Conklin shuts out Pens

The Pens play in their baby blue third jerseys. Conklin faces Fleury in net. The crowd greets Hossa with a chorus of boos. Eaton makes a great play to block a shot. Billy Thomas tries to put one in the net and almost does but Conklin reaches out and blocks it. Zetterburg tries to go to the net but Orpik says no. Hossa steps out onto the ice again and the boos begin. Those boos turn to cheers as Sykie plasters him along the boards. Billy Thomas was able to draw a penalty on Samelsson for holding. Geno has a great chance but Conklin wouldn’t let it in. Penguins do not capitalize on their advantage. Samelsson tries to go after Sid but the refs jump in. Both get two for cross-checking and slashing respectively. Boos? Here comes Hossa again. Cookie goes hard to the net to shield Conklin from Tanger’s shot but he saw it and saved it. Niklas Kronwall is called for interfering with Dups. The biscuit came right from Tanger to an open slot right in front of Geno, who fanned on it and Conklin had time to block his second attempt. That was so close it’s depressing. Random stat: Kris Letang has taken three shots in less than two minutes of ice time. Duper is called for interference nobody saw. Staalsy goes shorthanded with Billy Thomas but they are surrounded. And then Geno goes shorthanded. And then Maxie. And then Hal Gill clears it. Flower makes a crazy save on Kronwell, then Rafalski. Incredible PK. Maxie hits Cleary. Nice. Draper was called for holding someone’s stick. Sykie take a crazy shot but Conklin made a crazy save. No PPG. NBC makes a big deal about how Sid is not on the ice with his line mates for the last 12 seconds or something. Whatever. Period over.

Intermission: NBC has a lengthy discussion about the Malkin-Ovetchkin “beef”. Who are the Pens playing again? Oh right, NOT WASHINGTON. Ridiculous.

Cookie Monster takes a shot but Conklin gloves it. Caputi receives a pass from Staalsy and goes down the left side and takes a shot. Best chance so far. Hossa has a great chance but Flower shuts the door. Petr Gunn is called for hooking. Datsyuk shoots the puck in off a toe save from Flower for a PPG. Then Flower came back with a huge save on Hossa. Flower needs to control his rebounds or the Wings will get more goals. Eric Godard goes alone down the wing but the save was made. TK slaps the puck at the net but Conklin is there. Another TK shot blocked. Super Duper streaks down the ice and shoots one but again Conklin stops it. Nicklas Lindstrom is called for tripping and a number of good chances are recorded on the ensuing PP. But time runs out just as the Pens are warming up.

The Pens start the period with a bit over a minute on the PP. Twenty minutes is plenty to come back. Kirk Maltby tries to goad Sid. Flower grabs the puck out of the air and covers it. Zetterberg hits Cookie right in the face. Ouch. Hossa is plastered by Cookie again. The Pens are breaking down. They need to pick up the speed. Letang and Sykie have great chances but the Wings defense are everywhere. Then Hossa flips a back hander into the net. Caputi has to serve some joke bench penalty. Sid is foiled by the defense. The boys pick up the speed, getting pucks to the net like there is no tomorrow, but somehow Conklin and the defense is always in the way. Datsyuk gets his second of the game. Fleury bangs his stick off the ice. Game. Fail.

This loss wasn't unexpected, but that doesn't make it sting any less.
Sharks on Wednesday.
Do it.
LET'S GO PENS!!