Video Highlights-
Well, that was fun. A solid team win over a solid team...
Sidney Crosby got things started with a beautiful goal on Scott Clemmensen. 87 took the puck in the neutral zone, walked around Bryce Salvador, and after losing the puck after Clemmensen failed on a poke check attempt, he swept it under the Devils' netminder on his backhand to make it 1-0, remaining red hot.
Miroslav Satan almost put home a powerplay goal when an Evgeni Malkin slapper clanked off the crossbar then off Satan's chest. The puck eluded 81's stick, however, and the Pens powerplay drought continued.
Crosby set up Petr Sykora for his fifth of the year on a powerplay a few minutes into the second while Zach Parise was serving an interference minor. After a great keep in by Malkin, Tyler Kennedy ran after the puck to swipe it from the grasp of a New Jersey defenseman and gave a between the legs pass to Crosby who broke in on Clemmensen and hit Sykora with a saucer pass for the tap in.
Matt Cooke laid a crushing check on Parise that sent Parise into his bench. While the door was open into the bench, Cooke made Parise pay for dumping in the puck. It was a doozy of a hit.
Sid struck again in a 4 on 4 midway through the period. Malkin skated after a loose puck to beat a lunging Clemmensen to it. He slid it to Crosby for a gimme and Sid's second goal of the game. Thos two are kind of a big deal.
Kennedy almost made it 4-0 when he missed an easy opportunity after a nice pass from Staal during a 2 on 1. That line played well as usual.
Mike Rupp got New Jersey on the board two minutes into the third with a snipe past the glove of Dany Sabourin to the top right hand corner of the cage. The goal was the result of some sloppiness by the Pens in an a failed attempt to get the puck out of the defensive zone.
The Devils had some golden opportunities to cut the lead in half during the bulk of the final frame, but some sketchy decision making cost them those chances.
Crosby capped off his night with a beautiful empty netter for the hat trick. He laid out on the ice and one handed it into the net. Malkin got an assist. Those two together....it's just not fair.
Notes-
-Crosby and Malkin.....they give you a tingly feeling.
-Fedotenko played well.
-Nice job by Sabu tonight.
-Gotta love Matt Cooke
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Game 23- New Jersey Devils @ Penguins
This needs to be a nice bounce back game for the Pens. They were bad last night, so this is important to get two points out of even more so than normal. It's also a divisional game.
It'll be Dany Sabourin against Scott Clemmensen in goal. Sabourin was putrid in his last start against the New York Islanders, and he'll have to play better if the Pens are to get a win.
Clemmensen is an ECHLer. There's no reason the Pens shouldn't score 10 on him.
The Pens powerplay was garbage last night, and they'll need to do better. Fire Mike Yeo, please.
Janne Pesonen barely got into the game yesterday, so he might be scratched and Ruslan Fedotenko back in. Nobody really knows. If the Pens need goals at any time, expect the line of Malkin-Crosby-Sykora to be reunited. Hopefully Dupuis won't be on the first line tonight.
Phillipe Boucher suffered an undisclosed injury last night. We'll assume he's out, and Eaton's in.
Penguins-
It'll be Dany Sabourin against Scott Clemmensen in goal. Sabourin was putrid in his last start against the New York Islanders, and he'll have to play better if the Pens are to get a win.
Clemmensen is an ECHLer. There's no reason the Pens shouldn't score 10 on him.
The Pens powerplay was garbage last night, and they'll need to do better. Fire Mike Yeo, please.
Janne Pesonen barely got into the game yesterday, so he might be scratched and Ruslan Fedotenko back in. Nobody really knows. If the Pens need goals at any time, expect the line of Malkin-Crosby-Sykora to be reunited. Hopefully Dupuis won't be on the first line tonight.
Phillipe Boucher suffered an undisclosed injury last night. We'll assume he's out, and Eaton's in.
Penguins-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Gill
Boucher-Scuderi
Sabourin
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Gill
Boucher-Scuderi
Sabourin
Devils-
Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
Elias-Zubrus-Gionta
Pandolfo-Madden-Clarkson
Vrana-Rupp-Brookbank
Salvador-Martin
White-Oduya
Salmela-Leach
Clemmensen
GO PENS!
Elias-Zubrus-Gionta
Pandolfo-Madden-Clarkson
Vrana-Rupp-Brookbank
Salvador-Martin
White-Oduya
Salmela-Leach
Clemmensen
GO PENS!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Pens turn in uninspiring third period to lose to Sabres
That was hardly enjoyable.
The game started with a rather slow pace. The teams looked like they were trying to figure each other out, which was odd because they met just two weeks before in Pittsburgh. Play picked up in time though, and the Penguins wreaked the benefits in the early going.
Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke cycled the puck beautifully in the left corner behind Ryan Miller, and Cooke took the puck and hit an opened up Kennedy with a pass on the left post. Kennedy buried it easily.
The Sabres answered shortly after. Max Afinogenov went around the whole Pens defense, wrapped around Curry, and gave Drew Stafford a chance to stuff home a rebound, which he did. It was the first goal against of John Curry's career.
Things went to intermission all even.
Brooks Orpik took an interference minor midway through the second. The Penguins looked to have it killed off until Paul Gaustad potted his first of the season for Buffalo on a freak play. Stafford centered the puck, and Gaustad stopped it with his foot after Curry had slid too far to get back in the play. Gaustad had a gimme to make it 2-1.
Sidney Crosby tied it minutes later when Evgeni Malkin took a wicked slapper that ricocheted off the end boards to the front of the net. Crosby, using inept hand-eye coordination, batted the puck out of the air past Miller to tie it 2-2.
Crosby got another one on a 4 on 4, again from Malkin with 56 seconds left in the period. Malkin moved it ahead to 87 after making a nice steal. Sid puck supported and took the puck in on Miller. He pump faked a slapper before beating Miller five hole, a la the Winter Classic.
A Thomas Vanek tripping minor gave the Pens an extended 5 on 3 that would carry over into the third period.
The Malkin-Crosby-Sykora line is the best in hockey, bar none. Hell, you could put me with those two, and we'd still be the best line in hockey. Wow, just wow. Malkin to Sid and vice versa....it's just magical to watch.
The Pens took a 3-2 edge into the third, and they were flying.
Of course, the 5 on 3 went to waste. No surprise there.
Stafford evened it again for the Sabres shortly after in a 3 on 2. The Pens turned it over in the neutral zone, and that was it. Thomas Vanek made a nice pass to Stafford right in the slot, and Curry never even went down.
After Curry made some sick saves, Gaustad stuffed in a cheapy between Curry's legs. Leave it to this team to give up the first two goals of the season to some shit fourth liner.
The Pens had one final hurrah with Curry pulled late, but an early whistle averted a great chance on a rebound for Max Talbot, who very concievably would have buried the puck.
Bounce back tomorrow, damnit.
Go Pens.
The game started with a rather slow pace. The teams looked like they were trying to figure each other out, which was odd because they met just two weeks before in Pittsburgh. Play picked up in time though, and the Penguins wreaked the benefits in the early going.
Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke cycled the puck beautifully in the left corner behind Ryan Miller, and Cooke took the puck and hit an opened up Kennedy with a pass on the left post. Kennedy buried it easily.
The Sabres answered shortly after. Max Afinogenov went around the whole Pens defense, wrapped around Curry, and gave Drew Stafford a chance to stuff home a rebound, which he did. It was the first goal against of John Curry's career.
Things went to intermission all even.
Brooks Orpik took an interference minor midway through the second. The Penguins looked to have it killed off until Paul Gaustad potted his first of the season for Buffalo on a freak play. Stafford centered the puck, and Gaustad stopped it with his foot after Curry had slid too far to get back in the play. Gaustad had a gimme to make it 2-1.
Sidney Crosby tied it minutes later when Evgeni Malkin took a wicked slapper that ricocheted off the end boards to the front of the net. Crosby, using inept hand-eye coordination, batted the puck out of the air past Miller to tie it 2-2.
Crosby got another one on a 4 on 4, again from Malkin with 56 seconds left in the period. Malkin moved it ahead to 87 after making a nice steal. Sid puck supported and took the puck in on Miller. He pump faked a slapper before beating Miller five hole, a la the Winter Classic.
A Thomas Vanek tripping minor gave the Pens an extended 5 on 3 that would carry over into the third period.
The Malkin-Crosby-Sykora line is the best in hockey, bar none. Hell, you could put me with those two, and we'd still be the best line in hockey. Wow, just wow. Malkin to Sid and vice versa....it's just magical to watch.
The Pens took a 3-2 edge into the third, and they were flying.
Of course, the 5 on 3 went to waste. No surprise there.
Stafford evened it again for the Sabres shortly after in a 3 on 2. The Pens turned it over in the neutral zone, and that was it. Thomas Vanek made a nice pass to Stafford right in the slot, and Curry never even went down.
After Curry made some sick saves, Gaustad stuffed in a cheapy between Curry's legs. Leave it to this team to give up the first two goals of the season to some shit fourth liner.
The Pens had one final hurrah with Curry pulled late, but an early whistle averted a great chance on a rebound for Max Talbot, who very concievably would have buried the puck.
Bounce back tomorrow, damnit.
Go Pens.
The All-Star Game and why to boycott it
As you probably know by now, the Eastern Conference's starting lineup for February's All-Star Game at the Bell Centre in Montreal is currently set to be made up of six Montreal Canadiens players, and nobody else. Forwards Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Alexei Kovalev, defensemen Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek, and netminder Carey Price are each leading in their respective positional categories, some by insurmountable margins.
It would be almost impossible for Markov, Komisarek, and Price to miss out on the game, as they are all up on their challengers by about 200,000 votes. Koivu, Kovalev, and Tanguay, are being somewhat threatened by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but the odds of any of them being caught up to are not good.
What is so sad about this situation is that the Habs did not come by these votes properly--Some Montreal fanboy, probably living in his mother's basement, constructed a javascript that allowed for Habs fans to vote once, and have dozens more votes cast automatically.
Also upsetting is that the only Canadien even remotely close to being worthy of this honor is Markov, who is still only third among Eastern defensemen in scoring behind Mike Green of Washington and Mark Streit of the New York Islanders.
Kovalev, Tanguay, and Koivu are 22nd, 27th, and 36th among Eastern forwards in scoring, yet they are the top three forwards in all-star voting. Meanwhile, Malkin, Crosby, Alex Semin, Alex Ovechkin, Zach Parise, Marc Savard, and Simon Gagne, all guys who have torn up the league this year, are likely to miss out on the starting lineup. Gagne and Parise aren't even sniffing the top 10.
