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Pre-Game Three: "Can You Hand Me The White Out?" |
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In the old days before computers, back when there were no delete keys and people used pens and paper to write things you would see a little black and white bottle on the table next to the writer. The bottle housed a liquid magic called White Out. The writer needs it to "white out" all of the mistakes he has made along the way.
Maybe that is what the Penguins are thinking as they head into games three and four at home. They are hoping that by calling for a fan driven "white out" of Mellon Arena, that they can overcome all of the mistakes of games one and two. Maybe the fans can symbolically "white out" the fact that the team is coming off of it's two worst games of the playoffs.
Maybe they can "white out" the fact that they haven't scored a goal in the series.
Maybe they can "white out" the fact that Evgeni Malkin is clearly hitting a wall and re-invigorate him to play the way he has in leading the Penguins to this point. He is a very proud player and the criticism is hurting him.
Maybe they can "white out" the intimidation that the Penguins were feeling in Joe Louis Arena. The boys in Black and Vegas Gold have looked shell-shocked at times and need to use their home ice to overcome it.
Maybe they can "white out" the fact that the Penguins have yet to play their style of hockey in the series and spur them to shoot the puck at every opportunity. The fact that they have not been able to attack consistently, something that they did throughout the playoffs speaks loudly about why they haven't been able to score. They have been sitting back and playing a dump and chase style that is not working.
Maybe they can "white out" the experience of the Detroit Red Wings and to help the Penguins overcome the 2-0 deficit by taking two at home. They may not have a ton of their own experience, but they have a ton of talent and it can be a huge difference maker if used correctly.
Maybe they can "white out" the fact that the Penguins have yet to successfully send guys to the front of Chris Osgood's net. Something that could result in a ton of goals if they can make it happen, especially when you consider all the loose pucks that have been in and around Osgood's feet and goal crease.
Maybe they can "white out" the physical play of Detroit, especially Kronwall and Stuart. The two Detroit rear guards have pummeled the Penguins in this series. The Penguins have got to match that intensity and hit the Detroit defense early and often.
Maybe they can "white out" the referees. The Penguins need to focus on playing the disciplined controlled game that got them to the final. They were one of the least penalized teams in the playoffs and have suddenly accumulated 21 penalties in the two games. There may have been a handful of calls that were not great ones, but when you are playing undisciplined hockey the refs are not on your side.
Maybe they can "white out" Michel Therrien's line juggling. He has made all of the right calls up to this point in the playoffs but is it slipping away? I drank the Kool Aide when he made sweeping changes after game one, but you have got to stick with something at some point. He began to get back to his old style sideshow act almost immediately in game two.
Maybe they can "white out" the fact that Darryl Sydor hasn't played in a game since March. Sydor will indeed replace Kris Letang in the line-up this evening in a move that smells of desperation. Nothing against D Syd, but he can't be ready to go after not touching frozen water in a game for close to two months.
The crazy thing is that the "white out" just might work too...why wouldn't you think that it could. The Penguins are a perfect 8-0 at home in these playoffs and they have haven't lost a game at the Mellon Arena for almost three months.
Some Quick Hit Thoughts:
Petr Sykora did make contact with Chris Osgood, but he did a great job of drawing the penalty. He is one of the best at drawing those interference calls. Though it may have looked like Sykora barreled through him during live action, the replay showed that the contact was much lighter.
Gary Roberts did throw a blow into Franzen's face, but it was hardly the heinous act it has been made out to be. I have seen the same thing dozens of times throughout these playoffs. He did it and was penalized...period end of sentence.
Niklas Kronwall is beginning to look like a young Ulf Samuelson...and that is a good thing. I knew he was a good player, but he has really impressed me. He is easily the Red Wing that I love to hate...
Is Chris Osgood as good as back to back shut outs say he is? I hope that the Penguins give him a chance to show us, as he has barely been tested during the series.
Sidney Crosby and Brooks Orpik have been the two best Penguins in the series. Brooks has been a hitting and shot-blocking machine, while Sidney has tried his best to penetrate the Red Wings defensive wall in the neutral zone. Sid will score tonight...
Other Series Notes:
The Penguins are 4-1 all-time in Stanley Cup Final games played on home ice winning the last four.
Detroit has won six straight road games in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Penguins are 4-3 all-time in Game Three when trailing a series 2-0.
Tonight is the Penguins’ 99th game this season.
The Penguins have never met the Red Wings in a playoff series before this season, but are 44-18-4 against them on home ice all time.
The Penguins have lost three of the last four games. All three losses came on the road and all four playoff losses have been away from Mellon Arena. They have a 4-4 road record this playoff season.
The Penguins have not scored in the last 135:57 of play. The record for a playoff-scoring drought by the Penguins is 151:18 which was at the hands of Martin Broduer during the 2001 Conference Finals series. Including the shutouts in Games Three and Four of that series, the Penguins were blanked over the final 14:41 of Game Two and were blanked over the first 16:37 of Game Five.
The Penguins are 25-17 all-time in Game Three of a playoff series.
Including both playoffs and regular season, Marc-Andre Fleury has won 18 straight starts at Mellon Arena. His last regulation loss at home was November 21st, 2007.
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