Thursday, December 5, 2013

Recap: No Malkn? No Problem. Pens WIN

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There are few times during the course of an 82 game season where you say "Holy shit what a game."  We were saying it in the 1st period of this one.  It was back and fourth, up and down hockey.  It's what hockey should be.  We say this maybe once or twice a year but if one of your friends wanted to get into watching hockey have them watch this game.  Tonight also marked Sid's 500th game in the NHL.  Oh.  And TK returned to Pittsburgh.  Barf.
 
 
The First Period was a pretty good one. The Pens and Sharks alternated chances but both goalies were on top of their game. The Pens got a powerplay in there somewhere and had a couple chances, but Niemi was up for the challenge. The Pens also gave Tyler Kennedy a tribute video, not really sure why because the only highlight was that Tic-Tac-Toe goal in the SCF in 09. Besides that, period didn't have much else going on.

 
The 2nd period was more of the same.  A ton of up and down action and both team getting a ton of chances.  The only difference being, the Pens cashed in on their chances.  Things got started when Pascal Dupuis tipped a Brooks Orpik point shot by Niemi to make it 1-nil Pens 27 seconds into the period.  A little over 2 minutes later Simon Despres made a nice play in the neutral zone to spring Jayson Megna.  He ripped a wicked wrist shot past Niemi to make it 2-nil Pens.  A little under 3 minutes later Chris Kunitz would get into the action.  He would pick up a rebound in front and make it 3-nil Pens.  Not even 2 minutes after that Kunitz would notch his 2nd.  He grabbed a rebound and fired a shot into the open cage to make it 4-nil Pens.  The Sharks would stop the bleeding when they finally scored.  Tomas Hertl threw a puck towards the goal.  It hit something and made its way through Fleury to make it 4-1.  Upon further review it hit Deryk Engelland's stick and trickled past Fleury.  If Robert Bortuzzo does that he doesn't see the ice for 2 maybe 3 months.  Oh.  This all happened within the 1st 10 minutes of the period.  The Hertl goal came at 9:27 of the 2nd.  The rest of the period was pretty much MAF sticking his balls in San Jose's mouth.  He was every where tonight.


 
Once again the Pens took a multi goal lead.  Which means the return of the Jacques Martin defensive gas chamber.  The Pens sat back and suffocated the Sharks.  The Sharks still got their chances but they were few and far between.  The Pens added another goal for good measure.  Kris Letang made the score 5-1 Pens.
 
 
Game.

 

1. Marc Andre Fleury
2. Chris Kunitz
3. Best In The World
 
Stuff:
  • 3 point night for Best In The World.  He leads team mate Evgeni Malkin by 4 points and every other NHLer by at least 9.
  • Dominating performance from the Pens.  It's this type of performance that makes people so pissed off when they play bad.  Oh.  Evgeni Malin didn't play either.  He tweaked something in the morning skate.
  • MAF was dialed in.  What a performance.
  • Olli Maatta and Simon Despres where every where tonight.  They both chipped in on a goal and were both solid defensively.
  • Pascal Dupuis left in the 2nd period due to injury.  He didn't return.  He'll be evaluated tonight or tomorrow.
 
Pens next game is Saturday against Boston.
 
Go Pens


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