3
(19-6-4)
4
(12-15-2)
Nationwide Arena goin' up on a Saturday
Wow. What a game of hockey. Another game without Sid (precautionary), Downie drop kicks someone, a few good scraps, Pens storm back, Comeau gets his first road goal of the year, the refs try to ruin the game with some absolutely atrocious penalties, Letang is god, Greiss can't do shootouts, and yet the Pens steal a point in Columbus. Here's some more....
For starters, the 5th line really brought it tonight in CBJ lolololo. Although the term "Fifth Line" really bothers us, they do have a fan base. The arena was actually loud with multiple "C-B-J" chants, which in terms of loudness, Consol could never match during the regular season. However, Pens fans traveled nice, so proud of you guys. In terms of the game, about a minute and a half into the contest, Ehrhoff takes a holding penalty which leads to a powerplay goal by Nick Foligno 3:02 in the first. Pens looked pretty sloppy with some horrible passes and spending much time in their own end. Honestly, the rest of the period was just one big penalty. Either way, Steve Downie is a world champion and MVP at life.
Blake Comeau snipes Sergei Bobrovsky with about five minutes left in the second. His first road goal of the season. Other than that snipe, period highlights include new call-up Bobby Farnham getting destroyed, other new call-up Bryan Rust fighting Corey Tropp and of course concluding with a Downie / Dubinsky brawl. All in all, a solid period.
(Courtesy of ROOT Sports and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have stepped up their social media game lately, so thank you).
The third period section will be broken down into two sections: First, we will place the GIF of Letang's unreal shorthanded goal to put the Pens up 2-1.
Jesus what a play by Adams
Next, we're going to attempt to explain the NHL officiating that led to the Penguins almost getting shafted in this game. Although we have always said, "why care about two points in random December game", it is different when the refs put the game in their hands. First, Boone Jenner's penalty shot goal (which was a foreshadowing of how Greiss would perform in the shootout). In fairness, Despres (I believe that's who hauled Jenner down) got puck first... it just happened that Jenner went down thus making it more convincing. Jenner isn't the issue, it was a good goal. It's rule 57 that was altered for this season. From NHL.com - "But, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise be appropriate, if the defending player "dives" and touches the puck first (before the trip), no penalty shot will be awarded. In such cases, the resulting penalty will be limited to a two-minute minor penalty for tripping." Personally, thought Despres / whoever made contact with Jenner got puck first and made a hockey play, but those aren't allowed in the game anymore. Jenner 2-2 on the penalty shot.
Let's discuss a potential game-altering diving call on Blake Comeau. Bobrovsky trips Comeau with about four minutes to go in the game, tied at two by the way. Comeau was trying to skate away from the net when he was tripped. So naturally it appears the Pens go on the powerplay. BUT NO. All mighty stripes had struck again. Basically taking away a Penguin powerplay and making the penalties offset. GOOD LORD. As recent luck for the Penguins would have it, Jack Johnson decided to get his 2nd goal of the season with 2:12 left to play in the game. It was indeed a blast past Greiss and a great snap shot, however the Comeau penalty for diving basically took away the Penguins powerplay and led to the Jackets scoring the go-ahead goal.
Following the Johnson goal, Downie took a ten minute misconduct. He probably said something about how shitty the officiating was in the game and how these refs are probably closely related to Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Helen Keller and Brian Gibbons. Thank god, there was a higher power looking over the Penguins tonight. The Penguins pulled Greiss in a desperate attempt to tie the game, when 2015 future Norris Trophy winner Kris Letang stepped up with 10.9 seconds left to tie the game at three...
NHL Officiating these days:
They continue to plot against the Penguins...
Both teams had some great chances in overtime as both teams swapped powerplays. The Penguins got the first powerplay due to a Cam Atkinson hook on Nick Spaling, then Spaling decided he wanted to try hooking too so he went to the box. Both teams had come close to winning it a few times...
Greiss - no. Cam Atkinson and Ryan Johansen converted in the shootout. Nick Foligno tried some teleport 360 spin-o-rama, which the league disallowed this year, so go home. Either way, Penguins = goodnight moon in the shootout. Jackets get that CRUCIAL 2ND POINT IN DECEMBER (kidding). In all honesty, with Crosby out, the Penguins playing the second of a back-to-back, a depleted lineup and Columbus riding a six game winning streak, getting a point was better than we expected.
3rd star: Kris Letang (2 goals)
2nd star: Ryan Johansen (shootout winner)
1st star: Boone Jenner (1 goal, 1 assist)
#GameNotes
- Despite sloppy first period, Pens outshot Columbus 36-27
- Penguins recorded 50 total penalty minutes, Steve Downie accounted for 29 of them
- Bortuzzo left the game early and will reevaluated
- Penguins powerplay 0/4, Penguins PK 4/5
- With a point, the Penguins hold a two point lead over the Islanders for 1st in the Metro
- Officiating is trash and almost cost the Penguins the game - absolutely terrible
Next game: Monday at Consol against Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning
*Thank you Pittsburgh Penguins and ROOT Sports PITT for the GIFS*
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