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Penguins must fix putrid power play
By
TERRY KOSHAN, QMI Agency
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Dan Bylsma has a big problem on his hands and almost no time to fix it.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have registered exactly one goal with a man advantage in their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That's with 30 power plays, including five that produced nothing on Monday night in a 4-2 loss.
During Game 6, the Penguins' power plays amounted to defenceman Kris Letang carrying the puck to the Tampa blue line. Usually, his teammates were standing still, and even when they were in motion, the Lightning had little trouble intercepting the puck and sending it back the other way.
"It was a big factor in the game," Bylsma said. "It's an area where we know it is a decisive thing in the playoffs. We will look at what we can do better."
Don't count on an improvement. Even during the regular season, when Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were not always hurt, the Penguins finished 25th.
The puck gave the Penguins fits all night. Chris Conner had a penalty shot in the second period, but the puck bounced over his stick and he frustratingly swatted at it, only to see Dwayne Roloson make an easy save.
Despite the swing back to Tampa's side with two wins in a row, Steven Stamkos does not see an advantage for Game 7.
"Now it's a best of one," Stamkos said. "Both teams, there is no momentum, there is nothing. It's a new game."
