The top 5 reasons the Pens trail 2-0

So the Caps took a 2-0 lead in the series tonight, winning another close game. Alex Ovechkin stole the show with a hat trick, and Sidney Crosby had a trick of his own (the first career playoff hat trick for both players), but the Pens once again beat themselves by making a crucial mistake that led to what might as well have been the winning goal.

After their worst power play of the game in the 3rd period, a power play which could have given them the lead had they not completely wasted it, with the game tied at 2, Evgeni Malkin took a tripping penalty to put the Caps on the power play, and then Jordan Staal lost the ensuing faceoff cleanly to Nicklas Backstrom in the Pens’ zone.

Mike Green took the puck and immediately fed it to Ovechkin, who unleashed a one timer that beat Marc-Andre Fleury to break the tie. Ovechkin then added his 3rd goal of the game, using Sergei Gonchar as a screen, and the game was pretty much over.

So here are the top 5 reasons (in no particular order) why the Pens are down 2 games to none in their series against the Capitals:

• No secondary scoring – Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin need to score goals in this series. They were a little more noticeable in Game 2, but that’s not good enough. Guerin missed a great chance early in the 1st period, and Kunitz has missed a number of chances so far. Like many of Crosby’s previous wingers, Kunitz seems to force the puck to Crosby instead of shooting it. Petr Sykora and Ruslan Fedotenko also need to score, and Jordan Staal’s line has not been nearly as effective as it was against the Flyers. That must change as well if the Pens are going to win at home.
• Lackluster power play – You could really sum up the series so far by saying that the Caps’ power play has come through with key goals and the Pens have not. Ovechkin scored on a 5 on 3 to give the Caps the lead in Game 1, and he scored the tie breaker tonight in the 3rd period on the power play as well. Meanwhile, the Pens had 2 glorious chances in Game 1 to tie the game in the 3rd period and failed to generate any scoring chances, and in Game 2 they could have taken the lead, but it was more of the same. Wasted chances on the power play has been the Pens’ achilles heel throughout the season, and that trend has continued in the playoffs.
• Malkin’s disappearing act – Malkin is an MVP candidate again this season. It’s time for him to start playing like it. He was terrific against the Flyers, but it’s hard to defend his play in the first 2 games in this series. He hasn’t been awful by any means – he’s put up a decent effort in both games – but he has to step up his game and help out Crosby, who’s scored 4 of the Pens’ 5 goals in this series.
• Can’t leave Ovechkin open – It’s never acceptable to leave Ovechkin open for a shot. Now, it’s one thing when the Penguins are killing a 5 on 3 penalty like they were in Game 1, but the Pens left him all open by the right faceoff circle for his first goal in Game 2, and they should have been ready for the one timer on his 2nd goal in the 3rd period, especially if they lost the faceoff cleanly, which they did. You have to give the Caps’ superstar credit, but the Pens can’t leave him open like they did in Game 2 and expect to win.
• Varlamov’s been rock solid and better than Fleury. Simply put, the Caps’ rookie goalie has come up with the big saves, like when he robbed Crosby and Gonchar on the Pens’ 5 on 3 advantage in the 1st period, and Fleury didn’t stop any of the 3 suberb shots by Ovechkin. Fleury hasn’t been bad, and the goals he gave up were all tough to stop, but Varlamov has been better so far.

It’s not time to panic, but down 2-0 in the series, Game 3 is an absolute must win. Only 2 teams have come back from down 3-0 in NHL history, and it’s unlikely to happen again any time soon, especially against a team as talented as the Caps.

The good news for the Pens is that they have arguably been the better team overall, and once again they outshot the Caps and put up 36 shots on goal overall.

But the Caps have scored the key goals in both games, both in the 3rd period, and that’s been the difference. For the Pens to win at home, Malkin needs to produce, the Pens’ wingers must chip in with a goal or 2, and their power play must score at key times.

If that doesn’t happen, the Caps will move on to the 3rd round, and this could end up being a short series.

Game highlights