The Hockey News: Jason Kay's blog: THN.com Playoff Blog: Eastern promising for Pens; Preds take a bite out of Wings

THN.com Playoff Blog: Eastern promising for Pens; Preds take a bite out of Wings

Martin Erat celebrates after scoring an empty-net goal along with David Legwand. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Jason Kay
2008-04-14 23:14:13

The stars are aligning perfectly for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their secondary players are, too.

The Pens weathered a remarkable return to action by Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson to put the Sens on their playoff deathbed, winning Game 3 by a 4-1 score.

Sure the leading men are carrying the load for the Pens, but they're getting terrific play from their supporting cast. Maxime Talbot scored a pretty goal in the second period to tie the game, while Jordan Staal put the team up 3-1 in the third. Pascal Dupuis, Rob Scuderi, Tyler Kennedy and Jarkko Ruutu also dotted the scoresheet.

Evgeni Malkin, who looked like the latest version of "the NHL's new best player" in Games 1 and 2, was held pointless and it didn't matter. The balanced attack is crucial for Pittsburgh or any team intent on making a Stanley Cup charge.

The icing on the cake for the Penguins is their primary competition in the East seems poised for a longer, more intense series in the first round. Whoever emerges from the Canadiens-Bruins, Rangers-Devils and Capitals-Flyers figures to be more battle-fatigued, an important factor every playoff year. The additional rest should provide Pittsburgh with all the incentive it needs to maintain its focus and kill off Ottawa in four.

SHOWING THEIR TEETH
It appeared for the longest time that Detroit would be in the exact same position in the West – until Nashville's Ryan Suter and Jason Arnott struck nine seconds apart with fewer than four minutes remaining in the third period.

The best news for the Preds was the sudden re-appearance of Jason Arnott. The captain, who'd been so strong for the club all season, had been neutralized until scoring the winner in Game 3. If he can continue to make an impact, Nashville could make the series interesting.

We're not counting on it, though. Detroit controlled the pace for most of this game and has the experience and wherewithal to put the stunning collapse behind them.

Related Links

KUDOS FOR ALFIE
We're not sure how badly injured Daniel Alfredsson still is, but it's tough not to admire him for his return to action in Game 3 (unless, of course, you're a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs). The Ottawa captain is the embodiment of an MVP - his presence elevates those around him. That was the case for Ottawa until they inexplicably ran out of gas after taking a 1-0 lead in the second.

THE OTHER COMEBACK
David Legwand's insertion into the Preds' lineup, following an injury layoff, was noteworthy. While he's not a leader of Alfredsson's stature, he still has skill and speed that that can make a difference. It did in the second period when he tied the game 2-2.

NEW STAT
Like most, I have a very high level of respect and appreciation for Sidney Crosby, his talent and aura. That said, they should develop a new stat for him: LTOI - literal time on ice. The Kid seems to spend an inordinate amount of time falling down onto the playing surface.

THN.com's Playoff Blogs, featuring analysis and opinion on the action from the night before, with insight on what happened and what it all means going forward, will appear daily throughout the NHL playoffs. Read more entries HERE.

Jason Kay is the editor of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every weekend.

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COMMENTS (6)

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Dave The Rave Posted
(2009-04-30 06:11:44)

The East is looking more exciting by the minute. Penguins in four or five, Canadiens in five or six, Rangers-Devils still a tossup, and Flyers seem to have solved Ovie and Huet. At this point Habs would meet Philly; Pens would face off against NY or NJ. Pens can be beaten by either one. In this case we would be looking at Montreal vs. New York or Devils in the East final. As for the Senators, it's actually too bad they made the playoffs; the team needs an overhaul and that can't come too soon.

Matthew Carulli Posted
(2009-04-30 06:11:34)

Erick: I think the biggest part of the Sens' disappointment was the fact that they won 15 of their first 17 games. They owned the Eastern Conference in the first part of the season, and were everybody's Eastern favorite for the cup. This collapse is much greater than the ones you mentioned, because a lot happens during offseasons, especially in other sports. I wouldn't consider this a disappointment because the Sens were in the cup last year, but because they were so good earlier THIS year. And if you're talking about the NFL, just look and see what happened to nearly every Super Bowl loser the last 5 years the year after they make it to the big game. They miss the playoffs more often than not. Granted the Steelers won it, but still. It just goes to show how important the offseasons are.

Brian Pesci Posted
(2009-04-30 06:11:34)

While the Sens so-called collapse seems enormous in stature and should be an embarrassment to the franchise I think that if the Sharks and Ducks go by the wayside in the first round it would be even more shocking. The Sens have proven all year that they are a divided team in the locker room and it translated into an almost miss of the playoffs, so to see an early exit from them isn't as great a surprise to me. Besides I've never been impressed by Murray's leadership abilities, albeit their run last year. I wonder if they do go out early, how many pieces of the puzzle get replaced besides Emery, would Murray be a possible casualty in this, who knows how far the soap opera in Ottawa will shake up this franchise and for how long the effects will last? Reminds me of the days of Hasek vs Ted Nolan, that took a while to get that soap opera put behind the Sabres as you may remember.

Erick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:11:32)

What happens if the defending champion Ducks go out in four? Wouldn't that be a bigger collapse? Or howabout when the defending champion Lightning went out in 5 games in the 1st round (to the Sens btw) in '05-'06? Or howabout when any defending champion in a major sport misses the playoffs completely the next year? Like the Steelers in '06....

Bert Wilson Posted
(2009-04-30 06:11:31)

It's so ironic to see Ottawa getting pushed around by the Pens. Last year the refs let them get away with physically abusing the 'young' Penguins. I guess Pittsburgh had to 'earn their stripes'? Then they went on to whine about the treatment that the Ducks gave them in the Cup. Good ridance Sens, hope you go out in four. It's funny that the media labeled the Hurricanes missing the playoffs as a huge collapse. I think if the Sens go out in four, it would be the biggest collapse I have seen in a long time.

Chris Posted
(2009-04-30 06:11:31)

Dominik Hasek looked absolutely terrible, especially on the Arnott goal where he was streaking down the wing and just flat out beat Hasek. Could someone explain to me why Detroit feels the need to screw Chris Osgood year after year? First they start Vernon instead of him in the playoffs in 97 when he played spectacular in the regular season, then the guy comes back and wins them another Stanley Cup and they go and get Dominik Hasek. Now Osgood led the league in GAA and had the better Save percentage when compared to Hasek yet he's sitting on the bench watching the series again