NHL East Finals Game 3 Preview
We knew the Boston Bruins would present the Pittsburgh Penguins with a major challenge in the Eastern Conference Finals, but we certainly didn’t expect they would have dominated the first two games of the series, and on the road no less.
But’s that’s just where we are after two games in this series. After a 6-1 thrashing on Monday night, the Bruins are up 2-0 and will travel home with their growing momentum for game 3 at TD Garden tonight, where they will be the favorite for the first time in the series.
The Pens’ home ice advantage is long gone now, but they certainly have the talent and the experience to come back. With 11 members of the 2009 Stanley Cup champion team still on their current roster, the Penguins know what it takes to win the Eastern Conference title. But now, there’s simply no room for error.
“Right now, we’re not liking the picture, down 0-2. They’re in control,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said, according to ESPN.com. “I don’t think we’re frustrated by the fact that we haven’t scored as much as (the fact that) they’re getting up leads, especially in Game 2.”
Even though the Pens say they aren’t frustrated, the most surprising turn in the series so far has easily been Pittsburgh’s lack of offensive production. The Penguins led the league in scoring during the regular season and carried that offensive prowess over to the postseason, where they averaged over four goals per game during the first two rounds. Now, they are definitely looking for answers after scoring just one goal in the first two games of the East Finals.
Part of the issue for the Pens has obviously been Boston’s rough and tough, but disciplined defensive scheme. Boston’s hard-nosed defense may have been overlooked by those who predicted Pittsburgh would take the series (including this writer), but it certainly won’t be from here on out.
However, the Bruins know that winning two more games – even at home – against a team as talented and capable as the Penguins will be no easy feat. And they’re not going to celebrate until they’ve won that fourth game.
“It’s about what we do in the next game,” Boston defenseman Andrew Ference said, “not about patting ourselves on the back for what’s already happened.”
“You don’t have a choice but to respect that team that you’re playing against, because they are a pretty potent team. Things can change pretty quickly in this game,” Boston coach Claude Julien said. “I don’t think there’s any comfort level in our team right now.”
Considering Boston has just as much experience in these high-pressure games as Pittsburgh does and considering that they seem to be taking the correct approach to game 3, I don’t see why the Bruins can’t continue their success against the Pens at home tonight. As arguably the best team during the regular season, you would think the Penguins would avoid a sweep, but until they prove they can beat Boston, I wouldn’t go against the Bruins. Take Boston to cover -1.5 tonight in game 3, as they grab a 3-0 stranglehold on the series.
