Score: 2 - 0 Wild after 2 periods.
After 2 periods of play were over the highlight of the 2nd period was Penguin penalties and P.K. The Penguins faced 3 penalties in the period and at one point faced a 5-3 but were able to kill all the penalties. Pens continue to show dominance in the penalty killing department but shots on net are not coming for the Pens in this game.
Period ending stats:
Shots were 28-20 in favor of the Wild.
18-10 shots in favor of the Wild in the 2nd period alone.
Faceoffs were 23-16 in favor of the Wild.
Hits were 16-18 in favor of the Penguins.
Giveaways 4 for the Penguins 2 for the Wild.
Takeaways were tied 3-3.
Of the powerplays the Penguins were involved in they only tallied 1 shot. On the Letestu penalty at 7:43 Maxim Talbot tallied 2 short handed shots that were good scoring attempts and could of turned the tide for the Penguins. It is becoming clear that this battle is even more uphill than at first anticipated, the Penguins are really going to need to make some adjustments to their lines to try and match up against this team and create some space.
The Penguins are going to need to come out within the first 5 minutes of the 3rd period to tally a goal and get a breath of life in the team. Minnesota is trapping the Penguins in a similar way the Islanders trapped them and prevented the Penguins scoring opportunities. Right now the Penguins do not look like the Penguins of the first half of the year. There was always speculation that adding Staal back into the line up would present a kind of disturbance in the flow of the Penguins play, could this be a factor in the decline in the beginning of the second half?
More action coming up in the 3rd period. Look for the game Recap to come later.
No comments:
Post a Comment