Dealing with the Flyers' physicality and antics was something frequently discussed prior to the start of the Penguins' first-round series.
The narrative that the Flyers' edge could be a problem intensified after Game 1, when the Penguins seemed to be goaded into penalties. The Flyers kept getting under their skin in Game 2, too. And after the Penguins played their best period of the series to open Game 3, getting roped into a brawl changed the momentum of the entire game.
"I think we saw that it wasn't working the way we were doing it prior," Dan Muse said.
Coming into Game 4, the Penguins had to be disciplined. They were. And that change helped lead the way to a 4-2 win over the Flyers to force a Game 5.
It was clear right away the Penguins were making a point not to retaliate. Early in the first period, Owen Tippett swung his stick at Ben Kindel’s after a whistle. Kindel just skated away unharmed
What changed?
"We focused on playing hockey," Bryan Rust said.
There were a couple of reminders throughout the game of the risk the Penguins took retaliating. Noel Acciari was knocked over and fell hard on his arm after a whistle, but the only penalty was on Blake Lizotte for cross-checking in response. The Penguins nearly got a power play in the third period when Erik Karlsson got elbowed by Garnet Hathaway, but Karlsson sticking up for himself got him hit with a roughing minor -- a move that ended up setting the stage for Kris Letang's four-on-four goal.
"They're going to do it," Ryan Shea said. "And we're going to stick up for ourselves. But just seeing how everything is being played out across the league, they're going to take the extra one. So we're trying to take a step back from that and stay out of it."
Sticking up for yourself or a teammate when there's an actual injury or risk of injury is one thing. Sometimes, that's going to be worth the penalty-kill or the matching minor. It's the retaliation for the Flyers just being annoying that the Penguins can't afford.
"Ultimately, we've got to save our energy for in between the whistles," Sidney Crosby said. "I think that translated into the game and the way we played."
THE ASYLUM
Discipline makes a difference
Dealing with the Flyers' physicality and antics was something frequently discussed prior to the start of the Penguins' first-round series.
The narrative that the Flyers' edge could be a problem intensified after Game 1, when the Penguins seemed to be goaded into penalties. The Flyers kept getting under their skin in Game 2, too. And after the Penguins played their best period of the series to open Game 3, getting roped into a brawl changed the momentum of the entire game.
"I think we saw that it wasn't working the way we were doing it prior," Dan Muse said.
Coming into Game 4, the Penguins had to be disciplined. They were. And that change helped lead the way to a 4-2 win over the Flyers to force a Game 5.
It was clear right away the Penguins were making a point not to retaliate. Early in the first period, Owen Tippett swung his stick at Ben Kindel’s after a whistle. Kindel just skated away unharmed
What changed?
"We focused on playing hockey," Bryan Rust said.
There were a couple of reminders throughout the game of the risk the Penguins took retaliating. Noel Acciari was knocked over and fell hard on his arm after a whistle, but the only penalty was on Blake Lizotte for cross-checking in response. The Penguins nearly got a power play in the third period when Erik Karlsson got elbowed by Garnet Hathaway, but Karlsson sticking up for himself got him hit with a roughing minor -- a move that ended up setting the stage for Kris Letang's four-on-four goal.
"They're going to do it," Ryan Shea said. "And we're going to stick up for ourselves. But just seeing how everything is being played out across the league, they're going to take the extra one. So we're trying to take a step back from that and stay out of it."
Sticking up for yourself or a teammate when there's an actual injury or risk of injury is one thing. Sometimes, that's going to be worth the penalty-kill or the matching minor. It's the retaliation for the Flyers just being annoying that the Penguins can't afford.
"Ultimately, we've got to save our energy for in between the whistles," Sidney Crosby said. "I think that translated into the game and the way we played."
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