RECAP. Take Em Any Way They Come. Pens WIN; Lead 2-1

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Like I said in the gameday.  Game 3 is pivotal.  The Pens came out about as slow as ever.  They looked like crap.  But.  They turned it on when they had to and pulled a win out of their ass.  Another game the Pens probably shouldn't have won but did.  This series could easily be 3-0 Columbus right now but instead it's 2-1 Pens.  On to the recap written by Lauryn King.

About 1:30 into the game, Matt Niskanen chose the Alexander Ovechkin defensive method and Boone Jenner scores to make it 1-nil Jackets.  About a minute later, Matt Niskanen, again, chooses the Alexander Ovechkin defensive method and best in the world’s best friend picks up a rebound buries it home – 2-nil Jackets.  Apparently MAF should have used his Superman powers to stop both of those even though his defense left him out to dry. #BLAMEFLEURY #TRADEFLEURY #PENSSUCK.  Beau Bennett had a few solid chances, but passed up the shot for a stupid pass that led to a turnover.  Pens get 2390432098 chances on the Power Play and nothing happens.  Big shocker there.

Pens forget what hockey is and how to play it and Columbus gets 59348290348 chances but Fleury comes up big.  Pens get some chances in there.  A few dumb penalties by Matt Niskanen, Rob Scuderi, and James Neal (huge shocker with those last two right?) and horrendous penalty killing by everyone but Marc-Andre Fleury later, it’s still 2-0 Blue Jackets—praise the Lord because without MAF, it would easily be like 5-0 Lumbus.  With like 1.2 seconds left in the period, Brooks Orpik (yes you read that correctly) used a glitch and made it 2-1 Blue Jackets.

Pens come out playing strong getting some good chances at the beginning of the period.  Then they forgot how to play defense and had a small case of disconnected controller syndrome, leaving Atkinson wide open at Fleury’s blind side with a wide open net – 3-2  Blue Jackets.  Marc-Andre Fleury forgot to use his Superman powers to stop that, because there’s no way he could have got that one.  A few shifts later, Fleury has a nice poke check to save the 39848723974^th possible goal of the night.  Paul Martin takes a shot from the point, Sutter deflects it, and the puck somehow ends up in the net – 3-2 Blue Jackets.  Not too long after, Stempniak has a beautiful wrister that beats Bobrovsky – 3-3 Game, or as Bob Errey says “It’s all Even Stevens, partner.”  Then an Olli Maatta shot from the point goes in, which may or may not have been deflected off of a Columbus player.  Either way, we’ll take it. – 4-3 Pens. Pens somehow managed to light a fire under their asses and are dominating this period, scoring 3 goals in 2 minutes and 13 seconds. Pens are flying and it’s a whole new hockey game.  Kris Letang takes a stupid penalty, although not really sure what for because I missed it, and the Penguins are back on the PK, which thankfully looks much better than the previous ones.  Columbus takes a million offsides calls and helps us to kill their powerplay.  Fleury makes a bunch of good saves. La te la da. No surprise there.  Fleury has been a rock all night. Without him this game is over. Geno get’s an almost breakaway and actually draws a penalty. Yes, I did say Geno drew a penalty. Pens are headed to the powerplay. Oh boy.  Powerplay over and Columbus throws the puck up ice just as their player is leaving the penalty box.  Orpik actually plays defense and ensures a goal will not happen.  Columbus pulls the goalie with 48 seconds to go.  Pens hold them off.

That game was a complete and utter dumpster fire. But who cares because PENS WIN!!!!!

1. Olli Maatta

2. Brandon Dubinsky

3. Paul Martin

Stuff:

• Really can't say enough about Marc Andre Fleury.  He was sensational and kept the Pens in it.
• Matt Niskanen.  Not his finest game.
• Crosby and Malkin were invisible again.  
• Like we said earlier.  This was another game the Pens probably shouldn't have won.  Whatever.  A win is a win in the playoffs.

Pens next game is Wednesday in Columbus at 7 p.m.

Go Pens