Snap Shots: Flyers 4, Pens 2 (Game 5)
* The Pens always talk about the importance of seizing momentum in the playoffs. They had plenty of chances to do so - particularly on the power play - but let those chances slip away. For example:
- The Pens had 1:36 minutes on a 4-on-3 with the game tied 1-1 in the second period. Despite the amount of ice the Pens had to work with, the Flyers did a terrific job of killing it off.
- The Pens did take a 2-1 lead a few minutes later on a goal from Jake Guentzel, and shortly after that, Zach Aston-Reese drew a penalty. The Pens had the chance to potentially put the game away. Instead, they gave up a shorthanded score off a turnover from Phil Kessel and the Flyers tied it.
- Finally, the Pens were then gifted another power play early in the third period where they had a chance to regain the lead, and while it was their best effort yet on the man-advantage - they had the zone for the entire two minutes - they still couldn't convert.
* Needless to say, the power play did not have a good night. It's stepped up with some huge goals this series, but struggled in this particular game. Pens head coach Mike Sullivan felt that they were too stagnant and needed more movement. In addition, the Pens have talked so much about the importance of just putting the puck on net, but tonight they got away from that and tried to force passes and plays that weren't there. And finally, Patric Hornqvist's absence was felt in this game when it came to creating havoc in front of the net and retrieving pucks along the boards. Sullivan talks about how the Pens can't be a team that beats itself, but it did in this area of the game tonight.
* The talk around the locker room heading into tonight's game was that the Pens needed to set the tone and have a strong start. They wanted to come out flying and get the first goal. They weren't able to accomplish that, as the Flyers were all over them early and got on the board late. The Flyers did a good job of taking away their time and space and not letting them gain the zone. The Pens also just looked off when it came to their sharpness and execution. They weren't really connecting on plays.
* Fortunately, the Pens were able to come out of the period down just 1-0, and reset during the intermission. They matched the Flyers' urgency and completely tilted the ice in their favor for most of the frame. They had one particularly good offensive-zone shift that had the fans on their feet and cumulated with a goal from - who else? - Bryan Rust. Mr. Elimination scored his ninth goal in 16 career elimination games on a wraparound chance. The kid is just so clutch.
* This wasn't the Pens' best or most consistent effort, but as Sullivan said after the game, there was still a lot to like. They didn't give up a ton of chances and were encouraged by a lot of what they saw. The Flyers were a desperate team that came up with clutch and timely goals to keep this series and their season alive, but the Pens have another chance to close them out on Sunday and will do everything they can to make that happen.
* There was a scary moment late in the first period when Flyers forward Jori Lehtera leaned into Evgeni Malkin as they went for a puck in the corner and took him down. Malkin fell awkwardly under Lehtera and was slow to get up. Fortunately, he was able to skate on his own to the locker room and returned at the start of the second to play the remainder of the game. The Flyers played Malkin physical over the course of the night, but he battled through it admirably.
