In the last two years the Pens have taken on the Sens twenty times, and while the Penguins may have turned their season around against the Senators last season the Sens may have turned their season around against the Pens Saturday afternoon.
The first twenty minutes, were hard hitting, and pretty defensive for both teams as no goals were scored and not a single penalty was called.
That changed early in the second period as Jason Spezza went in on Dany Sabourin. Sabourin who went out to poke-check was out too far and left the net empty for Spezza's first goal of the afternoon. The goal was unassisted and was scored at 4:01.
Spezza scored again this time with a shot from in front of the net at 8:52, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson assisted.
Not much later Eric Godard and Chris Neil dropped the gloves. The fight was pretty even matched and after closed to two minutes both combatants gave up calling it a draw.
Jordan Staal was lucky again as he tipped in his ninth of the year with help from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the power play. Jason Spezza was in the box for hooking when Staal scored at 16:17, brining his team within one.
However the Sens had other plans as Spezza completed his hat-trick with a weird goal from behind the net. His shot bounced off of Kris Letang`s skate and went in between Sabourin's leg and the post. Filip Kuba and Dany Heatley assisted at 19:21.
Malkin brought his team within one and put himself three points of the second place Sidney Crosby in the NHL scoring race. Jordan Staal picked up a loss puck and was off with Malkin into the Sens zone. The short-handed goal was scored at 9:12.
But the Sens managed to hold the Pens off for the rest of the game coming away with two more points.
The three stars were 3. Dany Heatley, 2. Daniel Alfredsson, 1. Jason Spezza.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), Philippe Boucher (undisclosed), Tyler Kennedy (knee), and Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed) all missed the game.
Monday night the Pens are at home to take on the Buffalo Sabers at 7:38.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Two for Two
The Penguins seem to be better on the second night of back-to-back games and proved this against the Canes in Carolina. The battle of the Staals continued Thursday it was Jordan vs. Eric while Wednesday night it had been Jordan vs. Marc. Coming into the game Jordan was just two points and one goal behind his brother Eric who is now playing in this fifth NHL season.
Now using black tape instead of white as a suggestion by Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora notched his sixth of the year from the hash after a beauty of a pass from Sidney Crosby. Alex Goligoski also assisted on the power play goal at 10:53.
Pascal Dupuis who had been a healthy scratch just two games before scored his third of the year less than two minutes after Sykora`s goal. Sidney Crosby helped out at 12:30.
Early in the second period Tuomo Ruutu was called for hi-sticking and this lead to Petr Sykora`s second goal of the game. Both of Sykora`s goals came on the power play, the second was assisted by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at 1:53.
Ruutu on his first shift after serving his penalty scored his ninth of the season at 2:12 to get his team on the board.
Miroslav Satan who was having a bit of a goal-less steak notched his tenth of the year with help from Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang at 6:51. The puck went in off of a Canes defenseman, and even though there was a scramble in front of the net neither Sidney Crosby nor Pascal Dupuis touched the puck.
Three-quarters of the way through the period the Canes got themselves on the board again and brought themselves within two goals. Matt Cullen scored on the power play while Eric Godard was in the sin bin for hooking. Ray Whitney and Rob Brind'Amour assisted at 1554.
The Pens however increased their lead to three goals when Ruslan Fedotenko scored his fifth of the year with help from Evgeni Malkin at 18:27.
The score remained the same through the third and the Pens game away with the win. Dany Sabourin who didn`t play his best game against the Rangers the night before stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced.
The three stars were 3. Dany Sabourin, 2. Petr Sykora, 1. Sidney Crosby.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), Philippe Boucher (undisclosed), Tyler Kennedy (undisclosed), and Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed) all missed the game.
Next the Pens finish off their road-trip in Ottawa where they take on the Senators for the first time since Sweden. The opening face-off is set for 2:08.
Now using black tape instead of white as a suggestion by Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora notched his sixth of the year from the hash after a beauty of a pass from Sidney Crosby. Alex Goligoski also assisted on the power play goal at 10:53.
Pascal Dupuis who had been a healthy scratch just two games before scored his third of the year less than two minutes after Sykora`s goal. Sidney Crosby helped out at 12:30.
Early in the second period Tuomo Ruutu was called for hi-sticking and this lead to Petr Sykora`s second goal of the game. Both of Sykora`s goals came on the power play, the second was assisted by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at 1:53.
Ruutu on his first shift after serving his penalty scored his ninth of the season at 2:12 to get his team on the board.
Miroslav Satan who was having a bit of a goal-less steak notched his tenth of the year with help from Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang at 6:51. The puck went in off of a Canes defenseman, and even though there was a scramble in front of the net neither Sidney Crosby nor Pascal Dupuis touched the puck.
