RECAP. Comeback City. Pens WIN

The Islanders were in town last night.  Yes the Pens just played them like 3 seconds ago.  And last night we saw something we haven't seen in a long time.  The Pens coming back in the 3rd period.  The last time the Pens did that was in 2010 in the playoffs against Ottawa.  We also saw one of the most bizarre decisions ever right before the shootout.  We'll get to that later.

1st Period

We were at the game last night so excuse us if this post is mud.

Pens had an unreal shift to start the period.  Pens had the puck in the Islols zone for sometime and had a few chances but couldn't bury anything.  The Malkin-Sullivan-Neal line is something else.  Islols looked like they were still in the locker room.  John Tavares is probably one of the laziest players ever.  Dude never back checks.  Pens got a power play.  Staal found the back of the net but the goal was waived off because of incidental contact with the goalie.  Don't like the call but if it happened to MAF of course we'd want the same call.  Then some bizarre play happened.  We watched the puck go up the ice and looked back and Matt Niskanen was on top of someone then Comeau the homo tried to jump Brooks Orpik.  Comeau the homo got so close to Orpik at one point it looked like he was going to kiss him.  No clue what happened.  Somehow the Pens came out of that with a power play.  Had some chances but couldn't score.  MAF went to get the puck behind the net and tripped and some Islolander had a chance but MAF tripped him up and the puck was cleared.  With only a minute left Franz Nielson found the puck in front and put it home to make it 1-0 Islols.  

2nd Period

Pens had a ton of chances in the 2nd.  Came out on fire.  Nabokov was stellar all night.  Stood on his head every chance the Penguins had.  Pens showed Gary Bettman announcing the draft was coming to Pittsburgh next year.  A few boo's that were eventually drowned out by some cheers.  Guy helped save hockey in Pittsburgh.  No reason to boo him.  Pens had some power plays in the 2nd.  Malkin whiffed on unlimited one timers.  

3rd Period

45 seconds in the Islols would make it 2-0 when Matt Martin found a loose puck and snuck it past MAF.  Balls.  Crowd was out of it all night and that goal was a killer.  Until Chris Kunitz made an appearance.  He found a loose puck around Nabokov and put it home to make it 2-1.  

She's back!!!  Same girl that predicted 2 goals last game predicted a Kunitz goal last night.  Getting kind of scary.  The crowd finally woke up and James Neal made sure they stayed awake.  Probably one of the prettiest plays we've ever seen led to a goal from James Neal.  Malkin found Kunitz in front who found Neal who buried it as Nabokov was going the other way.  No goalie makes that save.  Ever.  What a play.

This went on in front of us all night.

  Then it was MAF city.  Save after save after save after save.  MAF was solid all night.  Can't blame him for the 2 goals against.  Garbage city.  Pens had to kill a penalty and it was MAF city again.  HUGE saves during the PK.  Final few minutes had tons of actin.  Neither team would score and we'd head to overtime.  Take that point any day.

OVERTIME

Grab balls had a breakaway early but completely missed the net.  Malkin went coast to coast and almost scored but no dice.  Kris Letang was hauled down and the Pens had a 4 on 3 for about 35 seconds.  Worst.  Power play. Of.  All.  Time.  4 on 3 and didn't even get a shot off.  Heading to a shootout.

SHOOTOUT

This is where things got really bizarre.  First hundreds of fans left right before the shootout.  Jokes.  Then Right before the shootout Fat Jack Capicola pulled Evgeni Nabokov in favor of Fragile Rick DiPietro.  Nabokov was solid all night.  His reasoning behind it, Nabokov was fatigued.  Yep.  (Video of that is on www.pensblog.com look under their recap)  Didn't think it took that much energy to stand in front of the goal and face 3 shots.  Whatever.  Kris Letang was up first.  Grizzly Adams Glassjaw stopped it.  Franz Nielson was up first for the Islols.  Yeah right.  Malkin up 2nd for the Pens.  Money.  DePietro went for some bizarre poke check, completely missed and Malkin went right around him and buried it.  

Yep

Then P.A Camelteau was up for the Islols.  Stoned.  James Neal had a chance to win it.  Nope.  Then John Tavares had a chance to keep the shootout going.  Poke check city.  Game.  Pens win 3-2.

3 Stars

1. Chris Kunitz

2.  Evgeni Malkin

3.  Matt Martin

Quick Thoughts

• Malkin had 2nd most ice time for the Pens.  Only player that had more was Kris Letang
• Malkin is posessed
• Orpik/Engelland pair was on the ice for both Islols goals
• Rick DiPietro: 0 minutes played.  Gets the loss

Pens next game is Saturday at 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Just in case you didn't get enough:

Go Pens