Penguins down Jackets for second win in a row

The Pens (aka Mark Eaton) test Dubielewicz early, volleying a lot of shots at the net. At the end of his shift, Sid shoots one high. After Cookie flattens Pittsburgh native RJ Umberger, the BJ grabs the puck but Flower makes an incredible save. Staal works himself into perfect scoring position but it’s saved by Dubielewicz. Sid misses the goal again. Staal goes in again, skating strong, and passes to Miro Satan, who shoots one toward the net. After the first few shifts, it’s all Blue Jackets. Luca Caputi comes from behind the net and tries to bump it into the net, but Dubielewicz is there. Billy Thomas is called for slashing. He’s one of the Pens best PKers, but Staal makes sure to win the draw and clear it. Flower makes an incredible save on Nash and then Geno and Tanger go shorthanded, but it jumps over Tanger’s stick. Penalty killed. But then Hal Gill is called for tripping Modin as he goes to the net. Billy Thomas is there on the PK this time. Penalty killed. Staalsy steals the puck, shoots it, and gets his own rebound. He centers one and Sykie shoots but it’s saved. Time expires.

Sid, Duper and TK play really well on their shift with a little help from Mark Eaton. Sykie and Geno make a great play but Geno’s shot goes off a leg and RJ Umberger goes hard toward Flower. MAF makes it look easy as he makes another save. Geno weaves through the Jackets but he can’t get a shot on net. TK draws a hooking penalty on troublemaker RJ Umberger. Pens on the PP. Whitters is on the ice: don’t hold your breath. Tanger’s slapper is wide. Then Tanger bangs one in off of the goal tender. Huge goal. Staal throws his shoulder right into Christian Backman. Talbot works hard on the boards but Columbus comes up with the biscuit. Orpik hands out some Free Candy. Manny Malhotra fires one off the post. Whew. Tanger almost got his second goal of the game but Dubielewicz is somehow there. Then Petr Fever hits the Igloo as he redirects an Orpik feed past Dubielewicz. Petr Gunn. Wow. Super Duper lets a slapper loose, but it’s blocked. Sid almost makes it 3-0 off Duper’s rebound but Dubielewicz holds it down. Orpik, who has been crunch-happy all night, takes Chimera down with a doozie of a hit along the boards. The crowd cheers but Chimera goes after Orpik. Sid goes down the left wing with Tanger who lifts a wrister over the shoulder of Dubielewicz. And just like that the Pens are up 3-0. Orpik hits Chimera again and the Jacket skates slowly to the bench. Derek Dorsett seemed to have a gimme goal, but MAF made another incredible toe-save. Tanger spins out of a check. What a human. Empty net for Columbus with 3.5 seconds to go. Thomas wins the draw and the period expires.

The person with the most shots besides Kris Letang is Super Duper. He is long overdue for a goal. Maybe this period. Geno almost got a goal but Dubielewicz has his pad down to save that. The puck was deflected over the glass but Cookie takes a penalty for delay of game because there was nobody else to blame. Puke call. Flower and Hal Gill flop down in front of the net and rob Fredrik Modin of a goal. Absolutely unbelievable. Flower makes another save on Nash. Staal goes shorthanded with Geno but Dubielewicz makes a great save on Staalsy. Staal tries to take a lead pass but it’s too hard and Nash tries to get one in on Fleury. He gets a little aggressive and Caputi tells him what’s what as they exchange words. Thank God Billy Thomas wasn’t a scratch tonight. He has been a force in the face-off circle. Super Duper lets another slapper go, but he just can’t hit the net. Geno is in the box for high-sticking. Again, one of the Penguins’ best PKers is in the box. Fedor Tyutin knocks one in past Fleury with about 15 seconds left on the PP. Staalsy grabs the biscuit and goes down the left side and centers one for Caputi who takes a great shot but it’s blocked. Luca Caputi goes down the right side all by himself and shoots one off of a defenseman’s leg. Pens go 3-on-2 but no goal. Then they go 2-on-1 but again no goal. Duper goes all by himself, and Dubielewicz comes out way too far. Duper goes around him but his shot is blocked by a defenseman. Fleury makes another good glove save. Empty net for Columbus. (C’mon Tanger!) Sid gets the empty netter for his 21st goal of the season. There is a scrum at center ice involving Gods and Maxie. It means nothing although Gods and Dorsett both get 10 for misconduct.

PENS WIN!

Thoughts:

--Kris Letang is fantastic

--Staalsy was awesome

--Every piece of the machine was working tonight

--Flower Power...MAF was just incredible

Red Wings Sunday.

Do it.

LET'S GO PENS!