LIVE GAME BLOG: Pittsburgh Penguins V. Philadelphia Flyers, Game 2

He said:

“No. I mean, I think… listen. When you have a rooting interest or you are, in the moment, very passionate or frustrated, you may challenge a call. But, in the final analysis, overwhelmingly, they get it right… and this final analysis, it’s a judgment call. You know, offsides – other than when it comes to control of the puck – but offsides in terms of where the skate is is a whole lot easier to do because it’s more black and white. It’s a fine line. Goaltender interference is, again, a judgment call, which is why you go with the call on the ice unless it’s conclusively wrong.

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“You know, when it was first instituted, we had warned the coaches and managers that this isn’t going to be crystal-clear in every situation. It will be, sort of, a judgment. Whatever your view of the process is, I guarantee you it’s much better in terms of getting it right than if we didn’t have video replay. There’s no question. But the only difference (is) it was originally designed for the most simple case: Somebody skates by the goaltender and hits his glove, but the officials on the ice don’t see it. That would be something that’s clear-cut when you pick it up in video.

“I think Colin Campbell and his people have done a great job with more and more cameras in the net (behind) the crossbar and overhead. We’re going to get it right overwhelmingly. And we’ll get a few calls where people will debate them. Depending on your interest in the game, you may have a different view.”

– Penguins have been playing a bit more in the Flyers’ end during thie first period. Still only three shots on goal for each team – and their power play could not convert on three opportunities – but, overall, a much better start to this one than in Game 1.

– The fourth line of Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte, and Noel Acciari, in particular, have had a nice start to this game. The Flyers are still frustrating the Pens in the neutral zone, but this line has had the most success in terms of zone entries and simplification.

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– END OF FIRST PERIOD –

Score: 0-0 | Shots on goal: Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 2

Second period

– The fourth line had another solid o-zone shift about two and a haldf minutes into the period. The Penguins seem to be making a better effort to get pucks to the net, but they still only have two shots on goal and none this period. Flyers are still clogging up all their lanes.

Still too much happening on the perimeter. The Penguins absolutely need this first goal here.

– Rust hits the post on a solid shift by the first line. Chinakhov also whiffed on a chance.

Attack looks a good bit better so far in this period.

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– Pittsburgh penalty, too many men on the ice (5:33). Philadelphia to the power play. No score.

– Penguins’ penalty kill makes quick work of the Flyers’ power play. Again, night and day difference between this unit with and without Blake Lizotte. It also helped generate some momentum for the Penguins, who have tilted the ice a bit for the time being.

– Chinakhov just threw the body a bit on Trevor Zegras, much to the delight of the crowd. A “Zegras sucks” chant rang out afterward.

Pens have the momentum now.

– Ben Kindel and the third line get mixed up with some Flyers around goaltender Dan Vladar. Kindel has been in the thick of the physicality through these first two games – but, especially, in this one – and it’s a great thing to see from the 19-year-old, whose birthday was Sunday.

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There is a lot of energy in this building right now. Pens need to feed off it.

– GOAL (Philadelphia): Porter Martone (2), from Travis Konecny an Christian Dvorak (13:39). Philadelphia leads Pittsburgh, 1-0.

– It’s really a shame. The Penguins had all the momentum prior to a TV timeout, which gave the Flyers a chance to reset and generate one of their only instances of sustained zone time in the second period. They were cycling , and Martone snuck in down the left side to finish a perfect seam pass by Konecny.

The Penguins need to respond quick and keep on the pressure so Philly can’t stack the blue line and deploy an effective neutral zone trap – which was their kryptonite last game.

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– MASSIVE power play for the Penguins coming up with 4:12 to go in the second. Glendening for cross-checking. Penguins trail, 1-0, and head to the man advantage.

– This power play is a disaster right now. It’s absolutely burying the Penguins, and if they lose this series, they could point to this alone as a primary reason why. Passes aren’t connecting. Too many long, cross-ice, low-percentage passes. And… a shorty.

Flyers generated more on that penalty kill than the Penguins did on their power play.

– GOAL (PHILADELPHIA): Garnet Hathaway (1) – SHG, from Owen Tippett (17:43). Philadelphia leads Pittsburgh, 2-0.

– Fans are booing the home team here at PPG. All the life has been sucked out of the building. The Flyers continue to frustrate the Penguins, and Rick Tocchet’s fingerprints are all over it again.

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– Malkin takes a high-sticking penalty that they reviewed and confirmed. Ristolainen’s stick got up on Konecny, too, but it appeared that Malkin initiated the play that led to both sticks clashing with Konecny’s face.

Or, at least, that seems to be what the ruling was.

– END OF SECOND PERIOD –

Score: 2-0 Philadelphia over Pittsburgh | Goals from Travis Konecny (PHI) and Garnet Hathaway (PHI) | Shots on goal: Philadelphia 17, Pittsburgh 14

Third period

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