The Dallas Stars were in town last night and a big question going into the game would be if Matt Niskanen would drop the gloves with Sidney Crosby again...Wait...Crosby is still recovering from a concussion and Niskanen is a Penguin now? Well shit.
This is the Pens first game in about a decade. Such a bizarre schedule to open the season. Alex Goligoski was back in the Burgh but his return was cut short when he left the game early. Dallas has been one of if not the biggest surprise this season posting the best record in the league up until last night. The Pens schedule finally starts to look like someone who actually has more than half a brain made the schedule.
1st Period
Sargent Bob Timney was back in town to sing the anthem last night for Veteran's Day. If you don't know why Sargent Bob is such a big deal to us here is why:
CHILLS
This is from when the fans actually made noise at the games.
Pens game out of the gate and were flying. They looked like they hadn't played a game in like 6 days or something. Pens couldn't bury anything though. The rest of the period was whatever. Stiegy and Errey interviewed some people currently in the military. That's about the only other thing that happened this period. until Eric Nystrom put the Stars up 1-0 with about 4 minutes left in the period. Pens had a power play late but couldn't do anything with it.
2nd Period
Pens had to kill off a penalty early in the period when Joe Vitale "interfered" with Kari Lehtonen. 1 Vitale was pushed into Lehtonen and 2 Eric Tangradi was cross checked in the head and nothing was called. Whatever Pens killed it off. Marc Andre Fleury hasn't let up a power play goal this entire season so far. That trend continued last night. The Pens would go on the power play late in the period again. This time they would cash in. Malkin ripped a one time from Jagrville and Kunitz deflected it in to tie the game at 1. But the goal would be waived off as the refs said Kunitz deflected it with a high stick.
Probably the best look you'll get. Close call. Definitely above the bar. Are Lehtonen's eyes closed?
The call would eventually got to Toronto for a 2nd look.
No Goal.
But the Pens would waste no time getting it back. 24 seconds later Jame Neal would throw a puck on net that found its way through Kari Lehtonen to tie the game at 1 heading into the 3rd period.
3rd Period
The Pens would get a power play early in the 3rd. Chris Kunitz would cash in again to make it 3-1 Pens...But again the goal would get waived off as Kunitz bumped into Lehtonen preventing him from making a save. Once again the Pens would waste little time getting that goal back. 23 seconds later James Neal through a pass cross the ice towards Chris Kunitz and the puck would bounce off a Stars defenseman and into the net giving the Pens a 2-1 lead and James Neal his 11th of the season.
A little over 2 minutes later Matt Cooke was into the Stars zone on a breakawy but was hauled down by Trevor Daley. Penalty shot for Matt Cooke. Cooke would come in and deke Lehtonen out of his pads to make it 3-1 Pens.
What a move. What a celebration.
That would be all the Pens needed. Near the end of the game the Stars would pull their goalie and James Neal was on the ice looking for the hatty.
No clue when this pic was. Just wanted to point something out. 1) Epic stache on 38. 2) #3 looks like he just got his sack pinched. 3) James Neal's face. 4) Evgeni Malkin's face.
Anyway, Neal couldn't find the empty net even after Malkin dished one to him when Malkin could have buried it himself.
GAME.
Pens win 3-1
3 Stars
1. James Neal
2. Matt Cooke
3. Chris Kunitz
Quick Thoughts
- Crosby watch is still going on. He's not playing this weekend.
- Starting a Matt Cooke write in campaign for the All Star game. Look for a post later
- Kris Letang led the team in ice time again with 26:44
- Pens looked solid after having 6 day off.
- No way Dan Bylsma can break up the Sullivan-Malkin-Neal line when Sid come back.
Pens next game is in like 24 seconds in Carolina.
Matt Cooke for All Star game.
Go Pens
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