Three-quarters of the way through the period the Canes got themselves on the board again and brought themselves within two goals. Matt Cullen scored on the power play while Eric Godard was in the sin bin for hooking. Ray Whitney and Rob Brind'Amour assisted at 1554.
The Pens however increased their lead to three goals when Ruslan Fedotenko scored his fifth of the year with help from Evgeni Malkin at 18:27.
The score remained the same through the third and the Pens game away with the win. Dany Sabourin who didn`t play his best game against the Rangers the night before stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced.
The three stars were 3. Dany Sabourin, 2. Petr Sykora, 1. Sidney Crosby.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), Philippe Boucher (undisclosed), Tyler Kennedy (undisclosed), and Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed) all missed the game.
Next the Pens finish off their road-trip in Ottawa where they take on the Senators for the first time since Sweden. The opening face-off is set for 2:08.
Not what they were looking for.
A loss was most probably what the Pens wanted to start of the month of December with, but that`s what happened. The New York Rangers took a two more point from the Pens and for the second time this season the win came in a shoot-out.
Early in the first period Eric Godard dropped the gloves with Colton Orr. But that didn`t stop Orr from later messing with Sidney Crosby and causing Brooks Orpik to take two penalties at 12:23 of the first. Less than a minute later however the Rangers were called for two many men even up the "playing field."
On the 4-on-4 Crosby was alone in the Rangers end and took the puck around the net to set up the play. The "trailer" Mark Eaton was in front of the net when Crosby dished the puck out and scored his first goal in a Penguin uniform. Eaton was playing in his 400th NHL game and scored his first goal in 91 games with the help of Sidney Crosby at 13:56.
Mid-way through the second period Jordan Staal got lucky as a Rob Scuderi point shot grazed his stick before going in past Henrik Lundqvist at 9:35. Matt Cooke also assisted on Staal`s eighth of the year.
But just as the first meeting between the two teams the Rangers came back from a two goal deficit Nikolai Zherdev notched his ninth of the year at 10:56 and Petr Prucha who had been scratched for the previous ten games scored at 14:30.
At the end of regulation the game was tied at two and remained the same at the end of the extra five minutes.
Dany Sabourin who was been good in shoot-outs this season seemed to be a completely different person Wednesday night. He let Naslund, Zherdev, and Sjostrom's shot go past him as the Rangers took the win. Kris Letang who had been scoreless in shoot-outs this season blasted a beauty past Lundqvist though it did not matter because Miroslav Satan failed to capitalize on his shot.
The three stars were 3. Petr Prucha, 2. Henrik Lundqvist, 1. Nikolai Zherdev.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), and Philippe Boucher (undisclosed) all missed the game. Tyler Kennedy and Mike Zigomanis left the game with undisclosed injuries and did not return.
The Pens take on the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night at 7:08 as the Battle of the Staals continues.
Early in the first period Eric Godard dropped the gloves with Colton Orr. But that didn`t stop Orr from later messing with Sidney Crosby and causing Brooks Orpik to take two penalties at 12:23 of the first. Less than a minute later however the Rangers were called for two many men even up the "playing field."
On the 4-on-4 Crosby was alone in the Rangers end and took the puck around the net to set up the play. The "trailer" Mark Eaton was in front of the net when Crosby dished the puck out and scored his first goal in a Penguin uniform. Eaton was playing in his 400th NHL game and scored his first goal in 91 games with the help of Sidney Crosby at 13:56.
Mid-way through the second period Jordan Staal got lucky as a Rob Scuderi point shot grazed his stick before going in past Henrik Lundqvist at 9:35. Matt Cooke also assisted on Staal`s eighth of the year.
But just as the first meeting between the two teams the Rangers came back from a two goal deficit Nikolai Zherdev notched his ninth of the year at 10:56 and Petr Prucha who had been scratched for the previous ten games scored at 14:30.
At the end of regulation the game was tied at two and remained the same at the end of the extra five minutes.
Dany Sabourin who was been good in shoot-outs this season seemed to be a completely different person Wednesday night. He let Naslund, Zherdev, and Sjostrom's shot go past him as the Rangers took the win. Kris Letang who had been scoreless in shoot-outs this season blasted a beauty past Lundqvist though it did not matter because Miroslav Satan failed to capitalize on his shot.
The three stars were 3. Petr Prucha, 2. Henrik Lundqvist, 1. Nikolai Zherdev.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), and Philippe Boucher (undisclosed) all missed the game. Tyler Kennedy and Mike Zigomanis left the game with undisclosed injuries and did not return.
