No one was certain if Max Talbot would return to the Penguins line-up yesterday until just before game time. The team always gets a big boost from Talbot’s presence and he didn’t disappoint. The feisty forward was a physical presence, great on the back check and scored the game winning goal as the Penguins took a two games to none lead in the Eastern Conference Final.
“They create a lot of momentum for us. Those guys, they are going to make the difference between winning and losing lots of times,” said Sidney Crosby. “They have come up big for us. Max, to come up big in his first game back, we're definitely proud of him.”
That was pretty much the theme around the locker room post game…everyone recognizing the impact that number 25 had on the line-up after a three game lay off due to a broken foot.
“He is such a warrior and it’s nice to see him get a winning goal after he’s been hurt for a couple games and he decide to play…just great for his confidence and the team,” said Marian Hossa, who has been quite a warrior himself in these playoffs.
Talbot’s skates have been outfitted with kevlar shields to protect his broken foot. He is wearing a shield on both skates so as not to draw special attention to the broken foot. He didn’t seem to be suffering any ill effects of the injury and was skating as well as he has all season long. His speed created the open space and one on one with the goalie that allowed him to score the winning goal.
Georges Laraque had dumped the puck deep into the Flyers zone. Steve Downie missed an opportunity to clear, which allowed Gary Roberts to get to it and make a slick tape to tape backhand pass to a streaking Talbot. Mad Max made no mistake in burying it behind Marty Biron.
“When we get out there we tried to change momentum…I called for the puck and he put it right on the stick and I was by myself…once again it’s even extra special when the third and fourth line gets a goal like that. It feels great,” Talbot said of his goal.
Talbot may be a role player in the National Hockey League, but he was a pretty prolific scorer in the junior ranks notching 104 and 98 pts respectively during his last two QMJHL seasons. He may not score as much or as often in his current situation, but he has a knack for making sure that they are huge goals for the Penguins.
“He seems to score all those big times, even if he doesn't score many goals,” head coach Michel Therrien said of his spark plug. “You look at his goal tonight, the game-winner…It is a nice contribution from different players and it is good for those guys to be able to contribute to the success of the team.”
Talbot had a lot to do with the Penguins victory over the Flyers on Sunday night, but is well aware that things will not get any easier as the series moves to Philadelphia for games three and four.
“They’re a tough team to play against…they’re playing great, it is going to be even tougher in their building…the Wachovia Center is a tough building to play in,” Talbot said. “They are going to be waiting for us and it’s nice to win two games at home…but we are going to have to win on the road too.”
Other Series Thoughts:
It has to be a bit unsettling at this point for the Flyers and their fans…they put forth the needed effort, got a couple breaks and still came up on the short side of the score board. Plus they lost another valuable body on the defensive side of the puck in Braydon Coburn.
Losing Coburn seemed to expose Derian Hatcher, or at least his lack of mobility. He is not the player that he was 10 years ago and was caught out of position on the Max Talbot game-winning goal. The Flyers have arguably lost the team's best defensemen in Timonen and Coburn and will have to lean heavily on Hatcher, Jason Smith, Randy Jones and Jaro Modry from here on out. That is going to be a tough road against the Penguins forwards.
Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were huge for the Flyers last night and will have to do even more to come back in this series. This is by no means close to being over, but the Flyers have got to win game three.
Tyler Kennedy was the Energizer Bunny last night…he just kept going and going. He seemed to be everywhere at once and was always on the puck. He had multiple scoring opportunities but couldn’t get one behind Biron. He did have a whale of a tussle with Scottie Upshall. The two were throwing bombs and actually slammed to the ice quickly, before getting back to their feet and continuing the battle.
Sidney Crosby played his finest game of the playoffs and could have about 4 goals if not for the play of Marty Biron. He and Hossa seem to have great chemistry and the two work the puck around the ice with precision and speed. Crosby did unleash one of the best backhand shots I have ever seen (to second Ek’s opinion) though it clanged off of the post above Biron’s left shoulder. It came within an inch of going in. I expected to see Sid bring his “A” game in this series and he isn’t disappointing us.
