Snap Shots: Penguins 5, Panthers 1
We've talked a lot about the Pens' ability to come back in games, and while that's a positive, the negative is that they've obviously been digging themselves into holes. Strong starts have been a focus, and tonight they couldn't have done a better job in that regard. The Pens scored three goals in the opening seven-and-a-half minutes to overwhelm the Panthers and take a lead they would not relinquish.
The person who spearheaded that strong start - is that even a question? It all began with the captain, as Sidney Crosby took over the game from the moment he stepped on the ice. He was just on another level than anyone else this game, especially early on. Mike Sullivan likes to start Crosby's line every game in order to set the tone, and tonight was a perfect example of why. He sniped a shot on his second shift to open the scoring, and followed that up with a beast play to set up Pittsburgh's second goal. He managed to simultaneously take a pass while splitting two defenders - just ridiculous - to give himself and Conor Sheary a 2-on-0, that his linemate was able to convert off a fortunate bounce. Plays like that just make you shake your head and marvel.
The Pens did a fantastic job of protecting and adding to that lead. Overall, it was just a much cleaner, tighter game than what we've seen from the Pens as of late. Don't get me wrong, the Panthers had their chances - I thought they were especially good in the second half of the first period, where I think the Pens let off the gas a little bit and allowed them to have a few odd-man rushes - but overall, it was just a dominant effort at both ends of the ice from Pittsburgh. They held the Panthers to just 20 total shots.
The Pens scratched veteran forward Eric Fehr and replaced him with Tom Kuhnhackl, who had been a healthy scratch the last two games. The second-year forward certainly made a case for himself to stay in the lineup, as he had a heck of a game. He used his body to get in on the forecheck, block shots and be a net-front presence, which is how he scored a goal when a shot tipped off his skate. Overall, his line with Scott Wilson and Matt Cullen was arguably the Pens' best along with Crosby's line. Those guys wanted it. They were winning every race and every battle and were just making things happen in the offensive zone. All three guys were rewarded for their work ethic. Kuhnhackl and Cullen each had goals, Wilson had the primary assist on each.
The Pens talk a lot about other team's transition games, but tonight I feel theirs is worthy of discussion. They were playing textbook Pens hockey in that regard. They got the puck out of their end quickly - with the forwards coming down to help - and sprinted back the other way. The best examples of this came early in the 2nd, where they nearly sprung players for breakaways on the first two shifts of the period. The Panthers had a lot of trouble handling the Pens' speed.
