Cruising The Atlantic. Pens WIN

 5

3

The Pens headed in to Carolina last night with a chance to wrap up the division and a guaranteed top 2 seed.  The last time the Pens were here they played one of their worst games of the season.  But this is a different Penguins team than the one that lost 4-1 earlier this season.  The Pens fell behind twice but kept coming and coming and finally buried the Canes and captured the Atlantic Division title.  Enjoy it for today.  It's a good accomplishment but tomorrow it's old news.  It's not what matters.  What matters is that giant silver thing in June.

The first 6ish minutes was a giant shit show.  Engelland fought someone.  Then the Pens took a penalty.  Then the Canes took a penalty.  Then the Pens took another penalty.  Pretty sure they called a penalty on Potash too.  The Canes cashed in on the 4 on 3.  Joe Corvo from the point.  MAF was screened.  1-0.  The Pens would answer quickly.  Pascal Dupuis threw a pass cross ice right on the tape of....Robert Bortuzzo.  Bortuzzo didn't have to do anything but let the puck hit his stick.  1-1.  The Pens would get another.  Jokinen found Brenden Morrow in between the entire Canes team.  Morrow made some one look stupid and roofed one on Peters to make it 2-1.

"Absolute insanity."  Ok then.

The Canes would tie it late in the period when MAF was screened on a point shot again.  2-2.

2nd period was...whatever.  Jeff Skinner sucks.  Orpik destroyed him  couple times.

Early in the 3rd Riley Nash scored from right in MAF's kitchen to make it 3-2 Canes.  Not picking on Bortuzzo but he didn't pick up the man and didn't clear the puck.  Riley Nash > Rick Nash.  With the way the Pens have been playing over the past 19 or so games you knew it was far from over.  Plus.  The Canes are a mess.  The Pens found a way to cash in.  Craig Adams made a great play to keep the puck in the zone.  He found Beau Bennett who had so much room to walk to the goal the Canes should have laid down a red carpet.  Bennett walked in and got a shot off but Peters saved it and the rebound hit a Cane and went in the goal.  3-3.  13 seconds later.  Evgeni Malkin.  Iginla got a shot off and before Peters could grab the rebound Malkin poked it in to make it 4-3 Pens.  Dupuis would hit another buzzer beater to make it 5-3.

1. Pascal Dupuis

2. Evgeni Malkin

3. Riley Nash

Stuff:

• Pascal Dupuis has 19 goals this season.  He had a goal and 2 assists last night.
• Another point and 50% on faceoffs for Jokinen.
• Douglas Murray made some great defensive plays last night.
• Craig Adams had 2 points.
• MAF was sharp.  He didn't have a chance on any of the goals.
• Hopefully Evgeni Malkin wakes up after scoring last night.
• Jordan Staal sucks.

Pens next game is Thursday in Tampa.

Go Pens