NHL playoffs analysis: Pittsburgh Penguins stay alive with Game 5 win vs Philadelphia Flyers

The season for the Pittsburgh Penguins isn’t over yet – after clinching a win in Game 4 on April 26 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The momentum was kept alive in Game 5, writes Sports News Blitz’s Katie Ryan.

Elimination potential 

Following the Flyers’ 3-0 lead in Game 4, fans and commentators alike were worried that this could be a sad end to the Penguins’ playoff run. 

With the nature of the NHL playoff structure being seven games per round, even one more loss would knock them out – and on Flyers’ ice too, just to rub salt in the wound. 

Since the Penguins’ last Stanley Cup win in 2017, they’ve missed three playoffs, lost in the first round four times and made it to the second round once. 

Stat analysis websites have put the odds at the Penguins making the second round at just over 25%. 

To claim a first round win now, the Penguins would have to win the next two games – making it a four-game win streak. Not impossible, but unlikely. 

However, at least this round hasn’t been a total sweep. The Vegas Knights and Ottawa Centaurs have fallen victim to this fate, with a 0-4 record of losses.

READ MORE: NHL playoff analysis: Pittsburgh Penguins struggle to fight back against the Philadelphia Flyers

Game 5: Fast start, different approach

If Game 4 gave fans hope, Game 5 confirmed it. Pittsburgh came out on home ice with a noticeably different attitude, prioritising constant offensive-zone pressure. 

Elmer Soderblom claimed the first goal just under three minutes into the first period, assisted by Anthony Mantha and Parker Wotherspoon.  

Taking advantage of distracted Flyers players, straight in front of the goal, the puck sunk straight into the back of the net.

This was the Penguins’ first shot on goal in the game and set the tone for the rest. 

Just over three minutes into the second period, the Penguins’ extended this lead to 2-0.  

This time Connor Dewar lit the lamp, assisted by captain Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte. 

With a Crossbar goal, the players didn’t even wait for the horn to sound before celebrating.

This is a noticeably more aggressive attitude than we’ve seen in the games before, and it seems to be working. 

Flyers’ goals 

However, the celebrations didn’t last long. Just 10 seconds later, Flyers’ Alex Bump scored. 

With five shots on goal by the Flyers, and a delayed penalty to the Penguin’s Erik Karlsson for tripping, the Flyers extended their lead to make it a draw with just over four minutes left in the second period. 

The Flyers focused on a heavily offensive strategy in this period, with most of their time spent circling the Penguins’ goal – which seemed to work in their favour.  

This exposed clear gaps in the Penguins’ defensive coverage, once again leaving the last line of defence at the goal. 

Unfortunately for the Penguins, this goal was inadvertently redirected by Karlsson – with the puck bouncing off the edge of his stick.  

Not over yet

The decisive moment of the game came with Kris Letang’s goal at the end of the second period, assisted by Crosby and Ryan Shea.  

Letang’s influence in the last couple games has been monumental.

In Game 4, Letang broke the deadlock and set the platform for the Penguins’ first win of the series – perhaps resetting the mental block of some of the players too. 

Letang’s goal in Game 5 broke the draw, and eventually claimed the Penguins’ second back-to-back win of the series.  

Driving them out of possible elimination, the goal now gives them the opportunity to fight back in Game 6.

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