RECAP. Better Lucky? Pens WIN; Up 1-0

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 pics and video via Andrew

There is nothing like the Stanley Cup playoffs.  It's a whole nother animal compared to the regular season.  You have to be at your best.  The Pens weren't their best last night but they still managed to pull out a win.  Most of the game Columbus looked better than the Pens did but the Pens turned it on when they had to.  Marc Andre Fleury coming up big in spots helped too.

This game could have easily been 1-0 or even 2-0 Pens early.  Unlimited chances on Bobrovsky.  But they either TKed it or Bob made the big saves.  Columbus wasn't backing down though.  The Pens would push and Columbus would push back.  And Columbus ended up striking first.  Paul Martin got absolutely undressed and the puck made its way to Jack Johnson, he's good friends with Best In The World if you haven't heard.  Johnson made a nice move on Fleury in close to make it 1-nil Jackets.  I honestly liked that the Jackets scored 1st and fairly early.  It would show us how the Pens and MAF would respond.  Fleury responded the way we expected him to.  Made the next save and a few big saves after to keep the Pens in it.  And they responded with a goal of their own.  The Pens dumped the puck in and Bobrovsky gave it away.  The puck came to Jussi Jokinen in the slot who beat Bobrovsky to tie the game at 1.  Then Rob Scuderi got called for one of the most asinine interference calls ever.  And of course the Blue Jackets cashed in.  Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik were out to lunch and no one decided to cover former Penguin Mark Letestu.  He buried one to make it 2-1 Jackets.  Fleury came up big again.  There was a faceoff in the Pens zone and the Jackets won it cleanly and got a quick shot off.  Fleury made a huge save to keep the score at 2-1.  The Pens would get a power play late in the period that would carry over to the 2nd. 

The 2nd period started with the Pens on the power play and well, that didn't start out pretty good.  A puck bound of Kris Letang's stick at the blue line giving the Blue Jackets a break away.  Really don't remember who it was but the scored to make it 3-1.  If your butt hole wasn't clenched a little bit you're a liar.  But the Pens answered.  The second power play unit came on and made things happen.  Matt Niskanen launched a bomb from the point and Beau Bennett tipped it by Bobrovsky to make it 3-2.  Not even a minute later the Pens got another power play.  And once again cashed in.  Matt Niskanen ripped a wrist shot by Bobrovsky to tie the game at 3.  Brand new hockey game.  This is where those big saves Fleury made in the 1st period huge.  Instead of possibly being 4 or 5 to 3 Columbus it was a tie game.  Brandon Sutter had a chance to make it 4-3 Pens on a breakaway but he was hooked/tripped and nothing was called.  One of the most embarrassing non calls ever.  Wes Mcauley is a joke.  Back to that Marc Andre Fleury making big saves thing.  Columbus had another breakaway later in the 2nd.  No idea who had that one either but whoever it was Marc Andre Fleury stoned them to keep the game at 3-3.

Honestly don't remember much about the 3rd period.  Seemed like both teams were playing not to lose or make mistakes.  Almost halfway through the period though the Jackets made the biggest mistake of the game.  The turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Beau Bennett went in with Brandon Sutter 2 on 1.  Bennett moved the puck to Sutter who ripped it past Bobrovsky to make it 4-3 Pens. People at the big screen liked it. 

via Big Bob from the Freak Show.  Kid in the light blue jersey is really into it.

The Pens got a power play about 2 minutes later with a chance to put the game away.  But that was negated when James Wisniekski skated into Kris Letang and Letang got called for interference.  The Pens were able to kill the penalty and the clock.

1. Brandon Sutter

2. Matt Niskanen

3. Jack Johnson

Stuff:

• Very solid effort from the Pens after they were down 3-1.  Hopefully they carry that into Saturday.
• Other than vomiting all over themselves in the 1st period Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik were solid.  Niskanen/Maatta and Letang/Scuderi were solid all night.
• Very solid performance from Marc Andre Fleury.  He kept the Pens in it and gave them a chance to win.
• Ever since returning from injury Beau Bennett has been really good.  Goal and an assist for him tonight.
• Speaking of really good, Brandon Sutter was good last night.
• Evgeni Malkin returned from injury as well.
• Brandon Dubinsky is a joke.  He got away with a blatant slew foot on Best In The World.  Hopefully someone puts him into the 6th row on Saturday.

The next game between these two teams is Saturday at 7.

Go Pens

Gameday: Game 1. Jackets at Penguins

Consol Energy Center. 7:30. NBCSN. Root. 105.9 The X.

