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.