Price, 8th in the East in goals against average and 7th in save percentage, is annihilating his competition in voting, way up on second place Marc-Andre Fleury. Goalies like Henrik Lundqvist, Tim Thomas, and Mike Smith have tremendously outperformed Price this year, but they won't be recognized for it.
So my call to arms to you is simple--
DO NOT WATCH THE ALL-STAR GAME OR BUY ANY MERCHANDISE THAT MIGHT SUPPORT IT! A BOYCOTT IS THE ONLY WAY THE TRUE VOICE OF THE FAN CAN BE HEARD!
Until Gary Bettman and the bufoons in the NHL offices in New York realize how dumb it is to allow homer fans to cheat their players way into the All-Star Game, don't watch this ridiculous spectacle. I don't care if it's their 100th season or if they are hosting the game. It doesn't mean they can butcher this event.
Montreal Sucks, and Gary Bettman sucks.
It would be almost impossible for Markov, Komisarek, and Price to miss out on the game, as they are all up on their challengers by about 200,000 votes. Koivu, Kovalev, and Tanguay, are being somewhat threatened by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but the odds of any of them being caught up to are not good.
What is so sad about this situation is that the Habs did not come by these votes properly--Some Montreal fanboy, probably living in his mother's basement, constructed a javascript that allowed for Habs fans to vote once, and have dozens more votes cast automatically.
Also upsetting is that the only Canadien even remotely close to being worthy of this honor is Markov, who is still only third among Eastern defensemen in scoring behind Mike Green of Washington and Mark Streit of the New York Islanders.
Kovalev, Tanguay, and Koivu are 22nd, 27th, and 36th among Eastern forwards in scoring, yet they are the top three forwards in all-star voting. Meanwhile, Malkin, Crosby, Alex Semin, Alex Ovechkin, Zach Parise, Marc Savard, and Simon Gagne, all guys who have torn up the league this year, are likely to miss out on the starting lineup. Gagne and Parise aren't even sniffing the top 10.
Price, 8th in the East in goals against average and 7th in save percentage, is annihilating his competition in voting, way up on second place Marc-Andre Fleury. Goalies like Henrik Lundqvist, Tim Thomas, and Mike Smith have tremendously outperformed Price this year, but they won't be recognized for it.
So my call to arms to you is simple--
DO NOT WATCH THE ALL-STAR GAME OR BUY ANY MERCHANDISE THAT MIGHT SUPPORT IT! A BOYCOTT IS THE ONLY WAY THE TRUE VOICE OF THE FAN CAN BE HEARD!
Until Gary Bettman and the bufoons in the NHL offices in New York realize how dumb it is to allow homer fans to cheat their players way into the All-Star Game, don't watch this ridiculous spectacle. I don't care if it's their 100th season or if they are hosting the game. It doesn't mean they can butcher this event.
Montreal Sucks, and Gary Bettman sucks.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Game 22- Penguins @ Buffalo Sabres
The Penguins will make their first trip of the year to HSBC Arena in Buffalo on Friday night for a 7:38 tilt with the Sabres. The Pens, who have beaten Buffalo five times in a row, are coming off a thrilling 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders in which Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin worked magic to carry the Pens to victory on Wednesday. The Sabres won for the first time in six games of their own on Wednesday when they downed the upstart Boston Bruins 3-2 in western New York.
Rookie John Curry will make his first NHL start in the game. He replaced Dany Sabourin midway through on Wednesday, and he was a bit shaky at first, but didn't give up any goals. It will be interesting to see how he responds.
Ryan Miller will get the start for the Sabres, most likely.
Max Talbot will play despite a minor injury suffered on Wednesday when Radek Martinek clanked a slapper off the inside of Talbot's foot. Janne Pesonen, who was recalled from Wilkes Barre, presumably to replace Max, will be in the lineup anyway. Odds are Eric Godard will be scratched for the first time.
Hal Gill pretty much sucked on Wednesday, so it's not an unreasonable expectation that he'll be in the press box for this one with Mark Eaton taking his spot. The only thing that may keep this from happening is that Gill is serving as an assistant captain for the month of November.
For Buffalo, their primary offensive threat is the skilled dangler, Thomas Vanek. Center Derek Roy has been coming alive a bit lately, and winger Jason Pominville is always a threat.
Playmaker Tim Connolly is on injured reserve for the Sabres along with winger Ales Kotalik.
Penguins-
Rookie John Curry will make his first NHL start in the game. He replaced Dany Sabourin midway through on Wednesday, and he was a bit shaky at first, but didn't give up any goals. It will be interesting to see how he responds.
Ryan Miller will get the start for the Sabres, most likely.
Max Talbot will play despite a minor injury suffered on Wednesday when Radek Martinek clanked a slapper off the inside of Talbot's foot. Janne Pesonen, who was recalled from Wilkes Barre, presumably to replace Max, will be in the lineup anyway. Odds are Eric Godard will be scratched for the first time.
Hal Gill pretty much sucked on Wednesday, so it's not an unreasonable expectation that he'll be in the press box for this one with Mark Eaton taking his spot. The only thing that may keep this from happening is that Gill is serving as an assistant captain for the month of November.
For Buffalo, their primary offensive threat is the skilled dangler, Thomas Vanek. Center Derek Roy has been coming alive a bit lately, and winger Jason Pominville is always a threat.
Playmaker Tim Connolly is on injured reserve for the Sabres along with winger Ales Kotalik.
Penguins-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Pesonen-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Fedotenko-Zigomanis-Dupuis
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Boucher
Scuderi-Eaton
Curry
Pesonen-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Fedotenko-Zigomanis-Dupuis
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Boucher
Scuderi-Eaton
Curry
Sabres-
Vanek-Roy-Stafford
Gaustad-Hecht-Pominville
Afinogenov-MacArthur-Mancari
Peters-Mair-Kaleta
Tallinder-Rivet
Spacek-Sekera
Lydman-Numminen
Miller
GO PENS!
Gaustad-Hecht-Pominville
Afinogenov-MacArthur-Mancari
Peters-Mair-Kaleta
Tallinder-Rivet
Spacek-Sekera
Lydman-Numminen
Miller
GO PENS!
Na Na Na Na Na Na: Penguins recall Pesonen
Finnish sensation Janne Pesonen has been called up from Wilkes Barre in the wake of Max Talbot's apparent foot injury suffered Wednesday night on Long Island.
Pesonen has 21 points in 19 games with the Baby Pens this year, and he pretty much is a big deal.
It seems more than likely at this juncture that Pesonen will be flanking Sidney Crosby tomorrow night in Buffalo for a clash with the Sabres.
Dave Molinari of the PG broke the news 15 minutes ago.
http://postgazette.com/pg/08332/931280-100.stm
Happy Thanksgiving.
Pesonen has 21 points in 19 games with the Baby Pens this year, and he pretty much is a big deal.
It seems more than likely at this juncture that Pesonen will be flanking Sidney Crosby tomorrow night in Buffalo for a clash with the Sabres.
Dave Molinari of the PG broke the news 15 minutes ago.
http://postgazette.com/pg/08332/931280-100.stm
Happy Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Crosby-Malkin combo takes center stage as Pens win
Wow, what a game. The Penguins looked about as bad as they have all season through the first little bit of this season for the first 35 minutes or so of this one. Then, while on a penalty kill, the Pens got some quality chances that seemed to get them going. Brooks Orpik got the Pens back in it late in the second, and then the superstars went to work. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are the best two players in the world, and they showed why tonight.
As was eluded to, the Isles jumped out to an early lead.
Doug Weight got on the board, and then Trent Hunter followed soon after. Billy Guerin made it a bit worse in the second on one of many New York powerplays.
It was hardly the best of times. 3-0 Islanders.
Dany Sabourin was pulled at this point for the young John Curry, who was making his National Hockey League debut. Curry, no doubt quaking in his skates, was excellent all the way through.
Brooks Orpik finally got the Pens on the board with seconds to go in the second period to break Joey MacDonald's bid for his first career shutout. Free Candy wound up a big slapper that appeared to hit a skate before going in. The assist went to Pascal Dupuis.
Crosby appeared to pull the Penguins within one on a breakaway very early in the final frame after railroading MacDonald and forcing the puck into the net, but for some reason, it was washed out. The referee gave a sketchy explanation, so I'm not sure, but it wasn't totally conclusive in any case
The Pens took the momentum from that goal and washout goal into the rest of the game, as Malkin waltzed around two Isles before making a perfect cross-crease pass to Crosby, who in turn blasted the puck past MacDonald to make it 3-2 officially.
The two young studs evened it at 3 moments later when Crosby carried the puck in to the New York zone, slowed the play down at the blueline, and then hit Malkin with a snap pass on to the tape. Malkin had no problem burying it.
50 seconds later, while Crosby was on his can, he passed the puck to Malkin from along the goal line, and Malkin, while falling down himself, smoked MacDonald like a cheap cigar to put the Pens ahead for good.
Fittingly, Malkin added empty netter in the final minute.
Notes-
-We have the two best players in the world on our team.
-NYI=stunned.
-Malkin and Crosby on the same line forever.
-Malkin.
-Crosby.
-Malkin.
-Crosby.
wooooo.
As was eluded to, the Isles jumped out to an early lead.
Doug Weight got on the board, and then Trent Hunter followed soon after. Billy Guerin made it a bit worse in the second on one of many New York powerplays.
It was hardly the best of times. 3-0 Islanders.
Dany Sabourin was pulled at this point for the young John Curry, who was making his National Hockey League debut. Curry, no doubt quaking in his skates, was excellent all the way through.
Brooks Orpik finally got the Pens on the board with seconds to go in the second period to break Joey MacDonald's bid for his first career shutout. Free Candy wound up a big slapper that appeared to hit a skate before going in. The assist went to Pascal Dupuis.
Crosby appeared to pull the Penguins within one on a breakaway very early in the final frame after railroading MacDonald and forcing the puck into the net, but for some reason, it was washed out. The referee gave a sketchy explanation, so I'm not sure, but it wasn't totally conclusive in any case
The Pens took the momentum from that goal and washout goal into the rest of the game, as Malkin waltzed around two Isles before making a perfect cross-crease pass to Crosby, who in turn blasted the puck past MacDonald to make it 3-2 officially.
The two young studs evened it at 3 moments later when Crosby carried the puck in to the New York zone, slowed the play down at the blueline, and then hit Malkin with a snap pass on to the tape. Malkin had no problem burying it.
50 seconds later, while Crosby was on his can, he passed the puck to Malkin from along the goal line, and Malkin, while falling down himself, smoked MacDonald like a cheap cigar to put the Pens ahead for good.
Fittingly, Malkin added empty netter in the final minute.
Notes-
-We have the two best players in the world on our team.
-NYI=stunned.
