A much more disciplined Penguins team learned their lesson from game 1 and didn’t get penalized. The Capitals were given just two powerplays, and the Penguins were given five. The discipline of the Penguins was the crucial factor in the last game versus this one, and helped determine the result. In a close game, the Penguins beat the Caps 2-1.

The Penguins were generally out played. The only person who wasn’t the one person who made the difference – Matt Martin, the Penguins young goaltender, who held the Capitals to one power play goal, and none in five on five. The series should be a goalie battle, and with Holtby being the best all season, and the Penguins finding maybe a true goalie of the future, this series could be fantastic to watch for the saves made. With the addition of two good offenses trying to beat those goaltenders, this series could be what the league needs.

The Capitals out performed the Penguins in every aspect besides shots and goals. Usually this means a win, but when the game comes down to which goaltender is better, no stat besides goals matters. The Capitals won more than 60% of the faceoffs in the game. They held the Penguins scoreless in five power plays. They out hit the Penguins by ten. Each team blocked more than twenty shots.

The second and third lines for the Penguins scored, showing the Penguins do not need be reliant upon their first line – something they’ve never been able to do. I don’t think Phil Kessel has scored at all these playoffs. For the Capitals, only soon to be free agent Marcus Johansson found his groove.

If both goaltenders continue to be on lock down, the offense who finds a way to over power them will win. The Penguins did so, so they got the best outcome.