4
3
The Penguins played this game with a second line of Harry Keysmash-Jussi-Jokinen-Brian Gibbons. They played this game without 10 regulars. They played this game with 8 players from Wilks Barre. And yet, once again, found a way to win. It wasn't pretty but 2 points is 2 points.
The first period felt a little like this:
Snooze city.
Second period started out pretty much the same. But the Pens ended up getting a power play. The moved the puck pretty well for the most part. They finally got an opening. Sid had the puck along the half wall. Every Ranger was paying attention to him. Jussi Jokinen slipped through and Sid fed him a pass. He shuffled it to the net and Chris Kunitz put home the rebound. 1-nil Pens. Pens lead wouldn't last long. Carl Hagelin took the puck in the neutral zone and blew by Simon Despres. He beat Fleury to tie the score at 1.
The 3rd period was insane. Both teams were going back and fourth getting chances. The Pens would finally cash in again. Kunitz out worked some joke behind the net. He got the puck and fed it cross ice to Best In The World. He fed it back across the ice to a wide open Pascal Dupuis. 2-1 Pens. About a minute later we had a little 4 on 4 action going on. Brandon Sutter took the puck and absolutely embarrassed Michael Del Zotto. He then roofed a back hander on Lundqvist to make it 3-1 Pens.
gif via The Pensblog.
Nasty.
But there was still a lot of time left. The Rangers were coming hard. Their hard work finally paid off. Someone put a shot on net and it trickled through Fleury. Mats Zuccarello was there to put it home and make the scored 3-2 Pens. Then with under 5 minutes to play Matt Niskanen took a high sticking penalty. If there is one person on the team that absolutely can't take a penalty its him. Just an unfortunate play. Niskanen went to lift someones stick and missed and ended up high sticking him. The Rangers went to work. They came into the zone with speed. A one timer missed the net but come out the other side. Fleury didn't stand a chance. 3-3. Both teams would get a few chances late in the period but no dice. Overtime city.
Overtime had an interesting start to it. Kunitz was driving the goal and got a shot off. Lundqvist came out of his crease to make the save which caused Kunitz to run him over. Here watch the gif courtesy of who else but The Pensblog:
A few things about this play:
- Lundqvist is outside his goal crease. He's has to protect himself here. He's at as much fault as Kunitz.
- Kunitz does try getting out of the way but where is he supposed to go?
- Pretty apparent flop by Lundqvist.
Kunitz was called for goalie interference. Horrible call. Pens killed it off though. Both teams would trade chances but nothing doing. Game would go to a shootout.
Before the shootout started Doc told us that Craig Adams would be shooting second. Whoever wrote the numbers down for him must be a moron because they wrote 27 instead of 87. Deeeeeeeerp. Anyways the Rangers would shoot first with Mats Zuccarello. Fleury was in his mouth. Pens first shooter was Jussi Jokinen by Lundqvist wasn't having any of it. Rangers second shooter was Rick Nash. I'm sure you could guess how that ended. Fleury flashed the glove. Best In The World would be second for the Pens. Lundqvist said no. The Rangers sent out Dominic Moore for some reason. Like he was gonna score. Chris Kunitz had a chance to win it but Lundqvist poked checked him. Brad Richards would shoot next but he sucks too. Lundqvist was able to stop Pascal Dupuis next. Benoit Pouliot completely missed the net for the Rangers. Then Brandon Sutter was up for the Pens. He ripped one 5 hole on Lundqvist to give the Pens the win.
gif via The Pensblog
Bench celebrations are the best
1. Crosby
2. Dupuis
3. Zuccarello
Stuff:
- In case you missed it Deryk Engelland was suspended for 5 games today.
- If the season ended right now Marc Andre Fleury should win every award.
- A couple gaffes by the Pens defense tonight but otherwise another solid game all around.
- Evgeni Malkin is going to be re evaluated after the game tomorrow.
- Speaking of tomorrows game James Neal returns.
- And speaking of returns our good buddy Matt Cooke returns to Pittsburgh tomorrow. Hopefully he gets a 5 minute video tribute.
Go Pens
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