It wasn't pretty and it was not anywhere near the Penguins best but they got the job done and were able to finally get in the win column and extend the series and season to at least one more game as they now head back to Pittsburgh.
Dan Muse decided for game four it was time to turn to the Arty Party and see if a goal-tending change would lite that fire under the Penguins and give them that spark that they were looking for.
Muse also decided it was time for some defensive change to happen as he wanted to stay more tighter in the defensive aspect of his team's game.
Muse had his team not feed into the Flyers shenanigans
A recipe that actually works and wasn't happening in the Penguins game so far this series finally clicked four games later as the Penguins limited the amount of buying into the flyers post whistle physicality and focused more on scoring goals and defending a lead, which as everyone saw actually is possible against the flyers. Pittsburgh was always falling for post whistle action that got them completely rattled and feeded the flyers even more. They will have to continue to not engage as they will continue to be on do or die scenarios.
Penguins finally were able to score goals
Something that we finally have been waiting for all series was able to happen, get the puck past Dan Vladar and take over the game and capitalize on all chances given and earned. Sidney Crosby finally broke through with a PPG to kick off the scoring and followed by a Rickard Rakell goal off pressuring Vladar and Kris Letang stepping into a bomb from the haskmarks. Connor Dewar had the empty net to seal the deal. Finally top six scoring and veteran presence showed it's good face and won the Penguins this game.
Arturs Silovs was strong and saved the Penguins
It's not easy for a rookie goalie to get thrown into a situation where you have to save your team's season after sitting the last couple of games but Arturs Silovs was up to the task and saved the Penguins bacon as he stopped 28 of 30 and really came through in a heavy way. The flyers were coming in waves throughout the game and Silovs stood tall.
Secondary scoring needs to come through
It's been silent from the Penguins secondary scoring so far in this playoffs which isn't the greatest but was expected. Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakhov who were massive goal scoring producers in the regular season continue to struggle with the playoff environment and raises the question, are they really even built for playoff hockey? There's gotta be some sort of pickup otherwise it's night night for the Penguins.
It's gotta be a lot of the same plus some small adjustments in the Penguins game, heading into another do or die game at home in front of Pittsburgh for game five. The Penguins were utterly dominated on home ice in games one and two and ideally do not want their season to end there but they have to rise to the challenge.
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