This is the latest that these two teams have ever had their first game of the season in the rivalry. It did lack the fight that usually goes with these games hand in hand. Part of that can be put down to the overhaul and changes the two teams have gone through since the playoff series the two played in 2012.
A constant that hasn't changed since the playoff series in 2012 is the big impact the special teams had on the game. The Flyers scored on 3 of their 6 opportunities with 2 of them in the first period to give them a 2-0 lead going into the break. The Penguins second penalty was very harsh though as Daley was given a 2 minute penalty of hooking when there appeared to be nothing untoward. However, even if you don't agree with the penalty, you still have to kill it.
After that point the Penguins dominated the play tallying 17 and 19 points in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Daley scored his 4th goal as a Penguin in just 17 games. Crosby followed up and continued his good form with his 15th of the season on Mason's short side. Mason was completely lost by the shot and look bemused that it went in. The Penguins powerplay clicked again at the end of the 2nd with a tic-tac-toe powerplay goal for Kessel after some great cycling by Crosby.
The third period was a bit quieter, Kessel added a second after a rush with Hagelin. Giroux scored a late goal for the Flyers on another extra-man advantage and made the Penguins sweat in the final 3 minutes with 5 shots on net. Pittsburgh were able to block them out and, although Letang missed two empty netters, they held on.
This was a character building win more than anything and a statement of the progression of this team that they can out-shoot anyone. The Penguins play Vancouver tomorrow first and they're slated to play Washington on Sunday but it may be cancelled due to the blizzard. News on that will come tomorrow.
0 comments:
Post a Comment