Pittsburgh won because Vladar conceded 0.90 goals above league average on 21 shots β in a one-goal game, that margin was the difference.
β‘TURNING POINT
Letang's goal at 17:12 of the second period recaptured the lead for Pittsburgh with under three minutes left in the frame, negating Philadelphia's comeback from 0β2 down. That swing β from tied game to road team trailing heading into the third β proved permanent, as PHI generated zero third-period goals against a Pittsburgh structure that ceded nothing in the final 20 minutes.
πWHY PIT WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Goaltending margin: Silovs conceded 0.00 goals above league average on 20 shots β in a one-goal game, he delivered exactly what average demanded and Pittsburgh's skaters made it enough.
2
Playmaking concentration: Crosby posted 2 assists and a +1 rating in 20:13 of ice time, directly generating two of Pittsburgh's three goals and controlling the game's critical sequences.
3
Giveaway discipline: Pittsburgh's 22 giveaways are a liability, but PHI converted none into goals β Pittsburgh's defensive structure in the third limited PHI to zero shots that beat Silovs.
πWHY PHI LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Goaltending cost: Vladar conceded 0.90 goals above league average on 21 shots β in a one-goal game, that margin decided it directly.
2
Power play failure: PHI went 0-for-4 on the power play; converting even one opportunity erases the deficit and changes the outcome entirely.
3
Third-period execution: PHI held a 53.3% faceoff rate and 42 hits, yet produced zero shots that beat Silovs in the final period β puck possession and physicality generated no offensive result when the game was on the line.
Three Stars
Kris Letang1st
PIT, D
1G+1 rating24:40 TOI
His winning goal at 17:12 of the second was the decisive score β Pittsburgh never relinquished the lead after it.
Sidney Crosby2nd
PIT, C
2A2P+1 rating in 20:13 TOI
Crosby's primary involvement in two goals made him the engine of Pittsburgh's attack in the game's decisive sequences.
Connor Dewar3rd
PIT, C
1G2 SOG3 hits in 12:14 TOI
His goal pushed Pittsburgh's lead to 2β0 just 12 seconds into the second period, forcing Philadelphia into a reactive posture from which they ultimately couldn't recover.