The Pens take on the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night at 7:08 as the Battle of the Staals continues.
Sidney Crosby "Tricks" Devils.
Just one day after a loss to the Buffalo Sabers the Pens were at home to take on rival New Jersey Devils for the second time this year.
Early in the first period Sidney Crosby was off on a break-away into the Devils zone. His "re-bound", back-hand shot beat Clemmensen at 1:21. Miroslav Satan and Hal assisted.
The first period ended with the Pens leading 1-0 and out-shooting the Devils 16-12.
Petr Sykora who was standing on the door step tip his fifth of the year past Clemmensen at 7:26 to give his team a 2-0 lead. The power play goal was assisted by Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy.
Crosby however wanted another goal of his own and a diving play by Malkin helped him to get one. Crosby's second of the game and twelfth of the year game at 11:29 of the second period.
The Pens took a 3-0 lead to the second intermission but the Devils got themselves on the board early in the third period. Mike Rupp scored his second of the year at 1:54 with help from Patrick Elias and Brian Gionta.
Not much later Sidney Crosby and Mike Rupp "mixed it up" along the boards and were sent to the penalty box for roughing.
Though it wasn`t pure, or natural, it was still a hat-trick when Sidney Crosby netted his third of the night. Clemmensen had gone to the bench for the extra attacker leaving Crosby with an empty net to shoot on. Though he was tripped up on the way to the net he still managed to get his stick on the puck and knock it into the empty net. Evgeni Malkin and Mike Zigomanis assisted on the goal at 17:59.
The three stars were 3. Petr Sykora, 2. Evgeni Malkin, 1. Sidney Crosby.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), and Philippe Boucher (undisclosed) all missed the game along with healthy scratch Pascal Dupuis.
The Pens next take on the New York Rangers Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The opening face-off is set for 7:08
Early in the first period Sidney Crosby was off on a break-away into the Devils zone. His "re-bound", back-hand shot beat Clemmensen at 1:21. Miroslav Satan and Hal assisted.
The first period ended with the Pens leading 1-0 and out-shooting the Devils 16-12.
Petr Sykora who was standing on the door step tip his fifth of the year past Clemmensen at 7:26 to give his team a 2-0 lead. The power play goal was assisted by Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy.
Crosby however wanted another goal of his own and a diving play by Malkin helped him to get one. Crosby's second of the game and twelfth of the year game at 11:29 of the second period.
The Pens took a 3-0 lead to the second intermission but the Devils got themselves on the board early in the third period. Mike Rupp scored his second of the year at 1:54 with help from Patrick Elias and Brian Gionta.
Not much later Sidney Crosby and Mike Rupp "mixed it up" along the boards and were sent to the penalty box for roughing.
Though it wasn`t pure, or natural, it was still a hat-trick when Sidney Crosby netted his third of the night. Clemmensen had gone to the bench for the extra attacker leaving Crosby with an empty net to shoot on. Though he was tripped up on the way to the net he still managed to get his stick on the puck and knock it into the empty net. Evgeni Malkin and Mike Zigomanis assisted on the goal at 17:59.
The three stars were 3. Petr Sykora, 2. Evgeni Malkin, 1. Sidney Crosby.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed), and Philippe Boucher (undisclosed) all missed the game along with healthy scratch Pascal Dupuis.
The Pens next take on the New York Rangers Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The opening face-off is set for 7:08
Penguins' Leads not Always Safe
This is true of not only this season, but of last as well. This may because the players get "too comfortable" and start to "slack off". And although it would seem odd, the Pens are very good and coming back from even three goal deficits. However in Friday's game against the Sabers this wasn`t the case, the Pens scored first, but couldn`t hold onto their lead.
Mid-way through the first period Tyler Kennedy fed the puck behind the net to line-mate Matt Cooke, Cooke put it out front where Kennedy put it in for his sixth of the year. Rob Scuderi also assisted on the goal at 10:29.
However less than a minute later the Sabers got themselves on the board, Drew Stafford scored his third of the year at 11:25.
Mid-way through the second period Brooks Orpik was called for interference and with just seconds remaining on his penalty the Sabers notched their second goal of the game to take the lead. Paul Gaustad netted his first of the year at 12:21.
The Pens who don`t like to be trailing, really who does, tied the game just 34 seconds later. A Malkin blast from the point was tipped in by Sidney Crosby for his ninth of the year at 12:55.
And with less than one minute remaining in the period the Pens took the lead with yet another Sidney Crosby goal, again Evgeni Malkin assisted at 19:04.
