Morning Observations is a feature where we break down the previous night's game with an analytical eye.
The Penguins didn’t exactly enter Philadelphia under ideal circumstances. After a four-game west coast trek, Pittsburgh flew into the City of Brotherly Love on Wednesday morning to close out the trip. Considering the travel arrangements, it was fair to expect that the Pens might not bring their ‘A’ game, or at the very least, might wear down as the game progressed. The latter proved to be an accurate description of the contest.
Pittsburgh came out strong early, particularly on the forecheck in the offensive zone, stymieing Philadelphia breakout attempts.