First, the Pens continued to play stupid. The Islanders tied it at 4 in the third period off of a silly turnover by Evgeni Malkin. The game was filled with other similar mistakes. But in this one, all eyes are on Marc Andre Fleury. I am somebody who is usually the biggest Fleury defender.
Not tonight.
Three of the Islanders' six goals were inexcusable. One was scored from behind the net, banking off of Fleury's leg. Another was scored in the final two minutes of play, sliding past him so slow you could read the label on the puck.
So, the series is tied at two, with the Pens heading home to play game 5 on Thursday at Consol Energy Center. I seriously think that the Pens pull this one out. And not because I'm a homer, or a fan (I am both of those things, but they didn't have any influence over this post). Here's why.
The Pens are a flat out better team. When they play smart, they kill the Islanders. The problem so far is that they haven't been playing smart. I feel that the Penguins are better equipped to lock in for an impressive game 5/6 than the Islanders. This is because the Islanders are so inexperienced. Their star players, John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, have never been in the playoffs before. They don't know the intensity of a game 5, or game 6. The Penguins have people like Crosby, Malkin, and Letang who have been in deep playoff runs. They know what it's like, they know what it takes.
That's why I think the Pens will take this one. If, AND ONLY IF, the Pens can reach down, and focus. If they can go into a mindset of 2008 or 2009. If they can regain their Cup winning mentality, they can take two of the next three. The Pens are by far the better team. It's all mental.
The same goes for Marc Andre Fleury. If he can't do that, I'm all for giving Tomas Vokoun the start for game 5.
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