But the third period was not very kind to the Pens. The Sabers scored two unanswered goals to take the win. Thomas Vanek scored his sixteenth of the year at 3:11, and Paul Gaustad scored his second of the game and of the season at 16:36.
The three stars were 3. Sidney Crosby, 2. Drew Stafford, 1. Paul Gaustad.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), and Marc-Andre Fleury all missed the game along with healthy scratches Mark Eaton and Ruslan Fedotenko. Philippe Boucher left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury.
Next the Pens come home to take on the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night at 7:38.
Mid-way through the first period Tyler Kennedy fed the puck behind the net to line-mate Matt Cooke, Cooke put it out front where Kennedy put it in for his sixth of the year. Rob Scuderi also assisted on the goal at 10:29.
However less than a minute later the Sabers got themselves on the board, Drew Stafford scored his third of the year at 11:25.
Mid-way through the second period Brooks Orpik was called for interference and with just seconds remaining on his penalty the Sabers notched their second goal of the game to take the lead. Paul Gaustad netted his first of the year at 12:21.
The Pens who don`t like to be trailing, really who does, tied the game just 34 seconds later. A Malkin blast from the point was tipped in by Sidney Crosby for his ninth of the year at 12:55.
And with less than one minute remaining in the period the Pens took the lead with yet another Sidney Crosby goal, again Evgeni Malkin assisted at 19:04.
But the third period was not very kind to the Pens. The Sabers scored two unanswered goals to take the win. Thomas Vanek scored his sixteenth of the year at 3:11, and Paul Gaustad scored his second of the game and of the season at 16:36.
The three stars were 3. Sidney Crosby, 2. Drew Stafford, 1. Paul Gaustad.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), and Marc-Andre Fleury all missed the game along with healthy scratches Mark Eaton and Ruslan Fedotenko. Philippe Boucher left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury.
Next the Pens come home to take on the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night at 7:38.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Pens Come from Behind, Again.
The Penguins post another victory after coming back from a three goal deficit. With second remaining in the second, unlikely goal scorer, Brooks Orpik notched his second of the season from the point to get his team on the board. Pascal Dupuis and Miroslav Satan assisted at 19:41. However this was only after the Islanders had three points on the board.
Doug Weight, Trent Hunter, and Bill Guerin all scored for the Islanders, two of the goals came on the power play. After the third goal at 9:27 of the second starter Dany Sabourin was replaced by John Curry. Curry played in his first NHL game and posted his first NHL win stopping all eleven shots he faced.
Mid-way through the first period Eric Godard 6'4'' dropped the gloves with Mitch Fritz 6'7''. The fight was ended by officials after close to a minute when no winner was clear.
The Pens had a goal waved off as the officials put it, "The player went in with the puck." The goal would have been awarded to Sidney Crosby, but that just fueled his desire to get a point on the night.
At 6:18 Crosby had an easy time of getting his eighth of the season as he stood on the goal line and received a beautiful pass from Evgeni Malkin. Kris Letang also assisted.
The dynamic duo and the Pens weren`t done yet, they notched their third goal of the night to tie the game at 11:03. This time Evgeni Malkin put it passed MacDonald with help from Crosby and Brooks Orpik.
The lead wasn`t far from reach as it only two 50 more seconds from Crosby and Malkin to connect again for Malkin`s second goal of the night.
But Malkin wasn`t done, he completed the hat-trick with a shot into the empty net at 19:42. Rob Scuderi joined the defensemen with points on the night with an assist on Malkin`s tenth of the year.
The Pens lost one of their key wingers early in the game when Max Talbot took a slap shot to the foot; he is now listed as day-to-day.
The three stars were 3. Trent Hunter, 2. Sidney Crosby, 1. Evgeni Malkin.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), and Marc-Andre Fleury (lower body) all missed the game along with healthy scratch Mark Eaton.
Next the Pens take on the Sabers in Buffalo Friday night at 7:38.
Doug Weight, Trent Hunter, and Bill Guerin all scored for the Islanders, two of the goals came on the power play. After the third goal at 9:27 of the second starter Dany Sabourin was replaced by John Curry. Curry played in his first NHL game and posted his first NHL win stopping all eleven shots he faced.
Mid-way through the first period Eric Godard 6'4'' dropped the gloves with Mitch Fritz 6'7''. The fight was ended by officials after close to a minute when no winner was clear.
The Pens had a goal waved off as the officials put it, "The player went in with the puck." The goal would have been awarded to Sidney Crosby, but that just fueled his desire to get a point on the night.
At 6:18 Crosby had an easy time of getting his eighth of the season as he stood on the goal line and received a beautiful pass from Evgeni Malkin. Kris Letang also assisted.