-Malkin and Crosby on the same line forever.
-Malkin.
-Crosby.
-Malkin.
-Crosby.
wooooo.
GO PENS!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Game 21- Penguins @ New York Islanders
The Pens will make their second visit to Long Island in a little over two weeks on Wednesday night at 7:00 when they will take on the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Since the Penguins, last trip to the Coliseum, both teams have gone nowhere but up.
Following their shootout to the Penguins, the Isles have five of seven games, the most exciting of which came Monday night in Montreal. New York trailed 3-2 with four minutes and change left in regulation when Habs blueliner Ryan O'Byrne put the puck in his own net during a delayed penalty to tie it at 3. Then, the Isles won it in the shootout.
The Penguins have lost just one regulation game since the Isles game on November 8th. That loss came on Saturday at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks, and the Pens will look to bounce back from that in this one.
It'll be Dany Sabourin against Joey MacDonald in goal. Marc-Andre Fleury is still hurt.
Penguins-
Following their shootout to the Penguins, the Isles have five of seven games, the most exciting of which came Monday night in Montreal. New York trailed 3-2 with four minutes and change left in regulation when Habs blueliner Ryan O'Byrne put the puck in his own net during a delayed penalty to tie it at 3. Then, the Isles won it in the shootout.
The Penguins have lost just one regulation game since the Isles game on November 8th. That loss came on Saturday at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks, and the Pens will look to bounce back from that in this one.
It'll be Dany Sabourin against Joey MacDonald in goal. Marc-Andre Fleury is still hurt.
Penguins-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Gill
Goligoski-Boucher
Sabourin
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Gill
Goligoski-Boucher
Sabourin
Isles-
Bergenheim-Weight-Guerin
Tambellini-Bailey-Hunter
Hilbert-Park-Sim
Fritz-Colliton-Jackman
Campoli-Gervais
Sutton-Streit
Witt-Martinek
MacDonald
GO PENS!
Tambellini-Bailey-Hunter
Hilbert-Park-Sim
Fritz-Colliton-Jackman
Campoli-Gervais
Sutton-Streit
Witt-Martinek
MacDonald
GO PENS!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Penguins fall at hands of Canucks
The Penguins had every chance to win this one in the third period, but they just could not get it done today. Too bad, but we need to stick it to the Isles on Wednesday. I'll get my thoughts across later...
The game started about as bizarrely as any I've ever seen.
Matt Cooke flipped Alex Edler with a devastating hip check that served as a response to Matthias Ohlund's attempt to crush Tyler Kennedy right off the opening faceoff. Soon after, Jannik Hansen had jumped Cooke and goaded him into a fight, while Tyler Kennedy and Ryan Kesler went down by the other end of the ice, and Brooks Orpik took on Alex Burrows.
Cooke and Hansen were ejected. What was crazy was the Cooke tossing-- Cooke made a totally legal play and then had to defend himself when he was jumped for no good reason. In turn, Don van Massenhoven throws him out of the game, but whatever.
The Penguins got a powerplay out of it all, and they got some good chances beofre failing to beat Roberto Luongo as the penalty expired.
Luongo left the game minutes later after twisting awkwardly in the crease, and he did not return. Backup Curtis Sanford came in.
The Nucks went up 1-0 when Pavol Demitra put in his own rebound on an ugly goal in front, beating Sabourin by an inch. It was a tough bounce over Sabourin's shoulder that led Demitra to pick up his own trash and slip it under Sabourin. Henrik and Daniel Sedin did some strong work down low to lead to the goal.
The second period was the worst of the season. The Penguins gave up an early goal, another garbage marker at the hands of the Sedin-Sedin-Demitra line, and then the Pens just crumbled.
What was great about this goal was the way that Brooks Orpik had his stick stolen from him by Daniel Sedin right as he was going to make a play. Not surprsingly, nothing was called.
They might have put three shots on Sanford in that period, and did nothing with them.
On the powerplay, the boys couldn't even manage possession for more than a few seconds before the Canucks got the puck and dumped it back toward Sabourin. As a whole, this was the kind of period that just makes you want to cut yourself.
The Great Mike Zigomanis got the Penguins back within one a few minutes into the final frame. Ziggy got the puck somehow out of a scrum just to the left of Sanford, and he slid the puck down low through the smallest of corridors into the goal.
The Pens fed off the adrenaline from that goal and continued to fly for the next few minutes. After a commercial break with 13 minutes or so left, that energy seemed to die off.
Ohlund cross-checked Maxime Talbot across the face, but nothing was called. Striped shitface Don van Massenhoven allowed the Canucks to clutch, grab, and cheap shot the Penguins for most of this period.
He called over 60 minutes worth of penalties in the first two periods, and then a mere four minutes in the third period. He put away his whistle, and it had a huge impact on the game.
After Sabourin was pulled with a minute remaining for an extra attacker, Maxime Talbot went into the corner to retrieve a puck. In the corner, he was met by Ohlund, who cross-checked him across the small of his back, sending him to the ice. With Talbot out of the picture, the Canucks cleared the puck out, and Demitra put home an empty netter to close the game out.
Nothing was called, and the game ended.
Now, I am a referee myself-- I worked two games just last evening. I know the rules of hockey inside and out, and I know that what the Canucks were doing for the last little while of that game was, by enlarge, illegal.
If a player uses his free hand to haul down an attacking player, as Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien did to Sidney Crosby midway through the third, a holding penalty should be called.
If a player pins an opponent to the boards who does not have the puck, interference should be called. Both teams got away with this multiple times during this game.
If a player strips another player of his stick in the midst of play, interference is to be called.
Not being a homer here, just stating the rules, so I apologize for my Flyers/Caps/Wings fan impersonation. I just hate to see the impact of a game impacted so much by the guys with the whistles, not with the sticks. The Canucks still might have won, but there was just something wrong with the way this was called.
Notes-
-The Sedin Bros. are solid hockey players. They are like average third liners only with skill.
-Pavol Demitra still sucks, even though he scored today.
-I hate Matthias Ohlund. He makes up for lack of defensive skill by playing pre-lockout hockey.
-Crosby and Malkin were not themselves tonight.
-Cooke would have had an impact on this game.
-Pascal Dupuis is a fourth liner. Why is he on the first line?
-Kennedy was the Penguins' best player tonight. He would work well with Crosby.
The game started about as bizarrely as any I've ever seen.
Matt Cooke flipped Alex Edler with a devastating hip check that served as a response to Matthias Ohlund's attempt to crush Tyler Kennedy right off the opening faceoff. Soon after, Jannik Hansen had jumped Cooke and goaded him into a fight, while Tyler Kennedy and Ryan Kesler went down by the other end of the ice, and Brooks Orpik took on Alex Burrows.
Cooke and Hansen were ejected. What was crazy was the Cooke tossing-- Cooke made a totally legal play and then had to defend himself when he was jumped for no good reason. In turn, Don van Massenhoven throws him out of the game, but whatever.
The Penguins got a powerplay out of it all, and they got some good chances beofre failing to beat Roberto Luongo as the penalty expired.
Luongo left the game minutes later after twisting awkwardly in the crease, and he did not return. Backup Curtis Sanford came in.
The Nucks went up 1-0 when Pavol Demitra put in his own rebound on an ugly goal in front, beating Sabourin by an inch. It was a tough bounce over Sabourin's shoulder that led Demitra to pick up his own trash and slip it under Sabourin. Henrik and Daniel Sedin did some strong work down low to lead to the goal.
The second period was the worst of the season. The Penguins gave up an early goal, another garbage marker at the hands of the Sedin-Sedin-Demitra line, and then the Pens just crumbled.
What was great about this goal was the way that Brooks Orpik had his stick stolen from him by Daniel Sedin right as he was going to make a play. Not surprsingly, nothing was called.
They might have put three shots on Sanford in that period, and did nothing with them.
On the powerplay, the boys couldn't even manage possession for more than a few seconds before the Canucks got the puck and dumped it back toward Sabourin. As a whole, this was the kind of period that just makes you want to cut yourself.
The Great Mike Zigomanis got the Penguins back within one a few minutes into the final frame. Ziggy got the puck somehow out of a scrum just to the left of Sanford, and he slid the puck down low through the smallest of corridors into the goal.
The Pens fed off the adrenaline from that goal and continued to fly for the next few minutes. After a commercial break with 13 minutes or so left, that energy seemed to die off.
Ohlund cross-checked Maxime Talbot across the face, but nothing was called. Striped shitface Don van Massenhoven allowed the Canucks to clutch, grab, and cheap shot the Penguins for most of this period.
He called over 60 minutes worth of penalties in the first two periods, and then a mere four minutes in the third period. He put away his whistle, and it had a huge impact on the game.
After Sabourin was pulled with a minute remaining for an extra attacker, Maxime Talbot went into the corner to retrieve a puck. In the corner, he was met by Ohlund, who cross-checked him across the small of his back, sending him to the ice. With Talbot out of the picture, the Canucks cleared the puck out, and Demitra put home an empty netter to close the game out.
Nothing was called, and the game ended.
Now, I am a referee myself-- I worked two games just last evening. I know the rules of hockey inside and out, and I know that what the Canucks were doing for the last little while of that game was, by enlarge, illegal.
If a player uses his free hand to haul down an attacking player, as Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien did to Sidney Crosby midway through the third, a holding penalty should be called.
If a player pins an opponent to the boards who does not have the puck, interference should be called. Both teams got away with this multiple times during this game.
If a player strips another player of his stick in the midst of play, interference is to be called.
Not being a homer here, just stating the rules, so I apologize for my Flyers/Caps/Wings fan impersonation. I just hate to see the impact of a game impacted so much by the guys with the whistles, not with the sticks. The Canucks still might have won, but there was just something wrong with the way this was called.
Notes-
-The Sedin Bros. are solid hockey players. They are like average third liners only with skill.
-Pavol Demitra still sucks, even though he scored today.
-I hate Matthias Ohlund. He makes up for lack of defensive skill by playing pre-lockout hockey.
-Crosby and Malkin were not themselves tonight.
-Cooke would have had an impact on this game.
-Pascal Dupuis is a fourth liner. Why is he on the first line?
-Kennedy was the Penguins' best player tonight. He would work well with Crosby.
GO PENS!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Game 20- Vancouver Canucks @ Penguins
Roberto Luongo and the Northwest Division leading Vancouver Canucks will be in town on Saturday afternoon for a daytime tilt with the Penguins. Luongo, widely regarded as the NHL's top netminder, will be sure to have his hands full with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Miro Satan, and the Penguins' potent offensive attack.
