ECQF: New York Islanders At Pittsburgh Penguins – Pens Fly To A 5-0 Win

As everyone knew it would be extremely unlikely that the Islanders even stood a chance. I’m sure the Isles came into this game hoping to show the world they weren’t ready to roll over an die but that was not the case last night. since he drop of the puck they were out-matched and out-played by a much stronger opponent in the Penguins. the skill level was just too high and the defense was just too good. The Isles franchise player ended with with no shots on goal and finished a minus 1. If the Isles even want to have a chance to win a game they will need a much better effort from John Tavares, Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes. Lets not forget either that the Islanders goaltenders didn’t exactly put in a star performance letting in goal after goal. Although not all the goals were the goalies fault as the Long Island team didn’t exactly demonstrate great defense, giving the puck countless times, the Pens finished the night with 7 takeaways.

As for the Pens, who could of asked for a better first game? and without their captain on top of that, how scary is it that they played like this without their captain? The Pens held a clinic out there showing the Isles who were the better team. they got the goaltending they needed as Marc-Andre Fleury was perfect with 26 saves. along with the goaltending, their special teams showed up quite well going 2-4 on the power play and killing off all 4 penalties during the game. If the Pens play like this every game in this series no doubt this only goes 4.

May 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center

(71) and defenseman

(58) and right wing

(right) react after Bennett scored a goal against the New York Islanders during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

In the opening 2 minutes the Islanders took a penalty as Brian Strait went to the box for interference. The barrage of goal began with Beau Bennett scoring on the power play as Paul Martin shot the puck into the Islanders zone and it was tipped to Bennett and he shot the puck past Evgeni Nabakov to take the 1-0 lead. The second goal of the period came from Pascal Dupuis as he was rewarded for the goal just by standing in front the the net as the Islanders just couldn’t clear their zone and paid for it as they were scored on for the second time in the opening period.

The second period began in very similar fashion as the first with a Pens power play in the opening minutes that also contributed a goal. It all started when Jerome Iginla shot the puck wide in which it led to Evgeni Malkin’s stick to then passed the puck to Kris Letang. The Pens offensive defensemen then wired the puck passed Nabakov for the second power play goal of the game. Not long after taking a 3-0 lead the Pens would widen their lead as Dupuis would score again and in a classic Dupuis way. A rebound goal for the Pens veteran. In a desperate way to try and get something going Jack Capuano would pull Nabakov and put Keven Poulin in. But that wouldn’t solve a thing as Tanner Glass would score a weak goal to bring it to 5-0.

In the final period we would notice the Penguins ease up a bit and not score a goal but showed the Isles just how dominant this team really is. The game would end a 5-0 final.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1. Marc-Andre Fleury – 26 saves
2. Pascal Dupuis – 2 goals
3. Evgeni Malkin – 2 assists