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.

GO PENS!