The Penguins were in Minnesota last night. And to say their roster was depleted is an understatement. The Pens were without Crosby, Malkin, Kennedy, Jeffrey, Letang, and Orpik. This had the making of one of those games that made you want to put your head through the wall. Last night the Pens 6 d men were Deryk Engelland, Brian Strait, Zbynek Michalek, Paul Martin, Ben Lovejoy, and Matt Niskanen. Totally thought the Wild were scoring 100 goals last night. But that's why they play the game.
1st Period
Wild got a power play early. They're coached by Mike Yeo so you should know how that went. Johnson had to make a good save on Brodziak. Wild had another power play but couldn't do anything with it. This period can be summed up one way:
Yawn city. At least the Wild didn't score 8 seconds in.
2nd Period
The 2nd period got started off with a bang. Dupuis put one on the platter for Kunitz 22 seconds in and Kunitz launched a bomb past Backstrom to make it 1-0 Pens. The Wild would get a power play but, well you know. Then later in the period the hockey gods would strike again. Brian Strait would come up lame on what seemed to be an innocent play in the corner. He cam out holding his wrist, left the game and wouldn't return. On the same play Joe Vitale took a stick to the face which gave the Pens a 4 minutes power play. The Pens would cash in when Jordan Staal spun around some defenseman found the puck and put it into an open net to make it 2-0 Pens. The Pens still had half of the 4 minute power play to work with. They wouldn't get anything on it but Cal Clusterfuck and his pedophile mustache scored a short handed goal to bring the Wild within 1. Cooke hit a pot late in the period and the Pens had to kill of another penalty.
3rd Period
Over the last few season, especially last season, we have come accustomed to watching the Pens blow a 3rd period lead. And with the roster that was on the ice last night you fully expected it to happen again. It almost did but Johnson, who was solid all night robbed Matt Cullen. Then the Pens did something they rarely did last season in the 3rd period. Pad their lead. Joe Vitale worked his sack off and helped force a turnover. James Neal gathered the puck went down the left wing and ripped a shot passed Backstrom to give the Pens a 3-1 lead. A few minutes later Pens fans everywhere held their collective breath when Johnson got bowled over and stayed down for quite some time. Wild fans booed but they gave away orange hunting hats as a promotion so. Johnson stayed in the game and kept his balls in the Wild's mouth. Johnson robbed a couple more shots and the Wild eventually got another power play. One game Bob Errey said that every time the Penguins penalty kill is on the ice they have a chance to score, and that's just what they did last night. Cooke through a pass to open ice and the Wild forgot they were playing hockey and Dupuis grabbed the puck at center ice and was on a breakaway. Dupuis walked in waited for Backstrom to flop on the ice like a fish and put one passed him to make it 4-1 Pens. Wild would get one back to make it 4-2 but that is all the closer they would get as the Pens would win 4-2.
3 Stars
1. Brent Johnson
2. Cal Clusterfuck
3. Jordan Staal
Quick Thoughts
- Great game from Jordan Staal
- Joe Vitale has been extremely solid so far
- Steve MacIntyre only had 23 second of ice time.
- Some girl tweeted to the Penguins asking where Max Talbot was
Montreal comes to town Thursday at 7. Get your hate ready.
Go Pens
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