Dany Sabourin will be in goal for the Penguins, and he'll have no easy task himself. He will be dealing with brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, as well as underrated snipers like Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler. Steve Bernier and Kyle Wellwood have made solid offensive contributions to Vancouver this year as well.
Marc-Andre Fleury is still injured and will not play.
On the back end for the Canucks, Kevin Bieksa leads a defensive corps with loads of depth. Behind Bieksa, Matthias Ohlund and Sami Salo are fine offensive defensemen, while Willie Mitchell has quitely been a model of consistency in the league over the last few years. Rob Davison provides a steady physical presence.
Penguins-
Dany Sabourin will be in goal for the Penguins, and he'll have no easy task himself. He will be dealing with brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, as well as underrated snipers like Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler. Steve Bernier and Kyle Wellwood have made solid offensive contributions to Vancouver this year as well.
Marc-Andre Fleury is still injured and will not play.
On the back end for the Canucks, Kevin Bieksa leads a defensive corps with loads of depth. Behind Bieksa, Matthias Ohlund and Sami Salo are fine offensive defensemen, while Willie Mitchell has quitely been a model of consistency in the league over the last few years. Rob Davison provides a steady physical presence.
Penguins-
Dupuis-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Talbot-Zigomanis-Godard
Letang-Orpik
Boucher-Goligoski
Scuderi-Gill
Sabourin
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Talbot-Zigomanis-Godard
Letang-Orpik
Boucher-Goligoski
Scuderi-Gill
Sabourin
Canucks-
D. Sedin-H. Sedin-Raymond
Pyatt-Wellwood-Demitra
Burrows-Kesler-Hansen
Hordichuk-Johnson-Bernier
Bieksa-Ohlund
Mitchell-Salo
O'Brien-Davison
Luongo
GO PENS!
Pyatt-Wellwood-Demitra
Burrows-Kesler-Hansen
Hordichuk-Johnson-Bernier
Bieksa-Ohlund
Mitchell-Salo
O'Brien-Davison
Luongo
GO PENS!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Crosby turns it on as Pens beat Thrashers
This will be quick, since it's late, and I missed the third period.
Crosby was great tonight, and Sykora got a clutch tip in.
wooooooo.
Crosby was great tonight, and Sykora got a clutch tip in.
wooooooo.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Game 19- Penguins @ Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers are not nearly as abysmal as they were last year, but they're still a well below average team that the Penguins should be able to handle, even on the road. A reasonable expectation is that between 4,000 and 8,000 Georgians will show up to watch the game from the Phillips Arena, so any home ice advantage for Atlanta should be totally out of play.
The sentimental significance of this game comes in the form of the first confrontation of the season between the Penguins and their many former teammates now playing for Atlanta. Former Penguins Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Johan Hedberg, and Chris Thorburn will all be in the Thrashers lineup for this one.
For Crosby and Armstrong, who were best friends and roommates during Armstrong's time with the Pens, this will mark the first time they have played against each other since Armstrong, Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a first round draft pick were traded from Pittsburgh to Atlanta for Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa. Emotions will be running very high in this one, that's for sure.
Atlanta's top player this year has been young forward Bryan Little, an underrated scorer who has managed to fool NHL goalies this year. He is also an above average playmaker. Ilya Kovalchuk, or course, remains a lethal threat.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will look to bust out after having been shut down almost entirely by the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
It will most likely be Dany Sabourin against Ondrej Pavelec in goal. Marc-Andre Fleury is still ailing from an undisclosed injury.
Penguins-
The sentimental significance of this game comes in the form of the first confrontation of the season between the Penguins and their many former teammates now playing for Atlanta. Former Penguins Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Johan Hedberg, and Chris Thorburn will all be in the Thrashers lineup for this one.
For Crosby and Armstrong, who were best friends and roommates during Armstrong's time with the Pens, this will mark the first time they have played against each other since Armstrong, Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a first round draft pick were traded from Pittsburgh to Atlanta for Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa. Emotions will be running very high in this one, that's for sure.
Atlanta's top player this year has been young forward Bryan Little, an underrated scorer who has managed to fool NHL goalies this year. He is also an above average playmaker. Ilya Kovalchuk, or course, remains a lethal threat.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will look to bust out after having been shut down almost entirely by the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
It will most likely be Dany Sabourin against Ondrej Pavelec in goal. Marc-Andre Fleury is still ailing from an undisclosed injury.
Penguins-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Gill-Scuderi
Goligoski-Boucher
Sabourin
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Gill-Scuderi
Goligoski-Boucher
Sabourin
Thrashers-
Kovalchuk-Williams-Christensen
Kozlov-White-Little
Thorburn-Reasoner-Armstrong
Boulton-Slater-Perrin
Hainsey-Exelby
Oystrick-Enstrom
Valabik-Havelid
Pavelec
Kozlov-White-Little
Thorburn-Reasoner-Armstrong
Boulton-Slater-Perrin
Hainsey-Exelby
Oystrick-Enstrom
Valabik-Havelid
Pavelec
What's great about these lines is that you could take a player from the Penguins' third defensive pairing, and he'd be on the top pairing in Atlanta. You could also take two players from the Penguins' third offensive line who would be on Atlanta's top line. Oh, it's good to be a Pens fan.
GO PENS!
(and Steelers!)
(and Steelers!)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Winning streak stopped at six
This game is an example of the fact that you just can't win 'em all. The Pens played well, but the ever-boring Minnesota Wild played a good defensive game and got the win and a shootout. The Pens just need to take the one point and go into Thursday with confidence against a dismal Atlanta team.
While I love the blue jerseys, I didn't like that they wore them tonight. If you wear them two games in a row, it seems like you're just trying too hard. Also, it doesn't make sense to wear throwbacks against the newest franchise in hockey. Either way, I like the unis, so I'll give the Pens a pass.
The Penguins were absolutely flying to open up the game. Matt Cooke was throwing his weight around, and third line of Cooke, Jordan Staal, and Tyler Kennedy, was looking as good as in recent games.
In spite of the Penguins' apparent control of the play on the ice, they did not strike first in this one. On a defensive zone faceoff for the Penguins, Mike Zigomanis won the draw back perfectly right to Hall Gill. Unfortunately, the bouncing puck not only eluded the stick of Gill, but it also found the one inch by one inch spot between the legs of a t-pushing Dany Sabourin to make it 1-0. The goal was initially credited to Andrew Brunette, but the goal was awarded after the first period to Mikko Koivu. Hands down the worst goal of the year given up by Pittsburgh.
Cooke answered only ten seconds later. Jordan Staal got the puck to the net, and Cooke jammed home the rebound for his second of the year on a bang-bang play.
Phillipe Boucher blocked a slapper on the penalty kill in the period, and the Pens blocked 10 as a team. They also won 10 faceoffs. Is this really the Pittsburgh Penguins?
The Wild played a stronger second period, but the score remained tied at 1-1 through the frame. Staal dropped the gloves with Wild blueliner Erik Reitz, and earned his first win as a professional. Staal landed some absolute bombs on Reitz, but Reitz did wind up getting the takedown.
Minnesota got some outstanding chances, including a shot from Owen Nolan (no, he's not dead yet) that hit the crossbar and post before bouncing along the goal line and not going in.
The Pens dominated in the third period but they simply could not slide the puck past Backstrom, and it went to overtime still knotted at one.
Pittsburgh got a powerplay for the final minute and a half of overtime off of a Brent Burns high stick on Alex Goligoski, but nothing came of it before the shootout.
In the shootout....
Marek Zidlicky scored for the Wild, and that was the shootout's only goal. Sidney Crosby had a chance to tie it in the final shot, but he let loose a weak snapshot from the hashes that never had a chance. Petr Sykora and Alex Goligoski were also stopped for the Pens.
Crosby is horrid in the shootout. I get that he's the captain, but he deserves no part of being in. He's a top three player in the world, but this is not his niche. I think Therrien needs to just learn to go with the hot hand in that spot, and Sid is not a good shootout guy. Ideally, we'd see Letang-Sykora-Malkin or something like that next time
What the hell, we got a point.
While I love the blue jerseys, I didn't like that they wore them tonight. If you wear them two games in a row, it seems like you're just trying too hard. Also, it doesn't make sense to wear throwbacks against the newest franchise in hockey. Either way, I like the unis, so I'll give the Pens a pass.
The Penguins were absolutely flying to open up the game. Matt Cooke was throwing his weight around, and third line of Cooke, Jordan Staal, and Tyler Kennedy, was looking as good as in recent games.
In spite of the Penguins' apparent control of the play on the ice, they did not strike first in this one. On a defensive zone faceoff for the Penguins, Mike Zigomanis won the draw back perfectly right to Hall Gill. Unfortunately, the bouncing puck not only eluded the stick of Gill, but it also found the one inch by one inch spot between the legs of a t-pushing Dany Sabourin to make it 1-0. The goal was initially credited to Andrew Brunette, but the goal was awarded after the first period to Mikko Koivu. Hands down the worst goal of the year given up by Pittsburgh.
Cooke answered only ten seconds later. Jordan Staal got the puck to the net, and Cooke jammed home the rebound for his second of the year on a bang-bang play.
Phillipe Boucher blocked a slapper on the penalty kill in the period, and the Pens blocked 10 as a team. They also won 10 faceoffs. Is this really the Pittsburgh Penguins?
The Wild played a stronger second period, but the score remained tied at 1-1 through the frame. Staal dropped the gloves with Wild blueliner Erik Reitz, and earned his first win as a professional. Staal landed some absolute bombs on Reitz, but Reitz did wind up getting the takedown.
Minnesota got some outstanding chances, including a shot from Owen Nolan (no, he's not dead yet) that hit the crossbar and post before bouncing along the goal line and not going in.
The Pens dominated in the third period but they simply could not slide the puck past Backstrom, and it went to overtime still knotted at one.
Pittsburgh got a powerplay for the final minute and a half of overtime off of a Brent Burns high stick on Alex Goligoski, but nothing came of it before the shootout.
In the shootout....
Marek Zidlicky scored for the Wild, and that was the shootout's only goal. Sidney Crosby had a chance to tie it in the final shot, but he let loose a weak snapshot from the hashes that never had a chance. Petr Sykora and Alex Goligoski were also stopped for the Pens.
Crosby is horrid in the shootout. I get that he's the captain, but he deserves no part of being in. He's a top three player in the world, but this is not his niche. I think Therrien needs to just learn to go with the hot hand in that spot, and Sid is not a good shootout guy. Ideally, we'd see Letang-Sykora-Malkin or something like that next time
What the hell, we got a point.
GO PENS!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Game 18- Minnesota Wild @ Penguins
The Penguins will be paid a visit to Tuesday night by a very solid hockey club in the Minnesota Wild. The Wild sits tied with Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division. They are currently third in the Western Conference. After an outstanding start that saw the Wild looking almost unbeatable, Minnesota has cooled off a bit, but they are still dangerous.
