Yes you read that title right. Read it again. Pens WIN. The Pens stumbled in to Florida last night and kicked the doors down and probably played their best game of the season. From start to finish the Pens outplayed the Panthers and finally scored more than 1 goal. Florida looked like the Penguins were just going lay down and let them have the win. But that wasn't the case. Evgeni Malkin was on PCP the whole night and MAF played like someone threatened to light his balls on fire.
1st Period
The first period almost got off to a disastrous start to the Pens. Someone was left all alone in MAF's mouth but fanned on the shot. Panthers score there the game might be over. After that the Pens were on acid. Matt Cooke had a breakaway was saved by Clemmensen but it was saved. The rest of the period was something like this. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. The Pens had back to back power plays but hit unlimited posts and crossbars. Then Chris Kunitz had a breakaway. He beat Clemmensen but hit a crossbar of course. You had the feeling the Pens wouldn't score a goal the rest of the season.
2nd Period
After the 1st period you had the feeling the Pens were never going to score. After hitting about 32483625943 posts in the first, Paul Martin getting robbed in the slot early in the 2nd, and since it was Friday the 13th, you couldn't help but wonder. But then it happened. It wasn't pretty but it happened. Scott Clemmensen misplayed a puck and it eventually made its way to Steve Sullivan who had a wide open net he buried it. The Pens were up 1-0. The Pens needed a 2nd goal. But couldn't get it right away. Florida started pressuring the Pens and MAF was lights out the entire time. Late in the period Malkin and Kunitz went in to the Panthers zone on a 2 on 1. Malkin ripped a bomb that was saved by Clemmensen but Malkin grabbed the rebound behind the goal and banked it in off of Clemmensen to make it 2-0 Pens.
3rd Period
The Pens went into the 3rd with the lead for the first time since a 4-1 win win Winnipeg. They would add to that lead early. The Pens went in on a 4 on 2 rush. Dupuis found Orpik, whose defensive play started the rush, who found TK who ripped a bullet passed Celmmensen to make it 3-0 Pens. A collective sigh of relief had to have been let go by the team and the fanbase. After 2 and a half weeks without a win you finally felt like this was the game the streak ended. Things got interesting when someone scored for Florida to make it 3-1. But James Neal said "Don't worry guys. I got us." Ok he actually din't say that but his actions did. He came down the left wing and snapped one passed Clemmensen to make it 4-1. And finally after 16 days without a win. 6 losses and falling out of the playoffs the Pens got a huge W.
3 Stars
1. Evgeni Malkin
2. James Neal
3. Marc Andre Fleury
NO ONE GOT HURT EITHER!!!
Pens next game is in Tampa against the Lightning at 1:00 tomorrow.
Go Pens
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