RECAP. Flight School. Pens WIN; Clinch Division

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 The Pens made their only visit of the season last night.  When the Pens and Jets get together it is usually a high scoring up and down game.  This game wasn't as high scoring but it was still a very good game.  Paul Martin returned to the line up.  The Pens also clinched the Metrosexual Division Title tonight.  Here is our column on how much we care about that:

On to the recap

The first period was typical Pens/Jets minus the whole scoring unlimited goals thing.  Both teams traded chances in the early going.  Then the Pens got a power play.  It was pretty whatever for the most part.  But with a few seconds left in the power play Best In The World slipped a sick pass to Beau Bennett who one timed it into the goal to make it 1-nil Pens. It was determined later that the power play ran out so Bennett's goal was at even strenght Not much else really happened this period.  Dustin Byfugwlkndska destroyed Jussi Jokinen.  James Neal leveled Blake Wheeler when Wheeler tried hitting him.  Dan Bylsma probably shed a tear after that one.  Taylor Pyatt took a penalty late in the 1st.

The Pens were able to kill off the penalty.  Then the period from hell for Rob Scuderi started.  He turned the puck over inexplicably in the neutral zone giving the Jets a 3 on 1.  Bortuzzo the lone man back did all he could do to help out MAF.  The Jets were able to bang home a rebound.  1-1.  Then Scuderi went to the box.  Pens were able to kill that off too.  But the Jets just kept coming.  Someone dangled both Jayson Megna and someone else and slipped a pass to former Pirate Tike Redmond who fired one past MAF to make it 2-1 Jets.  But the Pens would answer later in the period.  The 3rd line was working the puck in the Jets zone.  Craig Adams came off the bench.  Someone fed him a pass and he ripped a one timer five-hole on Pavalec to tie the score at 2.

With the way the Pens have been playing as of late you really don't know what to expect from them on a period to period basis.  They could either look like Donkey Piss or the greatest team ever.  The 3rd period wasn't a greatest team ever period but it was a damn good one.  One of the best periods the Pens have turned in as of late.  They controlled play for most of the period and were really solid defensively.  And they cashed in on their their opportunities.  The Pens got a power play.  The All American American Paul Martin was fed some unreal pass and he one timed it past Pavalec to give the Pens a 3-2 lead.

Them the Pens applied the Jacques Martin Scorpion Death Lock and suffocated the Jets.  The Jets did push back a bit and tried to score but Leroy Gibbons was having none of it.  He absolutely sniped Pavalec to make the score 4-2 Pens.  Game.

1. Sidney Crosby

2. James Neal

3.  Adam Pardy was for whatever reason named the 3rd Star.  We call Bull Shit and give it to Paul Martin.

Stuff:

• Pretty solid effort from the Pens overall minus the first half of the 2nd period.
• MAF was sharp.
• Kunitz-Best In The World-Bennett was your top line tonight.  They looked reeeeeeeeeeeeally good.  Definitely like that line moving forward.
• Whether it was the return of Paul Martin or not the Pens D was fantastic tonight.  Best they've looked in a while.  Held the Jets to just 15 shots.
• Beau Bennett looks reeeeeeeally good right now.  Really hoping he can keep his run of good play up heading into the playoffs.

The Pens next game is Saturday in Minnesota.  

Go Pens