Mikko Koivu is the catalyst for the Wild, a small, shifty, but tough play making center. The younger brother of Saku has been among the league leaders in assists all year, currently with 13.
The Wild's top goal scorer, the lightning fast Marian Gaborik, has been injured almost the entire season, and he won't play on Tuesday. Safe to say the Penguins interest in him has faded just a bit.
Net minder Niklas Backstrom is the most underrated goalie in hockey. There is nothing he can't do well between the pipes, and it's always hard to get the puck past him.
If the Wild has one weakness, it's the defensive corps in front of Backstrom. Young stud Brent Burns headed up the group, but after him, not much is there. Offensively minded Marek Zidlicky is a powerplay specialist, and Marc-Andre Bergeron is the fastest skating blueliner in the NHL. You may notice that I say Burns "headed" up the group. That is because, for some stupid reason, he has been moved to right wing by his head coach, Jacques Lemaire.
For the Penguins, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will miss the game with an undisclosed injury. That means that talented backup Dany Sabourin will make his fourth start of the season.
Newly acquired blueliner Phillipe Boucher will make his Penguins debut, and it is more than likely that he'll get time on the second powerplay unit, and maybe even the first. He seems a good bet to be paired with offensive juggernaut but defensive liability Alex Goligoski. Hopefully, the reliable Boucher will help out Goligoski and allow him to take more chances to utilize his phenomenal offensive skills.
Penguins-
Mikko Koivu is the catalyst for the Wild, a small, shifty, but tough play making center. The younger brother of Saku has been among the league leaders in assists all year, currently with 13.
The Wild's top goal scorer, the lightning fast Marian Gaborik, has been injured almost the entire season, and he won't play on Tuesday. Safe to say the Penguins interest in him has faded just a bit.
Net minder Niklas Backstrom is the most underrated goalie in hockey. There is nothing he can't do well between the pipes, and it's always hard to get the puck past him.
If the Wild has one weakness, it's the defensive corps in front of Backstrom. Young stud Brent Burns headed up the group, but after him, not much is there. Offensively minded Marek Zidlicky is a powerplay specialist, and Marc-Andre Bergeron is the fastest skating blueliner in the NHL. You may notice that I say Burns "headed" up the group. That is because, for some stupid reason, he has been moved to right wing by his head coach, Jacques Lemaire.
For the Penguins, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will miss the game with an undisclosed injury. That means that talented backup Dany Sabourin will make his fourth start of the season.
Newly acquired blueliner Phillipe Boucher will make his Penguins debut, and it is more than likely that he'll get time on the second powerplay unit, and maybe even the first. He seems a good bet to be paired with offensive juggernaut but defensive liability Alex Goligoski. Hopefully, the reliable Boucher will help out Goligoski and allow him to take more chances to utilize his phenomenal offensive skills.
Penguins-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Boucher
Scuderi-Gill
Sabourin
Wild-
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Boucher
Scuderi-Gill
Sabourin
Wild-
Bouchard-Koivu-Nolan
Veilleux-Sheppard-Miettinen
Brunette-Belanger-Burns
Boogard-Pouliot-Clutterbuck
Johnsson-Schultz
Skoula-Zidlicky
Reitz-Bergeron
Backstrom
GO PENS!
Veilleux-Sheppard-Miettinen
Brunette-Belanger-Burns
Boogard-Pouliot-Clutterbuck
Johnsson-Schultz
Skoula-Zidlicky
Reitz-Bergeron
Backstrom
GO PENS!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
New Penguins vs. Old Penguins--A Comparison
Following the Penguins' loss in the Stanley Cup Finals last June to the Detroit Red Wings, several Penguins left Pittsburgh via unrestricted free agency. This piece is a look at how the departed Penguins have fared with their new clubs compared to how the Penguins' new additions have worked out. So here we go...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miroslav Satan vs. Marian Hossa
Satan- 17 GP, 8 G, 7 A, -2, 18:21 ATOI
Hossa- 16 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 8, 18:19 ATOI
After Hossa departed to the Detroit Red Wings this offseason, the Penguins signed Satan with the goal that he would fill Hossa's spot on Sidney Crosby's right wing. Satan came cheap at 3.5 million dollars, and he has not disappointed. He's been lethal in front of the net on the powerplay, and he hasn't slowed down Crosby at all.
While Satan has played well, he has not played better than Hossa. The Red Wings new winger has been playing an inspired form of hockey for his new club. Hossa is third in the NHL in scoring behind Evgeni Malkin and Alex Semin. While he likely won't stay that high for the whole year, he'll put up consistent numbers and probably finish in the top five in points.
Winner- Hossa.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruslan Fedotenko vs. Ryan Malone
Fedotenko- 16, GP, 4 G, 4 A, 2, 15:20 ATOI
Malone- 3 G, 0 A, -2, 14:38 ATOI
Fedotenko, signed the same day as Satan in early July, came in with the expectation on his shoulders that he could fill the void left by Malone on Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora's line. While the Ukranian started slowly, he has picked it up significantly in recent weeks. He has scored game winning goals against Carolina and Detroit. Maybe most impressive is that he has been able to keep up with the two speedsters on his line. Hopefully, that chemisty has developed and the three can form an even more formidable line than they are now.
Malone may be a happy man right now, but if he is, it's because of his 4.5 million dollar salary. The Lightning are abysmal again; they've already fired their coach who they never should have signed in the first place. They have traded their third best defenseman from a team with almost no defense to begin with, and they play in front of half-empty arena's every night. Malone has been a total bust, registering a lackluster 3 points, even while getting a decent chunk of time with Vinny Lecavlier. He's also battled a few minor injuries.
Winner- Fedotenko
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Cooke vs. Jarkko Ruutu
Cooke- 13 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 1, 11:51 ATOI
Ruutu- 15 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 2, 13:04 ATOI
Cooke peformed better than adequately since being signed this summer to replace Jarkko Ruutu in the "agitator" role. Cooke has been near the top of the NHL in hits all season, right behind leader and teammate Brooks Orpik, with several of those hits being absolutely brutal blows. Cooke has been a key component in forming what is likely the league's best third line along with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy. He's been a solid playmaker, and he's provided that young line with a calming veteran presence. Cooke has missed a few games due to a minor, undisclosed injury. Not to mention he only has 10 penalty minutes to Ruutu's 27.
Ruutu has done exactly what the Sens asked him to do when they brought him in on the first day of free agency. He has done his usual thing, getting opponents off their games and making people angry. He outbursted for 2 goals in one game earlier in the campaign, but otherwise has been invisible offensively while often playing with the young Cody Bass. Ruutu has already netted a suspension for a savage elbow to the head of Montreal's Maxim Lapierre. The Senators have played horrifically this year, and Ruutu has done little to help things with so many penalty minutes. He still has been reliable in some limited roles that he's been placed in.
Winner- Cooke
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Zigomanis vs. Adam Hall
Zigomanis- 15 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 0, 11:21 ATOI
Hall- 16 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0, 12:33 ATOI
Zigomanis may be Ray Shero's biggest steal ever as GM of the Penguins. After being picked up for what will likely turn out to be a late roudn pick, "Ziggy" joined the Pens following their season opening set with Ottawa in Sweden. He has been the best faceoff man in the NHL consistently at over 60 percent. Also, he's shown above average offensive skills for a player of his caliber. He's an above average passer who does not make mistakes in his defensive end. He is also on the Penguins top penalty killing unit along with Jordan Staal. 63.5 percent on draws.
Hall has done little to write home about in Tampa Bay. He scored a goal in Tampa's opening set in Prague, but since then, he's been non-existent offensively. He's a solid faceoff man, and he's a decent fourth line center, but he has by no means performed to Zigomanis's level.
Winner- Zigomanis
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Godard vs. Georges Laraque
Godard- 17 GP, 6 fights, 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 5:02 ATOI, -2
Laraque- 9 GP, 4 fights, 3 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws, -4, 8:00 ATOI, -4
Godard has been a very serviceable fourth liner for the Penguins, even while playing only five minutes per game. He blocks shots, and unlike Laraque before him, he can actually find guys willing to fight him. He's been an adequate protector for the Penguins' superstars, and always answered the bell when necessary. His biggest drawback has been a few dumb penalties while trying to goad opposing players into fights.
Laraque has been injured for some of the season and a healthy scratch numerous times for the Canadiens. He has only played in nine games, and his impact on Montreal has been virtually zero. He is overweight, out of shape, and untalented. Basically, the Penguins look very good right about now for getting rid of him.
Winner- Godard
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miroslav Satan vs. Marian Hossa
Satan- 17 GP, 8 G, 7 A, -2, 18:21 ATOI
Hossa- 16 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 8, 18:19 ATOI
After Hossa departed to the Detroit Red Wings this offseason, the Penguins signed Satan with the goal that he would fill Hossa's spot on Sidney Crosby's right wing. Satan came cheap at 3.5 million dollars, and he has not disappointed. He's been lethal in front of the net on the powerplay, and he hasn't slowed down Crosby at all.
While Satan has played well, he has not played better than Hossa. The Red Wings new winger has been playing an inspired form of hockey for his new club. Hossa is third in the NHL in scoring behind Evgeni Malkin and Alex Semin. While he likely won't stay that high for the whole year, he'll put up consistent numbers and probably finish in the top five in points.
Winner- Hossa.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruslan Fedotenko vs. Ryan Malone
Fedotenko- 16, GP, 4 G, 4 A, 2, 15:20 ATOI
Malone- 3 G, 0 A, -2, 14:38 ATOI
Fedotenko, signed the same day as Satan in early July, came in with the expectation on his shoulders that he could fill the void left by Malone on Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora's line. While the Ukranian started slowly, he has picked it up significantly in recent weeks. He has scored game winning goals against Carolina and Detroit. Maybe most impressive is that he has been able to keep up with the two speedsters on his line. Hopefully, that chemisty has developed and the three can form an even more formidable line than they are now.
Malone may be a happy man right now, but if he is, it's because of his 4.5 million dollar salary. The Lightning are abysmal again; they've already fired their coach who they never should have signed in the first place. They have traded their third best defenseman from a team with almost no defense to begin with, and they play in front of half-empty arena's every night. Malone has been a total bust, registering a lackluster 3 points, even while getting a decent chunk of time with Vinny Lecavlier. He's also battled a few minor injuries.
