The Pittsburgh Penguins' Eastern Conference series has not exactly gone as well as the team had hoped. The top-seeded team finds themselves in a 2-0 hole to start the series, getting blown out Monday night in the best-of-7 series. The Penguins need a change of momentum and a switch at goalie might be the first move made.
Tomas Vokoun was given the start over regular-season goalie Marc Andre Fleury during the team's series with the New York Islanders. Fleury struggled heavily and Vokoun stepped in to balance the team back out as they eventually went on to win the entire series. However, Vokoun is now looking like the unsettled goalie, struggling to gain control in the first two losses. Head coach Dan Bylsma previously laughed off the idea of making a switch at goaltender, but it is clear as Game 3 approaches, something must be done.
The Boston Bruins poured on three goals early, likely ending Vokoun's playoff run. The goaltender was given the hook and replaced by Fleury. The time off has apparently helped clear Fleury's head as the coaching staff has remained complementary of how he has looked in practices. Vokoun won six of his seven postseason starts after replacing Fleury in the opening series. While he is not fully to blame for the losses, a lineup switch might be what the team needs.
Pittsburgh's failure to score goals against the Bruins has been an issue and their defense up front has been almost non-existent. Kris Letang failed to clear the puck multiple times, giving little relief to Vokoun. Sidney Crosy and Evgeni Malkin were held scoreless for the second consecutive game. Now the NHL's highest scoring team will head to Boston in a large hole.
Fluery has played will in TD Garden. He went 4-1 in his last five games in Boston, recording a .954 save percentage. If there is anyone that can bring a momentum shift to the Penguins, it might just be him.
History is not in the Penguins favor at this point. The previous 16 teams to go up 2-0 in their conference finals have advanced to the Stanley Cup finals. The Penguins have managed to get themselves out of this hole once before. The team came back from a 2-0 deficit against the Bruins in 1991 while one their way to the franchise's first Stanley Cup victory.