Punchless Pens embarrassed in loss on Long Island

This is just about rock bottom. The Pens just proved that they are no better than the worst team in the NHL, the New York Islanders.

The Islanders are on a five-game losing streak. The Penguins will try to extend it to six as they visit the Isles at the Nassau Coliseum. Garon was to get his second start today, but new head coach Dan Bylsma has put Fleury between the pipes.

A scrum in front of the Pens net to start. Gadard’s in the middle of it: no surprise. Flower made some crazy saves to start it off. Turnovers galore in the neutral zone. Fedo tries to poke in Sid’s shot but it’s just wide. Staalsy has a nice chance, but it was poke-checked away. Duper lets loose another slapper, but it’s been an eternity since he’s tickled the twine. Staal goes hard for the net again but MacDonald stands tall and blocks it. Satan sends a muffin towards MacDonald who makes the easy save. The Isles came bursting into the zone but Flower pounced on the loose puck and covered it. TK gets an amazing chance: he thought he had a goal but somehow it was still in play. Then NY comes out on all cylinders and catches the defense out of position and Chris Campoli tips one in. Vomit. Tim Jackman is called for holding. Penguins on the PP…but they don’t show up. Great. Billy Thomas crashes the net with Sid but somehow the puck stays out. Then Thomas makes a crazy defensive play and keeps it out. Then Geno rockets down the left side, uses the NY defenseman as a screen, and wrists his 25th of the season past MacDonald. Thank God he didn’t pass to Satan. Beastly.

Flower denies Jackman. Geno is double-shifting. Jon Sim is all up in Fleury’s face and Staalsy gives him a few shoves to send the message.

The Penguins should not be giving up this many opportunities; they should be dominating. The Isles are so organized. Then Joey MacDonald reaches his stick out and trips Geno. No call: what a joke. Staalsy takes an incredible shot but MacDonald makes a great save. Whitters and Duper go in, but then the Isles get it back. Pens fans have never been more afraid of the Isles. Islanders are fore-checking like there’s no tomorrow. The Pens cycle, cycle, cycle, then it’s taken away. Cookie and TK go in on a nice chance but TK’s shot is blocked. Sid tries for a wraparound but MacDonald read it easily. A 3-on-1 develops for the Isles. The shot was a muffin and easily saved. Then Frans Nielsen whacks one past Flower to give them the lead. With this effort, Bylsma will be fired before the game's over. Islanders are dominating. The Pens need to draw some penalties or something. Sykie, Gill and Scudsie all get shots on net and with the pressure applied, draw a holding penalty on Mark Streit. Pens on the power play...PLEASE get a PPG, PLEASE. Sarge gets a shot in but the Isles clear it. Sid feeds one to the wide-open Whitters who whips it in past MacDonald. WOO! Bylsma puts out a strange line: Satan-Malkin-Thomas, but it makes stuff happen, drawing another penalty: Kyle Okposo for holding. Gonch is wide open but he tries to hit it to Sid, but MacDonald got to it. Great cycling for the Pens, but Sykie's shot is just wide. Geno gets aggressive with Campoli, throwing some puches; he goes off into the locker room. WOW. [When it's all sorted out, Campoli gets 2 for roughing and Geno gets a 4 minute double minor for roughing] The period expires with a ray of hope as the Pens are getting aggressive and showing some passion. Huge PK to start the third.

On the powerplay, Whitney nets one on a backdoor pass from Crosby.

The game goes to overtime, and the Pens fly all over the ice, but cannot score. Dupuis had his chances, several times, but blew them in epic fashion.

Nielsen scored in the SO for the Isles.
Sykora answered for the Pens.
The Isles got another goal.
Crosby and Malkin both miss, ending the game.

The Pens continue to be garbage.