May 7, 2013, New York Islanders speed and forecheck causing problems for the Pittsburgh Penguins sidebar for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Islanders’ speed decisive in victory over Penguins
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The Islanders' Casey Cizikas (53) celebrates his
insurance goal during the third period against the Penguins on Tuesday,
May 7, 2013, in Uniondale, N.Y.
By Denis Gorman
Published: Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 10:03 p.m.
Updated 13 hours ago
UNIONDALE, N.Y.—Speed kills.
Just ask the Penguins.
One of the reasons that the Eastern
Conference Quarterfinal Series is tied at two games apiece is the
Penguins' inability to neutralize the Islanders' speed, which was key in
New York's 6-4 Game 4 win Tuesday night at Nassau Coliseum.
“We have to play with a good pace,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano said.
This is exactly what the Islanders have accomplished for the 188:44 of game action spanning Games 2-4.
The Islanders have been able to routinely
skate through the neutral zone to start their forecheck in the three
games, which has clearly bothered the Penguins. It boiled over with a
post-game fracas in which the 10 skaters on the ice wrestled and grabbed
at each other.
“You have to ask them,” Travis Hamonic
said when asked if he thought the Islanders' speed and physicality had
irritated the Eastern Conference's top seed.
New York outhit the Pens, 33-26, last
night. Many of the hits occurred behind the net, allowing the Islanders
to cycle the puck and maintain offensive zone possession. That was
highlighted by Kyle Okposo's second goal of the series, which tied the
game at 3-3.
Casey Cizikas was able to corral a loose
puck behind the net and found Kyle Okposo, who backhanded a shot that
bounced off Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
“I'm just trying to work my hardest out
there,” said Cizikas, whose goal with 1:16 left in regulation ended the
scoring. “I'm going to do whatever it takes to outwork the opposition.”
New York's speed forced the Penguins to
commit 12 turnovers, none more blatant than the offensive zone giveaway
that led to John Tavares's goal.
Brad Boyes forced Malkin to turn the puck
over in the offensive zone by cutting off his angle. Boyes corralled
the loose puck and carried the puck along the boards before backhanding a
pass to Tavares in the slot for his second goal of the series.
“Our forwards are cutting back and
cycling the puck, it causes a lot of problems for them,” Mark Streit
said. “Our forwards are doing an outstanding job. They have so much
speed and they work really, really hard. They're forechecking hard,
they're physical.”
Denis Gorman is a freelance writer.
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