Penguins’ Bottom Six is Key to Playoff Comeback – The Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins

After losing Game 3, the vibes were ugly for the Pittsburgh Penguins. For a third consecutive game, it felt like the Flyers had completely outplayed the Penguins in what was supposed to be a comfortable win for the latter.

Yet here we sit, in the wake of a Game 5 victory, and the Penguins have life once again. The stars have done well on paper for the Penguins, but the bottom two lines may be the real catalyst for the comeback effort.

Imbalance from the Top Six

It is important to note that part of the Penguins’ success (and struggles) has been a lack of consistency from its top six. In the first two games, Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell managed to do some damage but it felt like they were the only ones. In the last three games, Sidney Crosby has come to life with five points while Malkin and Rakell have gone quiet.

That lack of balance and consistency has definitely hurt the Penguins. As one of the highest-scoring teams at five-on-five this season, the Penguins fell apart as their offense was shut down, something that virtually any team would do.

If the Penguins can roll four lines and put pressure on the Flyers defense, they are hard to handle. On the road for Game 6, the Penguins will need to come out with a fire lit under them if they want to keep the Flyers on their heels.

Third & Fourth Lines Drive Two Wins

After playing a solid game in Game 3, the fourth line was finally rewarded with an empty net goal from Connor Dewar. Once again in Game 4, the bottom six drove the bus. Elmer Soderblom scored his first of the series before Dewar struck again, giving the Penguins a 2-0 lead.

If anything, the persistent effort from those two lines has opened up the ice for the top two lines. Kris Letang was the hero thanks to a lucky bounce, but the Penguins have cut the series lead to one in any event.

A pressuring forecheck from the bottom two lines has had an impact already. Flyers coach Rick Tocchet is making adjustments but seemingly hasn’t had an answer for the Penguins tenacity in the last two games.

Can They Continue the Run?

The Penguins struggled with the Flyers defense mightily in the first three games of the series. Combined with perhaps a little less jump than they otherwise should have had, the Penguins fell behind the eight ball and seemingly couldn’t get out of it.

They have since adjusted to a single-game approach and their energy levels have been better. They will also need to keep putting pressure on Flyers goalie Dan Vladar, making him work extra hard to track the puck.

If they can get the job done on Wednesday night, all of the momentum will be in their corner heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 7. Just a few days ago, it felt like getting to even this point would not have been possible. Now, we are one game away from talking about an incredible comeback story.