PHILADELPHIA — While Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday surely commanded the attention of television viewers in every corner of Pennsylvania from McKees Rocks to Malvern, it was also appointment viewing for one town in eastern Belarus.
Mogilev.
That is the hometown of Penguins rookie defenseman Ilya Solovyov, who made his postseason debut in Saturday’s contest. He became only the eighth Belarusian to play in a Stanley Cup Playoff game.
“It’s a really big deal for my hometown,” said the 25-year-old Solovyov. “I’m a 1,000% sure. Everybody who I played (with), who coached me, my parents, grandparents, everybody watched this game. Woke up at 3:20 (a.m.) and watched the full game. I’m pretty sure about that. And we win. It’s perfect.
“Going back home, it was my dream as well. My son can watch the game. Watch (his) father play in the playoffs. My wife. Hope we can win there. Small things generate the big things. Win there, bring the series back here.”
The left-handed Solovyov replaced the right-handed Connor Clifton on the right side of the third pairing. Primarily working with the left-handed Ryan Shea as a defensive partner, Solovyov registered a game low 7:33 of ice time on 12 shifts. And only one of those shifts came in the third period.
Coach Dan Muse suggested Solovyov’s waning ice time in the late stages of the contest was rooted in the game largely being a one-goal affair for most of the evening.
Also, Solovyov only played in three of the team’s final 17 games during the regular season.
“Obviously, it’s a tight game right until the end,” Muse said. “It’s (Solovyov’s) first game after not playing in a little while. He got those games at the back end of the regular season. There was some good in terms of things we’re looking for, playing a heavy game, making a good, first pass. But I think it’s also the first playoff game for him, and it’s been a little while.
“We’ll continue to have conversations as a coaching staff about the lineup moving forward. In limited minutes, he did what we’re asking him to do.”
Solovyov appears more than grateful for whatever minutes he is afforded.
“I just try to enjoy every moment there, on the ice, on the bench,” Solovyov said. “Especially with this great group of guys. Dreams come true.”
Mantha looking for first goal
While a handful of Penguins players scored their first goal of the postseason during Saturday’s win, forward Anthony Mantha, the team’s leader with 33 goals during the regular season, remains goalless this series.
During Game 4, Mantha had two shots over 12:11 of ice time on 16 shifts. Over the series, he has five shots, 10th most on the team.
“We’re just looking at different ways he can get into those scoring areas,” Muse said. “I think you saw yesterday, he had a look off the rush in the first period. He’s had some looks. It’s not like nothing’s been there. He’s been getting to some of those areas. (Flyers goaltender Dan) Vladar has made the saves on some of the chances he’s gotten.”
Penalty kill rebounds
After allowing the Flyers’ penalty kill to score two goals on three opportunities in Game 3 on Wednesday, the Penguins blanked the Flyers on all three man-advantage sequences they worked with in Game 4.
In total, the Flyers only generated four power-play shots in Game 4. In contrast, they had three short-handed shots.
“We just did a good job being aggressive, especially when guys were getting in lanes,” Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon said. “Kept them to the outside for the most part and just tried to minimize their chances.”
Another boon to the Penguins’ penalty killers was … well … not being penalized as much. After tabulating 22 penalty minutes in Game 3, the Penguins accrued only eight penalty minutes in Game 4.
“The less penalties to kill, the better,” Penguins forward Noel Acciari said. “You don’t want to give them too many opportunities. We were more connected (Saturday) night and didn’t give them as much time to set up as we did previous nights. If we stay out of the box, it’s easier on us and keeps us more fresh.”