Winner- Fedotenko
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Cooke vs. Jarkko Ruutu
Cooke- 13 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 1, 11:51 ATOI
Ruutu- 15 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 2, 13:04 ATOI
Cooke peformed better than adequately since being signed this summer to replace Jarkko Ruutu in the "agitator" role. Cooke has been near the top of the NHL in hits all season, right behind leader and teammate Brooks Orpik, with several of those hits being absolutely brutal blows. Cooke has been a key component in forming what is likely the league's best third line along with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy. He's been a solid playmaker, and he's provided that young line with a calming veteran presence. Cooke has missed a few games due to a minor, undisclosed injury. Not to mention he only has 10 penalty minutes to Ruutu's 27.
Ruutu has done exactly what the Sens asked him to do when they brought him in on the first day of free agency. He has done his usual thing, getting opponents off their games and making people angry. He outbursted for 2 goals in one game earlier in the campaign, but otherwise has been invisible offensively while often playing with the young Cody Bass. Ruutu has already netted a suspension for a savage elbow to the head of Montreal's Maxim Lapierre. The Senators have played horrifically this year, and Ruutu has done little to help things with so many penalty minutes. He still has been reliable in some limited roles that he's been placed in.
Winner- Cooke
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Zigomanis vs. Adam Hall
Zigomanis- 15 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 0, 11:21 ATOI
Hall- 16 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0, 12:33 ATOI
Zigomanis may be Ray Shero's biggest steal ever as GM of the Penguins. After being picked up for what will likely turn out to be a late roudn pick, "Ziggy" joined the Pens following their season opening set with Ottawa in Sweden. He has been the best faceoff man in the NHL consistently at over 60 percent. Also, he's shown above average offensive skills for a player of his caliber. He's an above average passer who does not make mistakes in his defensive end. He is also on the Penguins top penalty killing unit along with Jordan Staal. 63.5 percent on draws.
Hall has done little to write home about in Tampa Bay. He scored a goal in Tampa's opening set in Prague, but since then, he's been non-existent offensively. He's a solid faceoff man, and he's a decent fourth line center, but he has by no means performed to Zigomanis's level.
Winner- Zigomanis
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Godard vs. Georges Laraque
Godard- 17 GP, 6 fights, 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 5:02 ATOI, -2
Laraque- 9 GP, 4 fights, 3 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws, -4, 8:00 ATOI, -4
Godard has been a very serviceable fourth liner for the Penguins, even while playing only five minutes per game. He blocks shots, and unlike Laraque before him, he can actually find guys willing to fight him. He's been an adequate protector for the Penguins' superstars, and always answered the bell when necessary. His biggest drawback has been a few dumb penalties while trying to goad opposing players into fights.
Laraque has been injured for some of the season and a healthy scratch numerous times for the Canadiens. He has only played in nine games, and his impact on Montreal has been virtually zero. He is overweight, out of shape, and untalented. Basically, the Penguins look very good right about now for getting rid of him.
Winner- Godard
Penguins deal Sydor for Boucher
The Penguins have just traded Darryl Sydor back to Dallas for Phillipe Boucher, according to RDS . No official word yet, but this is a very interesting move by Shero if true.
http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/263655.html
And now the Post-Gazette has it.
http://postgazette.com/pg/08321/928476-100.stm
http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/263655.html
And now the Post-Gazette has it.
http://postgazette.com/pg/08321/928476-100.stm
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Cardiac Pens do it again
The Buffalo Sabres looked to be in control midway through the third period. They had played a systematic brand of hockey all night long, permitting only a powerplay goal to the incomparable Evgeni Malkin.
Buffalo's go-to guys, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, had scored one goal apeice to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead. Vanek's goal came on the powerplay, a beauty that saw Clarke MacArthur feed him with a cross crease pass that Marc-Andre Fleury had no possible method of defense against.
Henrik Tallinder's tripping minor at 10:30 of the third period opened the door, giving Pittsburgh a golden opportunity to tie the game, a chance the Pens were not about to squander.
Malkin, now the NHL's scoring leader with 30 points, got a pass at center point from fellow superstar Sidney Crosby before sending the puck directly back to #87. In turn, Crosby sent a beautiful one touch pass across the zone to a streaking Alex Goligoski, who beat Ryan Miller glove side with a wicked wrister to even the contest.
Sabres forward Derek Roy found himself with a breakaway off of a lobbed puck just moments later, but Marc-Andre Fleury was on his game to make the stop.
Minutes later, the Penguins took the lead when Tyler Kennedy won a race to the puck in the corner, and passed the puck to Matt Cooke behind Miller's net. Cooke then dished the biscuit to the white hot Jordan Staal in front of the net, and Staal made no mistake to make it 3-2. That third line of Cooke-Staal-Kennedy has been just fantastic in recent weeks.
Malkin again worked his magic soon after. Petr Sykora sent Malkin a breakout pass at his own blueline and Malkin took off with the puck running. After entering the Buffalo zone, Malkin kept eye contact with Miller the whole way, distracting the Sabres' goaltender. Then, with all eyes on Malkin's primary trailer, Petr Sykora, Malkin sent the puck through Buffalo defenseman Jaroslav Spacek's legs right to the tape of Ruslan Fedotenko, who buried it past Miller to seal the deal.
Jordan Staal officially closed it out with an empty netter from Malkin and Sykora with 24 second left. It was Staal's 7th goal of the year, further confirming that he is back and better than ever.
Notes-
Buffalo's go-to guys, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, had scored one goal apeice to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead. Vanek's goal came on the powerplay, a beauty that saw Clarke MacArthur feed him with a cross crease pass that Marc-Andre Fleury had no possible method of defense against.
Henrik Tallinder's tripping minor at 10:30 of the third period opened the door, giving Pittsburgh a golden opportunity to tie the game, a chance the Pens were not about to squander.
Malkin, now the NHL's scoring leader with 30 points, got a pass at center point from fellow superstar Sidney Crosby before sending the puck directly back to #87. In turn, Crosby sent a beautiful one touch pass across the zone to a streaking Alex Goligoski, who beat Ryan Miller glove side with a wicked wrister to even the contest.
Sabres forward Derek Roy found himself with a breakaway off of a lobbed puck just moments later, but Marc-Andre Fleury was on his game to make the stop.
Minutes later, the Penguins took the lead when Tyler Kennedy won a race to the puck in the corner, and passed the puck to Matt Cooke behind Miller's net. Cooke then dished the biscuit to the white hot Jordan Staal in front of the net, and Staal made no mistake to make it 3-2. That third line of Cooke-Staal-Kennedy has been just fantastic in recent weeks.
Malkin again worked his magic soon after. Petr Sykora sent Malkin a breakout pass at his own blueline and Malkin took off with the puck running. After entering the Buffalo zone, Malkin kept eye contact with Miller the whole way, distracting the Sabres' goaltender. Then, with all eyes on Malkin's primary trailer, Petr Sykora, Malkin sent the puck through Buffalo defenseman Jaroslav Spacek's legs right to the tape of Ruslan Fedotenko, who buried it past Miller to seal the deal.
Jordan Staal officially closed it out with an empty netter from Malkin and Sykora with 24 second left. It was Staal's 7th goal of the year, further confirming that he is back and better than ever.
Notes-
- Matt Cooke is quintiple the hockey player of Jakko Ruutu.
- Some of Cooke's hits tonight were simply devastating.
- Ryan Miller is a tremendously inconsistent goalie.
- Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are the best two players in the world.
- Marc-Andre Fleury bounced back nicely from a few rough games in the last week.
- Alex Goligoski is clutch. What an awesome offensive defenseman. Young Coffey, anyone?
- Mark Eaton is our worst defenseman. Bench him, and put in the proven Sydor.
- 11-4-2 for 24 points--Not too shabby.
GO PENS!
Game 17- Buffalo Sabres @ Penguins
The Penguins will look to break out their "new" baby blue third jerseys tonight in a good way, with a win over the Buffalo Sabres. While the Penguins dominated the Sabres last year, sweeping the season series, Buffalo is back and has an offense as potent as ever this year. They are led by fantastic goal scorer Thomas Vanek, the multipurpose Jason Pominville, and their sure handed defenseman and captain, Craig Rivet.
The Penguins are the hottest team in the NHL right now, having reeled off five consecutive wins. The only problem that has arisen in the streak is that the Pens have shown in inability to hold leads-- They nearly allowed both Edmonton and Philadelphia to beat them after holding huge early leads. Yet, the Penguins have not lost any of those games, always rebounding to sneak away with the win. If only this team could show the same killer instinct when its ahead as when its behind, the Pens will be damn near unbeatable.
Marc-Andre Fleury will start for the Penguins, a sign of confidence in him from Head Coach Michel Therrien. Fleury was abysmal in the second period Thursday against Philadelphia, and that got him pulled for the third period, when Dany Sabourin not only stopped the bleeding, but made some spectacular saves to lead the Pens to victory in a shootout.
Ryan Miller will oppose Fleury in the Buffalo net. Miller has been inconsistent over the past two years and change, but he's been solid this year for the most part, and the Penguins can't expect to get any garbage goals against him. His greatest strength is his rebound control, so the Pens must shoot low, or just hit the twine on the first shot.
As was mentioned, the Penguins will wear their classic throwback baby blue jerseys, and that's always fun. Coincidentally, the Sabres were the Penguins' counterpart in last year's NHL Winter Classic where the jerseys were first revived. They will also wear the jerseys on Tuesday against Minnesota, and on nine other home dates for the rest of the season.
Sabres centerman Tim Connolly played last night in the Sabres 6-1 loss at home to Columbus, and he will play tonight. There was some question as to whether or not he'd be available due to a badly bruised chest.
The Penguins sent winger Paul Bissonnette to Wilkes Barre today, and he is on waivers right now. If he goes unclaimed by tomorrow afternoon, he could join the Baby Penguins.
Penguins-
The Penguins are the hottest team in the NHL right now, having reeled off five consecutive wins. The only problem that has arisen in the streak is that the Pens have shown in inability to hold leads-- They nearly allowed both Edmonton and Philadelphia to beat them after holding huge early leads. Yet, the Penguins have not lost any of those games, always rebounding to sneak away with the win. If only this team could show the same killer instinct when its ahead as when its behind, the Pens will be damn near unbeatable.
Marc-Andre Fleury will start for the Penguins, a sign of confidence in him from Head Coach Michel Therrien. Fleury was abysmal in the second period Thursday against Philadelphia, and that got him pulled for the third period, when Dany Sabourin not only stopped the bleeding, but made some spectacular saves to lead the Pens to victory in a shootout.
Ryan Miller will oppose Fleury in the Buffalo net. Miller has been inconsistent over the past two years and change, but he's been solid this year for the most part, and the Penguins can't expect to get any garbage goals against him. His greatest strength is his rebound control, so the Pens must shoot low, or just hit the twine on the first shot.