Series Tied 0-0

Here we go. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is tonight. For starters, the Penguins are holding a Gold Out as well as the Big Screen will be back up in the Parking Lot across the street. This is only the second apperance in the playoffs for the Blue Jackets franchise as they were swept in 2008-09 by Detroit. One big note is that Evgeni Malkin is back in the lineup after missing three weeks with a foot injury. Nathan Horton and RJ Umberger (From Plum in case you had no idea) will not play for Columbus. If you can't get up for this game as a fan, you should probably sell your tickets, fan card, merchandise, whatever because this is what you play 82 games for. We're excited, jammed, ready to roll.


Lines (from Daily Faceoff)

Jenner - Johansen - Comeau

Calvert - Dubinsky - Atkinson

Mackenzie - Anisimov - Skille

Tropp - Letestu - Boll

Tyutin - Wisniewski

Johnson - Prout

Murray - Savard

Bobrovsky

Kunitz - Crosby - Bennett

Jokinen - Malkin - Neal

Glass - Sutter - Stempniak

Gibbons - Adams - Pyatt

Letang - Scuderi

Orpik - Martin

Maatta - Niskanen

Fleury

Notes

• Fleury has most playoff wins of all playoff goalies (54)

Do It.

Go Pens.

RECAP. When Is Your Tee Time Ottawa? Pens LOSE

Tomorrow the Pens prepare for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The Ottawa Senators are hitting up some golf course in Canada somewhere.  That's all that matters here.  

Pens next game is Wednesday at 7:30 against the Blue Jackets.

Go Pens

Gameday: Pens vs Sens.

Consol Energy Center. 7:30. Root.

Game 82 of what was actually a pretty remarkable season by the Penguins. Looking back on it, it was one of the better seasons that they've had in recent memory. This game is meaningless for both teams as Ottawa will be on the golf course tomorrow and the Penguins start prepping for Columbus tomorrow. Zatkoff is in net as he should be and pretty sure the rest of the lineup is a Game Time Decision. We could care less about this game because we're ready for this upcoming Columbus series.

If you want a playoff preview, it will probably come in the next few days but here are the playoff matchups for Round 1.

Pacific

1. Anaheim vs 4. Dallas

2. San Jose vs 3. Los Angeles

Central

1. Colorado vs 4. Minnesota

2. St. Louis vs 3. Chicago

(A cup contender is going down in Round 1 in 2 of those series) Sign us up for these matchups.

Metropolitan

1. Pittsburgh vs 4. Columbus

2. NY Rangers vs 3. Philadelphia

Atlantic

1. Boston vs 4. Detroit

2. Montreal vs 3. Tampa Bay

Sign us up for these also. Detroit is probably the worst matchup that Boston could get in the first round.

Buckle Up Baby because its about to get bumpy.

Notes:

- Not posting lines because I dont care

- Game 1 vs Columbus will be Wednesday at 7:30, likely on NBCSN with Anaheim and Dallas to follow.

- Rest of Round 1 schedule to be released later today.

Go Pens.

RECAP. Whatever. Pens LOSE; face Columbus in Round 1

This is the extent of the recap you'll get for the next 2 days.  Once playoffs start maybe we'll try again.  Pens lost.  Could care less honestly.  Columbus won so it's Pens  vs Blue Jackets in the 1st round.  No clue when yet.  We'll probably find out some time on Monday.

Pens next game is in like 42 seconds against Ottawa

Go Pens

RECAP. The Return. Pens WIN

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Pretty much mailing in every recap for the rest of the regular season.  Don't like it.  Sue us.  Detroit made their final trip of the regular season to Consol Energy Center last night.  A pretty much back and forth game all night.  The Wings took the lead and the Pens would tie it.  The Wings took a lead again.  Pens tied it again.  The Pens took the lead and the Wings tied it.  The game went to a shootout where Marc Andre Fleury shined and Jussi Jokinen scored one of the more bizarre goals you'll ever see.  More importantly than this game was Kris Letang was back in the line up 10 weeks after having a stroke.  And it looked like he never left.  Very solid game from him.

1. Kris Letang

2. James Neal

3. Some Red Space Wing so who the hell cares.

Pens next game is Saturday vs The Flyers

Go Pens

  

Kris Letang Is Back

1. Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib  2m

   It is official. Kris Letang is back. Will play tonight.

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Not only is this good news for the Penguins, but how about for Kris Letang the human? Pretty sure he's a machine. Pretty big boost for the Penguins heading into the playoffs. Also perfect timing as in this game is really important for the Red Wings.

Here's our thoughts to this.

Recap likely coming later in the day.

Huge news.

Go Pens!