The Pens were in LA last night, and whether you like the Kings or you don't you have to admit playing the Kings is always fun. There was a stretch in the 3rd period that made us say "This is what hockey is supposed to look like." If you have a friend that doesn't like hockey fund a replay of this game and make them watch it. We were about 30 seconds away from not even doing a full recap but they Pens managed to make another 3rd period comeback an win they game in a shootout. So full recap city.
1st Period
After not having a power play all game Thursday night against the Sharks the Pens went to the power play early last night. The power play was, well, your typical Penguins power play. Mud. Soon after, Fleury robbed Simon Gagne after Gagne deflected a shot in front. Pens had another power play soon after. Like they would so anything with it. Kings had a power play somewhere in there. Pens killed it. Late in the period Malkin was in on a semi breakaway but was slashed by Willie Mitchell. Pens would got to the power play and with 30 seconds left the Kings would take another penalty to give the Pens 30 seconds of 5 on 3. On the ensuing faceoff Rob Scuderi shot the puck into the netting giving the Pens an extended 5 on 3. Pens needed to score but they weren't. They had an extended 5 on 3 and almost did nothing with it. Then late in the final penalty, when it was 5 on 4, the puck made its way to Steve Sullivan who, from a bad angle, found the back of the net for his first of the season to make it 1-0 Pens.
2nd Period
Kings would get a power play early. They would also get a fairly long 5 on 3 after the Pens took a too many men penalty. Pens PK would go to work. Big time kill by them. Dupuis missed the net on a 2 on 1. The Kings would get a power play after Bortuzzo went off for "roughing" Mike Richards. Mike Richards just sucks. Pens killed it off. The Richard Park had a terrible turnover in the neutral zone. The puck made its way to Kopitar who was in all alone and he roofed one on Fleury to tie the game at 1. Fleury had no chance. Malkin had a chance on a one timer late in the period but Quick robbed him. There was a point in this period when the teams were just going back and forth getting chance after chance but both goalies were standing on their heads all night.
3rd Period
The 3rd period picked up right where the 2nd left off. Tons of up and down action but neither team could score. Paul Martin made a big time play when he broke up a pass that was headed for Kopitar. Kopitar would have had a wide open net. Pens would get a power play about halfway through the 3rd. Mike Richards would get a breakaway and was hauled down by Kris Letang. Penalty shot. The sum of every Pens fans fear. Tie game, Mike Richards, penalty shot. Gulp. But then Mike Richards reminds you that he's Mike Richards and completely misses the net on the penalty shot. Whether he's wearing orange and black or sliver and black Mike Richards still sucks. But the Pens couldn't dodge the bullets much longer. Kopitar walked into the slot and made a sick pass to Simon Gagne who buried it into an open net to make it 2-1 Kings. Fleury had no chance. Kopitar froze Fleury which made it impossible to stop Gagne on the back side. King had a chance to make it 3-1 but MAF made a big save on Kopitar. Then late in the period the Kings thought they made it 3-1 when a Mike Richards shot was deflected in by Dustin Brown. But the deflection occurred when the puck was above the crossbar so the goal was waived off. And the Pens took advantage. Maybe 30 seconds or so later the Pens had the puck in the Kings zone. The puck found its way to Kunitz who stuffed it in on a wrap around with Quick out of position to tie the game at 2.
Felt like doing this after that goal
Unreal action to end the game. Both teams had tons of chances. The Pens probably had the best chance when Kris Letang hit the post with 27 seconds left. Neither team would score and the game would head to overtime. Take that point any day.
OVERTIME
The only thing that can be said about overtime was that it was basically a carry over from the 3rd period. Tons of chances both way but neither team could score. The game would slip into a shootout.
Give me 10 minute overtime's please.
SHOOTOUT
The Kings would choose to shoot first. Jarret Stoll went and was saved by Fleury. The Pens would send out Evgen Malkin. His shot was saved as well. The Kings second shooter would be Anze Kopitar. Sick move beat Fleury 5 hole. The second shooter for the Pens would be Kris Letang. Letang did a sick move of his own and beat Quick to tie the shootout at 1. The 3rd shooter for the Kings would be Dustin Brown. Fleury closed the door. James Neal would come up for the Pens with a chance to win but Quick made the save. The 4th shooter for the Kings was Simon Gagne. Yeah right dick. Then Chris Kunitz would come uop for the Pens and Bob Errey called his move. Fake the shot, open the legs, go 5-hole. That's exactly what Kunitz did. Beat Quick 5 hole to give the Pens a 3-2 win.
3 Stars
1. Anze Kopitar
2. Kris Letang
3. Jonathan Quick
Quick Thoughts
- By far the best game we've seen all year
- Kris Letang had 32:33 of ice time
- Malkin had a shift that lasted almost 4 minutes
- Bortuzzo and Picard filled in well for Niskanen and Lovejoy
- As far as we know no one got hurt last night
Pens don't play again until the next time Harold Camping predicts the world to end. Don't know who he is, look him up.
Go Pens
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