The Pittsburgh Penguins now trail the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Final after getting blown out Wednesday.
Like Cinderalla’s carriage at midnight, Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has posted a ridiculous .931 save percentage during the postseason, finally turned into a pumpkin.
MAF allowed four goals on nine shots and was pulled 13 minutes into the game.
Let’s review, shall we?
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Here’s a compilation of all four of the goals.
Goal 1 – Mike Hoffman
Senators forward Mike Hoffman started the scoring 48 seconds into the first period. Hoffman gathered in a blocked Kyle Turris shot and slammed the puck off MAF from no angle into the net.
Goal 2 – Marc Methot
Nine minutes and forty-six seconds later, Penguins defenseman Ian Cole had an oopsie daisy, scoring for the other team. After Senators defenseman Marc Methot took a shot, the puck bounced off both MAF and Cole, before sliding into the net.
This was the exact moment the wheels fell off for the Penguins.
Goal 3 – Derick Brassard
One minute and fifty-four seconds later, Clarke MacArthur found Derick Brassard unguarded in the crease for a tap in.
Goal 4 – Zack Smith
MAF was pulled 24 seconds later after Zack Smith scored on an easy wraparound.
The Senators went on to win 5-1.
MAF was due for a bad game like this at some point. The Columbus Blue Jackets destroyed the Penguins in possession while the Washington Capitals outshot the Penguins in every game of round two. Yet Fleury made all the big saves somehow to keep the Pens ahead in both series.
Fleury was replaced by Matt Murray, who improbably led the team to a Stanley Cup Final victory last season. Murray stopped 19 of 20 shots during his first appearance of the 2017 playoffs.
Fleury entered Wednesday’s Game Three with a 9-5 record and a 2.32 goals-against average in 14 appearances.
Headline photo: @Benstonium
