Higher Influence?

Why is it that every time Gary Bettman is in the arena during a Pens game they get completely screwed over? This wasn`t the only reason for the pens loss, but it played a big part. Lack of shots, saves by Alex Auld, turn-overs in the neutral zone, lack of communication, & some uncalled for hits thrown by Sens help them take the win.

Maybe the big win in over-time last night went to some of the Pens’ heads, but I highly doubt it. The game was scoreless at the end of twenty minutes, with the shots & saves were, like yesterday, fairly close.

Mid-way through the second however the Sens got themselves on the score board, Dany Heatley's second goal of the season on the power play. Penguins' Eric Godard was in the box serving four minutes for roughing, giving the Sens the advantage, even though Chris Neil was also in the box for roughing, only serving two minutes though. Godard was attacked in front of the net by multiple Senators, which is where he somehow picked up the extra two minutes.
Somehow at the end of two the Pens were leading in shots 15-11, but the Sens were leading on the score board. They increased that lead when Dany Heatley scored this third goal of the season & second of the game at 12:07 of the third while Mark Eaton was serving a questionable holding call.

Three & a half minutes later Antoine Vermette was off on a break-away, whiffed on the puck, but it still somehow slid past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Sens a 3-0 lead.

One questionable play is when former Penguin Jarkko Ruutu "tackled" Sidney Crosby from behind on top of the net, and nothing was called. Maybe it`s just me, but the refs seem to screw the Pens over when Gary Bettman is in the house.

Senators' goaltender Alex Auld had dreams of a shut-out, but they were ended with less than two seconds remaining. Alex Goligoski, playing in his first NHL game snapped the puck in to make it 3-1. Sidney Crosby & Evgeni Malkin assisted at 19:58.

Jeff Taffe & Darryl Sydor were healthy scratches, making it possible for Pittsburgh native Bill Thomas & Alex Goligoski to play. Ryan Whitney (left foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), & Petr Sykora (groin) also missed the game. The three stars were 3. Alex Auld, 2. Daniel Alfredsson, 1. Dany Heatley.

The Guins have six days off before the home opener against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. They will be returning home tomorrow night from Stockholm.