As was mentioned, the Penguins will wear their classic throwback baby blue jerseys, and that's always fun. Coincidentally, the Sabres were the Penguins' counterpart in last year's NHL Winter Classic where the jerseys were first revived. They will also wear the jerseys on Tuesday against Minnesota, and on nine other home dates for the rest of the season.
Sabres centerman Tim Connolly played last night in the Sabres 6-1 loss at home to Columbus, and he will play tonight. There was some question as to whether or not he'd be available due to a badly bruised chest.
The Penguins sent winger Paul Bissonnette to Wilkes Barre today, and he is on waivers right now. If he goes unclaimed by tomorrow afternoon, he could join the Baby Penguins.
Penguins-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Eaton
Goligoski-Gill
Fleury
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Eaton
Goligoski-Gill
Fleury
Sabres-
Vanek-Roy-Kotalik
Hecht-Connolly-Pominville
Paille-MacArthur-Afinogenov
Peters-Gaustad-Mair
Tallinder-Rivet
Spacek-Sekera
Lydman-Numminen
Miller
GO PENS!
Hecht-Connolly-Pominville
Paille-MacArthur-Afinogenov
Peters-Gaustad-Mair
Tallinder-Rivet
Spacek-Sekera
Lydman-Numminen
Miller
GO PENS!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Penguins pull out a win in spite of epic collapse
That was something else, folks. The Penguins showed once again that not only can they not hold a lead at home for anything in the world, but also that they have incredible resiliency as a team. The Pens held a 3-0 lead on the Flyers in the middle of the second period, only to watch it slip away in a flash. Yet still, they never quite and wound up getting a win anyway.
The Pens started fast, coming out absolutely flying. It looked like the energy from the game in Detroit was really carrying over to this one.
Kris Letang made a nice breakout pass to Tyler Kennedy, who put the biscuit on the tape of Matt Cooke, who then beat Martin Biron for his first goal of the season. It was a fairly weak goal on Biron-- Cooke beat him right past his glove hand on a shot that did not have anything special on it. Either way, it was Cooke's first goal as a Penguin.
The Flyers showed early on that they were up to their old tricks. Braydon Coburn took a few runs, and Scott Hartnell continued to be the idiot that he is.
In the second period, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby had splendin individual efforts only a bit more than two minutes apart.
Malkin got a drop pass from Ruslan Fedotenko, walked around newly acquired Flyers defenseman Matt Carle (who was horrible tonight), and beat Biron easily with a backhander to make it 2-0.
Shortly thereafter, Crosby took the puck at the blueline, split about the entire Flyers team, and toasted Biron with another backhander.
The lesson learned here-- It won't end well for you when you put out a backup caliber goaltender and allow the best two players in the world to face him one on one. We saw this in the playoffs last year, and we saw it again tonight.
Sadly, the Flyers would get back into it.
Jeff Carter got a fluky goal in the crease off a turnover, and then, on a Penguin powerplay, Simon Gagne turned a blocked shot from Alex Goligoski into a breakway on Marc-Andre Fleury, who overplayed the deke, and it was suddenly 3-2. Gagne pulled Philadelphia even with a booming slapshot over Fleury's left shoulder in the following minutes.
Joffrey Lupul redirected a Kimmo Timonen slapper into the net with four seconds left in the second to make it 4-3. You could hear a pin drop at Mellon Arena.
Head Coach Michel Therrien replaced Fleury with Dany Sabourin to start the third period-- a move that would prove genius on the part of the bench boss. Sabourin was brilliant all the way through.
The Flyers shut down the Penguins for most of the third, and thing were looking bleak. That is, until Mike Richards gave the Penguins a gift.
Richards turned the puck over to Malkin down low in his own end, who then passed behind the net to Max Talbot, who gave it to Crosby in front for 87's second of the game to tie it.
In overtime, both teams had a few chances, most notably breakways by Crosby and Richards, but neither goalie could be beaten.
The shootout was something to behold.
Biron made saves on Petr Sykora, Kris Letang, Crosby, Malkin, and Miroslav Sata, and Sabourin stopped Gagne, Richards, Carter, Timonen, and Lupul before the shootout's final round. Sabourin's save on Richards was one for the ages. Dany kept it out with his stick as the puck sat on the goal line.
Goligoski came up for the Penguins, and he won it with a slick move to beat Biron. Hartnell had a chance to tie the game, but the oaf lost the puck twice while coming down, and then he tripped over Sabourin. Then, in his ifinite sportsmanship, he tried to fight Sabourin after he was stopped.
He's a piece of shit, plain and simple.
Notes-
-Flyers are 0-7 in their last seven games here.
-Matt Carle sucks.
-Even with Gagne, Timonen, and Coburn, and the Pens without Hossa, the Pens are still better than Philly
-Sabu starts next game, please. MAF needs a short break, and Sabu is playing well.
-What's so special about Sid-? HONKKKKKKKKK(Goal horn sounds).
-Malkin is sick.
-Staal was solid.
-Stop blowing leads at home. Eventually it will bite you in the ass.
-Gogo redeemed an awful game with that goal.
The Pens started fast, coming out absolutely flying. It looked like the energy from the game in Detroit was really carrying over to this one.
Kris Letang made a nice breakout pass to Tyler Kennedy, who put the biscuit on the tape of Matt Cooke, who then beat Martin Biron for his first goal of the season. It was a fairly weak goal on Biron-- Cooke beat him right past his glove hand on a shot that did not have anything special on it. Either way, it was Cooke's first goal as a Penguin.
The Flyers showed early on that they were up to their old tricks. Braydon Coburn took a few runs, and Scott Hartnell continued to be the idiot that he is.
In the second period, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby had splendin individual efforts only a bit more than two minutes apart.
Malkin got a drop pass from Ruslan Fedotenko, walked around newly acquired Flyers defenseman Matt Carle (who was horrible tonight), and beat Biron easily with a backhander to make it 2-0.
Shortly thereafter, Crosby took the puck at the blueline, split about the entire Flyers team, and toasted Biron with another backhander.
The lesson learned here-- It won't end well for you when you put out a backup caliber goaltender and allow the best two players in the world to face him one on one. We saw this in the playoffs last year, and we saw it again tonight.
Sadly, the Flyers would get back into it.
Jeff Carter got a fluky goal in the crease off a turnover, and then, on a Penguin powerplay, Simon Gagne turned a blocked shot from Alex Goligoski into a breakway on Marc-Andre Fleury, who overplayed the deke, and it was suddenly 3-2. Gagne pulled Philadelphia even with a booming slapshot over Fleury's left shoulder in the following minutes.
Joffrey Lupul redirected a Kimmo Timonen slapper into the net with four seconds left in the second to make it 4-3. You could hear a pin drop at Mellon Arena.
Head Coach Michel Therrien replaced Fleury with Dany Sabourin to start the third period-- a move that would prove genius on the part of the bench boss. Sabourin was brilliant all the way through.
The Flyers shut down the Penguins for most of the third, and thing were looking bleak. That is, until Mike Richards gave the Penguins a gift.
Richards turned the puck over to Malkin down low in his own end, who then passed behind the net to Max Talbot, who gave it to Crosby in front for 87's second of the game to tie it.
In overtime, both teams had a few chances, most notably breakways by Crosby and Richards, but neither goalie could be beaten.
The shootout was something to behold.
Biron made saves on Petr Sykora, Kris Letang, Crosby, Malkin, and Miroslav Sata, and Sabourin stopped Gagne, Richards, Carter, Timonen, and Lupul before the shootout's final round. Sabourin's save on Richards was one for the ages. Dany kept it out with his stick as the puck sat on the goal line.
Goligoski came up for the Penguins, and he won it with a slick move to beat Biron. Hartnell had a chance to tie the game, but the oaf lost the puck twice while coming down, and then he tripped over Sabourin. Then, in his ifinite sportsmanship, he tried to fight Sabourin after he was stopped.
He's a piece of shit, plain and simple.
Notes-
-Flyers are 0-7 in their last seven games here.
-Matt Carle sucks.
-Even with Gagne, Timonen, and Coburn, and the Pens without Hossa, the Pens are still better than Philly
-Sabu starts next game, please. MAF needs a short break, and Sabu is playing well.
-What's so special about Sid-? HONKKKKKKKKK(Goal horn sounds).
-Malkin is sick.
-Staal was solid.
-Stop blowing leads at home. Eventually it will bite you in the ass.
-Gogo redeemed an awful game with that goal.
GO PENS!
Game 16- Philadelphia Flyers @ Penguins
The game is in a half hour and change.
It's kind of a big deal.
Lines-
It's kind of a big deal.
Lines-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Gill
Goligoski-Sydor
MAF
Fedotenko-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Letang
Scuderi-Gill
Goligoski-Sydor
MAF
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Some Thoughts on a Great Night
-The Penguins just pulled off the best comeback in the history of the franchise.
-Jordan Staal is a man POSSESSED.
-What a resilient team.
-For the record, I had already written up a recap, explaining the horrible loss.
-Mike Zigomanis is sick. Thanks Gretzky, for giving him to us for free.
-Crosby and Malkin weren't too shabby themselves tonight.
-Scuderi is a warrior. Hope he's OK.
-MAF=not good.
-Osgood still sucks.
-Hossa is a bitch.
-Jordan Staal is good.
-Jordan Staal is good.
I have a man crush on Jordan Staal right now. That dude stepped it up in some kind of way tonight. WOWOWOWOWOWOW!
Marian,
I hope you had a good night. I mean, that was one hell of a 3 foot pass you made to Datsyuk for that slapshot goal on the powerplay. Whaddya think of that Staal? Good, isn't he?
You see what you're missing, pal?
Succckkkkkkkkkk itttt.
-Jordan Staal is a man POSSESSED.
-What a resilient team.
-For the record, I had already written up a recap, explaining the horrible loss.
-Mike Zigomanis is sick. Thanks Gretzky, for giving him to us for free.
-Crosby and Malkin weren't too shabby themselves tonight.
-Scuderi is a warrior. Hope he's OK.
-MAF=not good.
-Osgood still sucks.
-Hossa is a bitch.
-Jordan Staal is good.
-Jordan Staal is good.
I have a man crush on Jordan Staal right now. That dude stepped it up in some kind of way tonight. WOWOWOWOWOWOW!
Marian,
I hope you had a good night. I mean, that was one hell of a 3 foot pass you made to Datsyuk for that slapshot goal on the powerplay. Whaddya think of that Staal? Good, isn't he?
You see what you're missing, pal?
Succckkkkkkkkkk itttt.
