The win was huge for the Penguins, but the biggest story of the night was the fact that Sergei Gonchar and Alex Ovechkin had a knee on knee collision. It is hard to watch a play like that and not cringe. Gonchar was coming around the net and Ovechkin was barreling down on him trying to lay him out...he said as much in his post game comments. His intention was to hit Sergei Gonchar on the play...unfortunately, Sarge saw him and trying to dodge AO. As they passed one another, it looks as if Ovechkin leans his leg out a bit...not necessarily to hit the knee, but to make contact with Gonchar. Well, he did make contact and could have the Penguins without the services of Sarge for a while.
This isn't the first time Ovechkin has made a questionable hit on Sergei Gonchar, as he once laid him out in a Russian Super League game.
Now I will say that Ovechkin was very somber post game and stated his side of the story. He seemed legitimately upset about the incident and wanted to make known the fact that he is not a guy who tries to hurt other players.
“I tried to hit him and he tried to move to his left and I didn’t have time to realize what was going on,” Ovechkin said. “I’m not the kind of player who wants to injure players, especially guys I know. Yeah, it was probably knee-on-knee, but I tried to hit him with my shoulder. … It was an accident.”
Ovechkin also had a talk with Evgeni Malkin's father in the bowels of Mellon Arena about the incident. A local network news reporter saw the two chatting and asked what was being said...
“I was disappointed too. I didn’t want to hurt, but it is the game. This happens. … I don’t know what is going to happen, but what do I say? I didn’t want to hit him … I mean I wanted to hit him, but I didn’t want to hurt him, especially knee-on-knee. I think that is a dirty hit, and it is not my play.”
Many of the Penguins were understandably put off by the hit. No one actually came out and called for a suspension, but most, including Dan Bylsma mentioned that the league would be reviewing the situation.
Brooks Orpik was probably the most distressed. He has felt targeted by Ovechkin at times during this series.
"It's kind of the same thing he did with me last game,"Orpik said. "I mean, you can run guys, guys are fair game, but the guy takes strides every time and leaves his feet a lot of times, too. To us, we got the feeling he's really trying to hurt guys at times."
Orpik went on to say:
“That’s three games in a row, where to us, it looks like he’s out there to hurt guys,” Orpik said. “Everyone likes to play physical in the playoffs, but when you get the feeling that guys are trying to hurt guys, hopefully, it gets dealt with.”
Ruslan Fedotenko was equally emotional about the hit...taking a completely different stance on the subject.
"I think it was a dirty hit, and I feel the league should take care of that," Fedotenko said. "If they don't do that, we can go and take out other players like that too, trying to hit knee-on-knee. I feel like it should be punished."
Predictably, the two coaches in the game saw the play differently...
“If anyone looked at that replay, (Ovechkin) led with his shoulder,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “It was a shoulder check that he missed, that’s all.”
Dan Bylsma seemed to think the hit crossed the line.
“I think it was kneecap on kneecap and the league reviews these things,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “The video shows exactly what it is.”
I have heard conflicting things about the Gonchar injury, but the most disheartening news has Gonch suffering from a knee strain and missing 4 to 6 weeks. The team has not released any info other than to say he was suffering an undisclosed injury, with an open ended return date. I will let you know the moment I get something officially...
(Fox tv just described the Gonch/Ovechkin hit in this way... "Gonchar tries to play the puck...Ovechkin throws out the leg.")
The Gonchar incident aside, the game was a major success for the Penguins. They were finally able to get the offense rolling and knocked 5 goals past Simeon Varlamov. The youngster looked every bit the rookie we all know him to be for the first time tonight. The Caps were quickly in a 3-1 hole and the Pens never looked back.
The offensive explosion had most people wondering if the Penguins had finally gotten in Varlamov's head?
“Varlamov has been unbelievable,” Rob Scuderi said. “Even though he looked human tonight I don’t think we are going to count on him playing the same in the next game. We still have to keep getting to the net and keep getting pucks to the net.”
Though they saw what looked to be a goaltender who suddenly showed his emotions and looked every bit the rookie they know him to be, they realize that he will be back with a vengeance in this series.
One interesting note...a Washington writer was telling a number of folks post game that he thought there was a chance the Caps would go with Jose Theodore in tomorrow's game being that it is a back to back situation. It would be done based on the fact that Varlie is wearing down...I don't buy it.
There were a number of huge contributions in this game for the Penguins...here are some quick hits on them.
First of all, the other five defensemen in the line-up for the Penguins rose way up. They all had to play additional minutes and to a man they got the job done. Rob Scuderi, Mark Eaton and Hal Gill had extremely good games for the team. They combined for 2 assists, a +2 rating, 3 shots, 2 hits and 8 blocked shots.
Bill Guerin was a factor all night long. He has been creating havoc in front of the Caps net, using his body to screen Varlamov and tonight he used his nose for the net to score a huge rebound goal. Guerin also notched a nifty assist on a pretty play by Miro Satan and Sidney Crosby. He threw what looked like a touchdown pass that Satan actually brought in with his hand...Satan and Crosby went in two on one and Sid finished a great Satan pass for the Penguins fourth goal.
Ruslan Fedotenko did everything for the team. He has been heating up over the past couple of games and he scored another goal tonight and worked very well with Malkin and Talbot.
Tyler Kennedy has been busting his tail for 60 minutes a night all series long...that was again the case tonight.
Malkin and Crosby each launched 4 shots on goal...they two headed monster has been giving Washington fits in the offensive zone.
Max Talbot mentioned that Geno gave him some heat for missing what looked to be a wide open cage just before scoring what went down as the Penguins 5th goal. He said he returned to bench to the shaking head of Geno and a sly "What are you doing Max..."
