Game Night: Pens-Isles, By the Numbers
Poll Results
Question:
Do you think Sidney Crosby dove in overtime Sunday against the Islanders?
Results: Forty-five percent of respondents believe Crosby did dive in OT against New York. Thirty-five percent said “no” while 18 percent said “perhaps.” In the end, the refs decided a penalty was in order and Chris Kunitz scored off a Sidney Crosby pass for the game-winning, power-play goal in Game 3.
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EDIT: Pens-Isles Audio Interviews added below.
Pens-Islanders: By the Team Numbers
Pens are the only playoff team averaging four goals (4.33) per game.
Pittsburgh’s 46.2 percent on the power play is off the charts, with only one other team above 30 percent, Toronto (33.3 percent).
The Pens also have the fourth-best penalty kill (90.9 percent). Chicago is the only team yet to allow a power-play score.
Pittsburgh is being outshot by New York on average, 28 to 34.7.
The Penguins have scored more first-period goals (8) than any other team. They’re also the lone playoff squad that has yet to score in the third period.
Pittsburgh (20.3 PIMs/game) and the Islanders (26) are the second-most penalized combatants in the playoffs, behind only (not surprisingly) Ottawa (46) and Montreal (49).
The Pens are an NHL-best 6-for-13 on the power play; the Islanders, 1-for-11.
Hits – Blocked Shots – Missed Shots – Giveaways – Takeaways
Pens: 97 H – 59 BS – 36 MS – 21 G – 17 T
Isles: 107 H – 40 BS – 42 MS – 20 G – 26 T
Faceoffs
Pens: 52.2 percent, 95-87
Isles: 47.8 percent, 87-95
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Pens-Isles: By the Individual Numbers
Points
Pens: Malkin, 6 points (1G, 5A), Crosby, 5 points (2G, 3A), Iginla, 5 points (1G, 4A)
Isles: Okposo, 3 points (2G, 1A), Moulson, 3 points (2G, 1A), Tavares, 2 points (1G, 1A)
Shots
Pens: Malkin, 15, Crosby, 12, Dupuis, 10
Isles: Nielsen, 12, Okposo, 9, Tavares, 9
Time on Ice
Pens: Letang, 29:19, Martin, 25:36, Crosby, 23:44
Isles: MacDonald, 26:03, Hamonic, 24:57, Visnovsky, 22:05
Faceoffs
Pens: Crosby (27-23), Sutter 19-23), Malkin (17-17), Jokinen (18-13)
Isles: Tavares (34-30), Nielsen (13-22), Okposo (9-13)
Hits
Pens: Letang, 13, Morrow, 11, Cooke, Dupuis, Kunitz, 9, Glass, 8
Isles: M Martin, 15, Hamonic, 14, Ullstrom, Grabner, Boyes, Strait, Cizikas, 8
Blocked Shots
Pens: Eaton, 13, Dupuis, Letang, Martin, 5
Isles: MacDonald, 11, Hamonic, 8, Strait, 3
Missed Shots
Pens: Letang, 6, Malkin, 4, Iginla, 4
Isles: Tavares, 6, Okposo, 4, Moulson, 4
Giveaways
Pens: Malkin, 4, Crosby, 3, Letang, 3, Eaton, 2, Niskanen, 2
Isles: Tavares, 4, Bailey, 3, Boyes, Hamonic, M Martin, Nielsen, 2
Takeaways
Pens: Letang, 4, Crosby, 3, Adams, Cooke, Dupuis, Sutter, 2
Isles: Grabner, 5, Bailey, 4, MacDonald, 4
Goalie Stats
Pens: Fleury 2-1, 2.55 GAA, .923 save percentage, 1 shutout
Isles: Nabokov 1-2, 4.77 GAA, .836 save percentage, Poulin 0-0, 1.58 GAA, .909 save percentage
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Pens-Isles Audio Interviews
Dan Bylsma
Sidney Crosby
Kris Letang
Brooks Orpik
Jack Capuano
John Tavares
Kyle Okposo
Matt Moulson
Courtesy of Pittsburgh Penguins
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Tweets ‘O the Day
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Neal is practicing with the No. 1 power play.
Dave Molinari @MolinariPG
Nothing so far in game day skate suggests that Orpik and Neal won't be serious candidates to play in Game 4.
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Links 'n At
"Penguins working hard to limit turnovers," the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
"They're a really good hockey team, a dangerous hockey team, but there's not a whole lot of players who like to play in their own end," Islanders left winger Matt Martin said.
"Actually, I don't think anyone likes to play in their own end.
"When you're chipping pucks deep and being physical, really hemming them in their own zone ... when you have [Sidney] Crosby and [Evgeni] Malkin on the ice and they're spending half their shift in their own end, I think that's frustrating for them and, obviously, really limits their [offensive] opportunities."
JT’s Take: After three games, there aren’t many secrets. It’s all about execution at this point.
"Penguins Notebook: Neal, Orpik get some practice," the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
"Brooks is a guy we put in a matchup situation a lot of the time, so you're missing that aspect of it," he said. "His game is a physical game, so that's a portion of playing against those top guys, playing physical against them.
"That's in addition to his ability to defend and limit time and space. His ability to skate is an underrated part of his game. His ability to skate and play defense with his feet, as well.”
JT’s Take: Orpik’s return would balance the blueliners’ minutes – Letang and Martin played more than 30 minutes Sunday – something that could come in handy, should the Penguins advance in the playoffs.
"Penguins’ Letang among three players finalists for Norris Trophy," the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
JT’s Take: Looking at the pure
numbers only, it’s difficult making a case for anyone other than PK Subban.
"Islanders hoping for more physical play from blueliners vs. Penguins," the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
“They're obviously a high-powered team up front,” Hamonic said after Monday's morning skate at Nassau Coliseum. “I think we still have to continue to be harder on their guys. We don't want to make it too easy for them out there. I think if we have an opportunity to be tough on them and hit them and be hard in the corners, I think we can do a little bit of a better job at that.”
"NHL Insider, Bylsma hopes seven-game scenario during regular season helps Pens," the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
"Kovacevic: Penguins answer? Check, please," the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
"Penguins Notebook: Simple works for Kennedy," the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
"Absence of veteran defenseman Orpik showing for Penguins," the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
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Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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