GO PENS!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Game 15- Penguins @ Detroit Red Wings
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be in Detoilet, Michigan tomorrow night at the Joke Louis Arena. The Red Wings are the toast of Homotown right now, what with their recent Stanley Cup victory over the Penguins, and their newly acquired superstar winger, the selfish European passenger Marian Hossa. There is not much else to say.
I have been writing solid, advised journalistic pieces lately, but this time, the hate must seep through the cracks. Detroit sucks. Their former mayor is a sex offender, and the city is the crime capital of the world.
These are a bit different lines, but just my guess. The Cooke-Ziggo-Kennedy line was sick vs. the NYI, so maybe they'll stay together, or maybe not.
Eaton sucked last game, so hopefully, he'll be out.
Lines-
I have been writing solid, advised journalistic pieces lately, but this time, the hate must seep through the cracks. Detroit sucks. Their former mayor is a sex offender, and the city is the crime capital of the world.
These are a bit different lines, but just my guess. The Cooke-Ziggo-Kennedy line was sick vs. the NYI, so maybe they'll stay together, or maybe not.
Eaton sucked last game, so hopefully, he'll be out.
Lines-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Dupuis-Malkin-Sykora
Fedotenko-Staal-Godard
Cooke-Zigomanis-Kennedy
Orpik-Letang
Gill-Scuderi
Goligoski-Sydor
Fleury
Dupuis-Malkin-Sykora
Fedotenko-Staal-Godard
Cooke-Zigomanis-Kennedy
Orpik-Letang
Gill-Scuderi
Goligoski-Sydor
Fleury
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Inspired peformance by third line leads Pens to win on Long Island
The Pittsburgh Penguins tonight came back tonight from a two goal deficit in the second period to beat the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout. Tyler Kennedy scored two game tying goals tonight in what was likely his best game as a Penguin. His linemates Mike Zigomanis and Matt Cooke each played solid hockey as well.
In the shootout, Petr Sykora scored a beautiful backhand goal on Joey MacDonald that proved the only goal of the competition. Dany Sabourin stoned Doug Weight, Bill Guerin, and Trent Hunter to seal the win.
Sabourin's save on Hunter that officially ended the game was peculiar in that the puck was hidden within the leg pad of Sabourin, the same pad that mostly crossed the goal line into the net. However, it was ruled inconclusive that the puck was over the line, and that was the game.
The Isles led the Penguins 3-2 with less than five minutes remaining in the third period, but the Penguins were peppering MacDonald with shots. At the end of a phenomenal shift in which the Penguins third line of Kennedy, Cooke, and Zigomanis controlled the puck in the Islanders' end for over a minute, Alex Goligoski's seeing eye slapper was redirected home by Tyler Kennedy to make it 3-3.
Kennedy was set up by Zigomanis for the Penguins first goal, and Staal added another late in the second period on a breakaway, beating MacDonald between the legs.
Dough Weight, Ric Jackman, Andy Hilbert scored goals to give the Isles a 3-1 lead prior to the Penguins assault, in which they outshot New York by over 75 percent from the start of the third period on.
GO PENS!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Game 14- Penguins @ New York Islanders
The Pens will visit Long Island Saturday night to face off against the lowly New York Islanders at the likely half empty Nassau Coliseum. The Penguins are coming off of a big win at home on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, a game in which they just held off a furious rally to win 5-4 in regulation time. Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan tallied two apeice for the Penguins. The Isles are coming off of a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers when they blew an early lead to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory.
Word now comes that Crosby will be playing.
Dany Sabourin will be in goal for Pittsburgh, most likely against Joey MacDonald.
Projected Lines-
Word now comes that Crosby will be playing.
Dany Sabourin will be in goal for Pittsburgh, most likely against Joey MacDonald.
Projected Lines-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Dupuis-Malkin-Sykora
Fedotenko-Staal-Kennedy
Cooke-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Scuderi
Letang-Sydor
Goligoski-Gill
Sabourin
GO PENS!
HAIL SATAN!
Fedotenko-Staal-Kennedy
Cooke-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Scuderi
Letang-Sydor
Goligoski-Gill
Sabourin
GO PENS!
HAIL SATAN!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Game 13- Edmonton Oilers @ Penguins
The Edmonton Oilers will be in town Thursday night at Mellon Arena where they will meet your Pittsburgh Penguins. The Oilers blew a game that they really should have won on Wednesday in Columbus, but Manny Malhotra dashed those plans with a goal in the game's final seconds. For the Penguins, winger Pascal Dupuis is now off injured reserve, so obviously, we will see him Thursday night. Ruslan Fedotenko will be playing for the Penguins after missing Saturday night's victorious effort in St. Louis. Marc-Andre Fleury is the favorite to get the start for the Penguins, and Mathieu Garon will most likely start for the Oilers, being as backup Dwayne Roloson got the game in Columbus on Wednesday night. Mark Eaton was a healthy scratch for the Pens on Saturday, and since the result was good, look for Darryl Sydor to once again be in the lineup.
Projected Lines-
Projected Lines-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Dupuis-Malkin-Sykora
Fedotenko-Staal-Kennedy
Cooke-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Scuderi
Letang-Sydor
Goligoski-Gill
Fleury
GO PENS!
[Obama is President. WOOOO]
Dupuis-Malkin-Sykora
Fedotenko-Staal-Kennedy
Cooke-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Scuderi
Letang-Sydor
Goligoski-Gill
Fleury
GO PENS!
[Obama is President. WOOOO]
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Pens beat Blues 6-3 to close out road trip
In front of a near packed house tonight at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins played an inspired road game and defeated the St. Louis Blues in the fourth and final game of their west-oriented road trip. Miroslav Satan, Max Talbot Evgeni Malkin, Alex Goligoski, Jordan Staal, and Tyler Kennedy tallied goals for the Penguins.
The Penguins did not strike first in this one. Barret Jackman fired one from the point, and it got through a screen and into the net past Marc-Andre Fleury.
Just a few minutes later, the Penguins answered. Satan got a pass from Crosby, then banked the biscuit off a defenseman's skate back to himself, and beat Chris Mason glove side with a rocket wrister.
The Blues regained the lead 17 seconds later when David Perron passed across crease to T.J. Oshie, making it 2-1 Blues.
But the Penguins again came back. Goligoski got a pass from Satan, and walked to the middle of the ice before hitting the twine with another hard wrist-shot.
The Blues appeared to regain the lead seconds later when Patrik Berglund put a rebound past Fleury, but it was ruled that Keith Tkachuk high sticked the puck to Berglund, and thus, the goal was washed out.
Then, Malkin gave the Pens the lead for good when he embarrassed Mason with a howitzer from the point from Sidney Crosby and Peter Sykora. Tyler Kennedy stretched the lead to 4-2 with a feisty chip in around the net within a minute of Malkin's goal.
Berglund got the Blues within one in the third period, but then Talbot scored a beauty to put the game away before Staal sealed it up with an empty netter, his first goal of the season.
Notes-
-Malkin was very unselfish to pass to Staal for the empty netter.
-Malkin is a beast.
-Crosby is quietly closing in on Alex "Lack of" Semin.
-Janne Pesonen played a solid hockey game.
-Best game of the season so far.
-Satan has some serious talent.
-Don't change anything for Thursday. I don't care who's healthy.
The Penguins did not strike first in this one. Barret Jackman fired one from the point, and it got through a screen and into the net past Marc-Andre Fleury.
Just a few minutes later, the Penguins answered. Satan got a pass from Crosby, then banked the biscuit off a defenseman's skate back to himself, and beat Chris Mason glove side with a rocket wrister.
The Blues regained the lead 17 seconds later when David Perron passed across crease to T.J. Oshie, making it 2-1 Blues.
But the Penguins again came back. Goligoski got a pass from Satan, and walked to the middle of the ice before hitting the twine with another hard wrist-shot.
The Blues appeared to regain the lead seconds later when Patrik Berglund put a rebound past Fleury, but it was ruled that Keith Tkachuk high sticked the puck to Berglund, and thus, the goal was washed out.
Then, Malkin gave the Pens the lead for good when he embarrassed Mason with a howitzer from the point from Sidney Crosby and Peter Sykora. Tyler Kennedy stretched the lead to 4-2 with a feisty chip in around the net within a minute of Malkin's goal.
Berglund got the Blues within one in the third period, but then Talbot scored a beauty to put the game away before Staal sealed it up with an empty netter, his first goal of the season.
Notes-
-Malkin was very unselfish to pass to Staal for the empty netter.
-Malkin is a beast.
-Crosby is quietly closing in on Alex "Lack of" Semin.
-Janne Pesonen played a solid hockey game.
-Best game of the season so far.
-Satan has some serious talent.
-Don't change anything for Thursday. I don't care who's healthy.
GO PENS!
Game 12- Penguins @ St. Louis Blues
The Penguins will close out their tumultuous four game road trip tonight with a match against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center in Missouri. Forward Pascal Dupuis was put on injured reserve today, and in turn, Finnish wonder Janne Pesonen has been called up to make his NHL debut. Sidney Crosby, who was hurt in the Phoenix game, participated in the morning skate and appears likely to play tonight. Marc-Andre Fleury will be in goal against Chris Mason.
For St. Louis, Brad Boyes has gotten off to a hot start after a 43 goal campaign last year, and veterans Paul Kariya and Kieith Tkachuk have refound themselves, and are among the league leaders in scoring. Also, watch out for sniper Lee Stempniak. He is a forward who plays alongside Kariya on the point for the Blues powerplay, a unit that has gone from worst to first, and is now the best man advantage unit in hockey. They were the worst unit last year.
Now, Ruslan Fedotenko has been ruled out of the game with an undisclosed injury, and Pascal Dupuis has been placed on injured reserve. That will obviously change the line combinations significantly.
Projected Lines-
For St. Louis, Brad Boyes has gotten off to a hot start after a 43 goal campaign last year, and veterans Paul Kariya and Kieith Tkachuk have refound themselves, and are among the league leaders in scoring. Also, watch out for sniper Lee Stempniak. He is a forward who plays alongside Kariya on the point for the Blues powerplay, a unit that has gone from worst to first, and is now the best man advantage unit in hockey. They were the worst unit last year.
Now, Ruslan Fedotenko has been ruled out of the game with an undisclosed injury, and Pascal Dupuis has been placed on injured reserve. That will obviously change the line combinations significantly.
Projected Lines-
Talbot-Crosby-Satan
Pesonen-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Bissonnette-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Scuderi
Letang-Eaton
Goligoski-Gill
Fleury
GO PENS!
Pesonen-Malkin-Sykora
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Bissonnette-Zigomanis-Godard
Orpik-Scuderi
Letang-Eaton
Goligoski-Gill
Fleury
GO PENS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