The dynamic duo and the Pens weren`t done yet, they notched their third goal of the night to tie the game at 11:03. This time Evgeni Malkin put it passed MacDonald with help from Crosby and Brooks Orpik.
The lead wasn`t far from reach as it only two 50 more seconds from Crosby and Malkin to connect again for Malkin`s second goal of the night.
But Malkin wasn`t done, he completed the hat-trick with a shot into the empty net at 19:42. Rob Scuderi joined the defensemen with points on the night with an assist on Malkin`s tenth of the year.
The Pens lost one of their key wingers early in the game when Max Talbot took a slap shot to the foot; he is now listed as day-to-day.
The three stars were 3. Trent Hunter, 2. Sidney Crosby, 1. Evgeni Malkin.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), and Marc-Andre Fleury (lower body) all missed the game along with healthy scratch Mark Eaton.
Next the Pens take on the Sabers in Buffalo Friday night at 7:38.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Highs and Lows
A Saturday afternoon showdown is an unusual thing for the Penguins this early in the season and it seemed to hold more hits than goals, at least on the Pens side of the scoreboard.
Early in the game, twenty-five seconds in to be exact, Matt Cook threw a clean hit in the offensive zone. The Canuck of the receiving end of the hit didn`t seem to like what the former Canuck had done. Jannik Hansen went after Cooke and started half of a line-brawl. Brooks Orpik and Tyler Kennedy also got involved along with Alexandre Burrows and Ryan Kesler. Cooke, Orpik, Burrows, and Hansen all received fighting majors while Kennedy and Kesler both received double minors for roughing. Cooke and Hansen were also ejected from the game.
Not much later Vancouver's starting goaltender Roberto Luongo went down with a groin injury and left the game. Back-up Curtis Sanford replaced him and received the win.
The Canucks got themselves on the board first, a Pavol Demitra goal at 18:05. The Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, assisted on the goal.
Daniel Sedin increased the Canucks lead to two at 6:50 of the second; the goal was assisted by his twin brother Henrik.
However early in the second Mike Zigomanis notched his second of the year Tyler Kennedy and Alex Goligoski assisted at :22.
The penalties continued even after the Canucks scored an empty-netter. The goal was scored by Pavol Demitra assisted by the Sedin twins at 19:48. Also at 19:48 Max Talbot and Mattias Ohlund received roughing calls.
The final buzzer had blown but that didn`t stop Mike Zigomanis and Shane O'Brien who were given five minute slashing majors and game misconducts at 20:00.
The three stars were 3.Mike Zigomanis, 2. Daniel Sedin 1. Pavol Demitra.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), and Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed) all missed the game along with healthy scratch Mark Eaton.
Next the Pens start a two game road-trip with a showdown against the Islanders on the Island. The opening face-off is set for 7:08 Wednesday night.
Early in the game, twenty-five seconds in to be exact, Matt Cook threw a clean hit in the offensive zone. The Canuck of the receiving end of the hit didn`t seem to like what the former Canuck had done. Jannik Hansen went after Cooke and started half of a line-brawl. Brooks Orpik and Tyler Kennedy also got involved along with Alexandre Burrows and Ryan Kesler. Cooke, Orpik, Burrows, and Hansen all received fighting majors while Kennedy and Kesler both received double minors for roughing. Cooke and Hansen were also ejected from the game.
Not much later Vancouver's starting goaltender Roberto Luongo went down with a groin injury and left the game. Back-up Curtis Sanford replaced him and received the win.
The Canucks got themselves on the board first, a Pavol Demitra goal at 18:05. The Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, assisted on the goal.
Daniel Sedin increased the Canucks lead to two at 6:50 of the second; the goal was assisted by his twin brother Henrik.
However early in the second Mike Zigomanis notched his second of the year Tyler Kennedy and Alex Goligoski assisted at :22.
The penalties continued even after the Canucks scored an empty-netter. The goal was scored by Pavol Demitra assisted by the Sedin twins at 19:48. Also at 19:48 Max Talbot and Mattias Ohlund received roughing calls.
The final buzzer had blown but that didn`t stop Mike Zigomanis and Shane O'Brien who were given five minute slashing majors and game misconducts at 20:00.
The three stars were 3.Mike Zigomanis, 2. Daniel Sedin 1. Pavol Demitra.
Ryan Whitney (foot), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder), and Marc-Andre Fleury (undisclosed) all missed the game along with healthy scratch Mark Eaton.
Next the Pens start a two game road-trip with a showdown against the Islanders on the Island. The opening face-off is set for 7:08 Wednesday night.
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