday night, or Fleury has an off night, or a couple of lucky bounces go the Canadiens way. All of a sudden the Pens could be on the brink of elimination…and that is what makes last night’s loss so frustrating.