Pens push hard, but can't beat Senators

So frustrating. I hate my life...

The first period was one of the most exciting periods in recent memory for Penguins hockey. Both teams were hitting, both goalies were stopping pucks, and the defense was good. Both teams were running and gunning, but Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik of the Pens and Anton Volchenkov of Ottawa were throwing their weight around to minimize the chances. Ottawa outshot the Pens 12-6, but the play was largely equal. The Crosby-Malkin tandem looked good, as did the Heatley-Spezza-Alfreddson line.

Kris Letang exerted more confidence and energy in that period than he has ever before. He skated beautfully, didn't rush things, didn't panic, and generated some quality scoring chances.

During a twenty second span with only ticks left on the clock in the period, each team laid several crushing body checks. Jarkko Ruutu, Alex Picard and Mike Fisher for Ottawa, and Jordan Staal, Letang, and Orpik for Pittsburgh. The very classy Ruutu gave it his best shot to elbow Staal in the face, but fortunately he didn't connect.

It was a very entertaining period, but no goals were scored.

The second was not nearly as kind.

Jason Spezza put the Senators up 1-0 when Sabourin came out to challenge him on a breakaway. After Sabourin stopped him to force Spezza behind the net, Spezza wrapped around the net to beat a badly out of position Sabourin.

Spezza got another shortly thereafter when the Pens' defense couldnt' handle the puck, even while it was right on their sticks, and Spezza got a golden bounce in the slot. He made not mistake, and the Sens led 2-0.

Eric Godard dropped the gloves with Chris Neil and God absolutely hammered him. Neil fought back though, and the bout went a long time. Smart decisioning by Godard to try and change the momentum of the game, vastly in Ottawa's favor at the time. Dumb play by Neil. In any event, it was a good fight.

Crosby got a great chance from Malkin, but he missed the net. Ruutu did what we've come to expect from him, flipping the puck over the glass to give the Pens a powerplay. Of course, the Pens road powerplay sucks, so nothing much came of it.

Malkin put the Pens back on the powerplay when he was hauled down going to the net, and this time, the Penguins didn't miss. After having his shot blocked by Antoine Vermette, Crosby fired cross ice to Alex Goligoski before getting the puck back a bit later. Jordan Staal sat his stick on the ice, and Crosby shot it for the blade. Staal got the goal, his 50th of his career. Crosby and Malkin distanced themselves from the rest of the NHL, both getting assists.

Softie Spezza got the hat trick when he banked when in from behind the net off Letang's skate. Sabourin looked incredibly incompetent on the goal. So deflating....with 38 god damned seconds left in the period. SHIT.

But hey, with this team, wouldn't you rather be down 3-1 than up 3-1 at this juncture?

Malkin got the Pens to 3-2 shorthanded when Staal stole the puck and moved it ahead to him. Malkin had no trouble beating Auld on a breakaway.

Letang almost tied it up on a Malkin set up late, but he missed the net. He played an awesome game, Letang, but he cannot buy a goal for his life. Something is wrong with him offensively, and it's definitely not skill or confidence.

The Pens pulled Sabourin. They didn't score. They need Zigomanis for faceoffs.

Game over.

Damnit damnit damnit damnit damnit. There goes my fvcking Saturday.

**** my life.