Sid on the fact that he always seems to score against the Flyers: “I don't know. I don't change anything. But I just want to make sure that I'm getting those opportunities, because in the playoffs you don't always get so many. So I want to make sure when I get them, I take advantage of them.”
The no goal should have counted, but it was a non-factor in the game. It was one of those situations where if the play had been called a goal on the ice they wouldn’t have been able to overturn it. Just a tough angle and Biron did a great job of blocking the overhead view with his glove in trying to make the save. Day after photos clearly show the puck being across the line, but the replay officials do not have access to those.
The delay from that review definitely took some energy out of the building; the fans seemed to need a bit of a jumpstart after that. They did eventually come around, but it could have been a big momentum swing.
Marc Andre Fleury played another very solid game…the two goals he allowed were great shots. He has been amazing this post season and is really becoming the goaltender the Penguins had hoped they had gotten with the first overall pick back in 2003.
Sid on Fleury’s play: “Without your goaltender playing well, you are not going to win many games in the playoffs. He's been consistent and solid for us throughout. I think when you have a goaltender playing that well, the whole team feels that confidence and that sense of calmness, and he's been a huge lift for us.”
Crosby was also asked to comment about the fact that Coach John Stevens suggested that the Penguins are getting favorable calls based on having so many superstar players on the roster. 87 was as close to disgusted as I have ever seen him…he took a moment to think about it before saying: “Don't really have one to be honest with you.” I can’t say I blame him…I think many folks in Pittsburgh are tiring of the favorable officiating card being played. Let’s talk a bit about the two diving calls that were called on Jarkko Ruutu. (Who for the record has a clock work orange thing going on now that his eye is blackened and swollen a bit) I know that he has a reputation but there are times when he takes a good whack to the chops, goes down and gets called for a dive.
Coach Therrien on the calls against Ruutu: “As far as I am concerned there were tough calls against him, both of them. Really tough call.”
Coach Therrien on the Stevens comments and the Ruutu situation:
“I didn't get a chance to talk to anyone yet. You know, I read some comments about John Stevens, about how he's disappointed about some calls. But at the same time, we're disappointed about some calls as well. Jarkko Ruutu got punched in the face, by Hartnell, we should have been a five-on-three, and that could have been a turning point in the game. We didn't get those calls. So that's playoffs. There are times you're going to get a call; there's times you're not going to get a call.
It's not about complaining. It's about playing the game. You hope to get the calls. It doesn't happen all the time, and what are you going to do? But one thing, Jarkko Ruutu is doing everything that I ask him to do. He's playing well defensively. He's checking well, he's finishing his checks, and he's disciplined. He doesn't retaliate. There is time he spent time in the penalty box, I don't know why. Like yesterday he got punched twice, and he spent some time in the box and it's not his fault. So what are you going to do?
You've got to move on, and hopefully if he keeps playing the same way, he'll get rewarded. But it's not about complaining. They're complaining. We could complain as well.”
Overall, the Penguins haven’t played their best hockey against the Flyers, but it has been enough to stake themselves to a 2-0 lead in the series. They are going to have to correct some of the problems and work bring their best at the Wachovia Center. The Flyers will be playing desperate hockey and will be looking to hit them at every opportunity.
Not to get all doom and gloom on you, but this has been lingering in the back of my mind. Don’t lose sight of 2000, the Penguins had won the first two games of the series in Philadelphia and were feeling pretty good about themselves. That was until Keith Primeau’s shot heard round the world end one of the longest games in NHL history and the momentum completely swung Philadelphia’s way…game, set, match. Overconfidence is a killer…don’t let it happen.
We will be going live with the Penguins Hockey Buzzcast tonight at 8:00pm. Hopefully you can all be there as we discuss the Conference Finals, everything Penguins and whatever other craziness comes up!
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