Talbot made a great individual effort on his goal. He took a feed from Fedotenko and turned on the speed, breaking in alone and firing a shot past Varlamov.
Both teams will be a tired tomorrow for game five, but the Penguins have some momentum behind them. They also have the knowledge that they have twice in the past come back from two games down in a series against Washington and both times they went on to win it.
Stay tuned for more tomorrow...
48Hours: History Starts Right Now… Pens v Caps Game Four
The Penguins finally got on the board in game three with their first victory of the series, but the true picture of this 7 game fray will come into focus over the next 48 hours. By this time on Sunday, the Penguins and Capitals will have played two games and this series could be in the books or barreling towards an all-important game six. My money is on the latter.
The Penguins definitely seem poised to stretch this series out and are feeling pretty confident, even though they are trailing 2 games to 1. They have a significant edge is shots and chances in the series and will look to bring the same level of intensity that was there during game three to the ice tonight at Mellon Arena.
"I feel like we've outchanced them over the three games," Sidney Crosby said after Wednesday evening’s victory. "It doesn't matter -- we're still down, 2-1 -- but I think the belief in what we need to do is there. We see some good results. Not in the first two games, as far as wins, but chances and things like that. We're confident that if we play this way, we give ourselves a great chance to win."
There was a lot of talk around the rink today about the possibility of Marc Andre Fleury getting run by a Capitals team that feels their goaltender, Simeon Varlamov, has been being interfered with on a regular basis. Though it is a definite possibility, Fleury doesn’t seem to be too worried about it.
"You see that a lot in the playoffs,” said Fleury. “We've done pretty good so far against Washington. Philly was a little more crazy. I don't mind it. It's always a little interesting. I'll just try to stop the puck and don't worry about it."
The line-up for tonight’s game will be pretty much the same one that was iced for game three. Max Talbot will again get a look on the second line, alongside Evgeni Malkin. Though Talbot told today’s media session that he supplies the “looks” on the line, he tried to temper the enthusiasm about his play with Geno on Wednesday night.
"The media needs to relax a little bit,” Talbot said. “I played one game that went well. I like playing there. I can bring energy and defensive awareness. Hopefully, we have another good game tonight."
The rest of the line combos remain the same, with Miro Satan staying in the line-up. He did have a couple of opportunities on Wednesday night. Count me as someone who is rooting for him at this point…it would be amazing for him to get on the board in this series.
It will be a whirlwind couple of days, but both of these teams are hungry. The Penguins want to gain a bigger foothold, while the Capitals would love to be in a position to wrap this thing up on their home ice tomorrow evening. If back to back games are bother anyone, it hasn’t been said in any of the sessions. Most players have taken an “It is what it is” approach and realize that they have to make the best of it.
"We're just focusing on this one. We saw the schdule. That's the way it is but we have to focus on tonight,” said Sidney Crosby when asked about it.
The season could come down to these 48 hours and it has the potential to be an amazing two days of games…
It is going to be a great night down at the Mellon Arena. Listen for me post game on XM Home Ice, no time as of yet, for a post game wrap up on the “Ice Cap” show.
Game Notes:
The Penguins are 43-28 all-time versus the Capitals in post-season action, winning six of their previous seven series.
The Penguins have outscored the Capitals 145 to 130 in 45 career post-season games.
The Penguins are 17-24 in the fourth game of a best-of-seven series, including a 6-12 mark at Mellon Arena.
Penguins Youtube of the Day:
China Jack worked on Wednesday…thus, he is here again!
Penguins to Launch HD Radio Channel in Conjunction with WXDX
Pittsburgh Penguins to Launch HD Radio Channel in September
The Pittsburgh Penguins will launch a new HD radio channel in September, devoted specifically to the Penguins, the NHL and other hockey-related programming.
“Pittsburgh Penguins Radio” will be a joint effort with 105.9 The X (WXDX-FM), the team’s radio rightsholder, and will be heard on 105.9 HD-2 and www.pittsburghpenguins.com, beginning with training camp coverage in September.
The Penguins are the first team in professional sports to announce the creation of a channel that may be heard 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The Penguins always are looking for new ways to deliver unique content to the greatest fans in hockey, and we’re excited now to be the first team to venture into the world of 24/7 HD radio,” said Dave Soltesz, the Penguins’ senior vice president of corporate sales.
“We are thrilled that the Penguins have embraced the NHL team-branded audio concept,” said Gregg Baldinger, director of NHL Radio. “I can imagine that one of the pre-set radio choices for every Penguins fan is going to be Pittsburgh Penguins Radio.”
One highlight of the programming menu will be a live, local weekday show.
“It won’t be your ordinary talk show by any means,” Soltesz said. “The format of this show will be high energy, covering a variety of intriguing topics. Penguins fans are everywhere -- on Twitter, Facebook, texting, listening, watching -- looking for any information on our team and players. That’s what this show will be about. “
The station also will air “NHL Live,” a daily two-hour show that comes from NHL Radio, as well as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s weekly talk show, “NHL Hour.”
“In addition, we envision our fans being able to hear Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins games, classic Pittsburgh Penguins games, and a variety of other hockey-related programming,” Soltesz said.
Industry expert Bob Snyder of Beason Broadcast Partners has been working with the Penguins on the technology and growing reach of HD Radio.
“Over the next three years, I project that more than 75 models of cars will have HD-capable radios that are factory-installed, which means that Pittsburgh Penguins Radio will be available to a growing portion of commuters,” Snyder said. “In the meantime, we also will be streaming our programming via the internet 24/7, and we believe this will become one of the most popular features of pittsburghpenguins.com from day one.”
The Penguins and 105.9 The X (WXDX-FM) announced a new six-year broadcast rights agreement to have all regular season and playoff games carried on the station.
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