Staal'ed until the 3rd: Pens win 4-1

Last night was cool because it was the first time we saw the Pens skate since April, and the first time we've seen Evgeni Malkin since he suffered his knee injury. Tonight however, was a different story, and the game was basically a snooze-fest, until the third period.

Penguins 4 -- Blackhawks 1

First Period


Absolutely nothing went on in the first period. Both teams look like they are playing a preseason game. Pens failed to convert on a power play when Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad took a two minute minor for boarding at 13:45. The Pens then killed off a Matt Cooke two minute hi-sticking penalty at 16:01. At the end of the period the Pens had the lead in shots 5-3. Lovejoy has been skating well and doing so with confidence. This performance will have him as a favorite for the 5th or 6th spot on the blue-line.

Second Period
The second period started much like the first, both teams clearly in preseason form. Then at 10:32 of the period Michael Frolik beat Brent Johnson to put the Hawks up 1-0.



The Pens did have a power play at 15:34, but again failed to convert. Eric Tangradi did provide some good net presence on the power play, however. The Hawks took the lead into the third. Engelland took six hits into the third. Picard led all Pens players with 17:48 in ice time. Pens led the Hawks 13-10 in shots at the end of the second frame.

Third Period
Scott Monroe gets the go for the start of the third. Pens finally came out with some rhythm and really moved the puck to start the period. Tyler Kennedy ripped a wrist-shot that was deflected by Nick Johnson off the post, and Jordan Staal cleaned up the garbage to tie the game at one goal a piece.

Pens then got a third power play opportunity shortly after the goal, but again failed to convert.

Jordan Staal picked up his game all of a sudden and had a couple of good opportunities. Lovejoy had another strong period, breaking up potential threats around the Pens' net. The tide starting turning towards the Pens as they finally began to pick up their play.

The Pens then took the 2-1 when Matt Cooke elbowed deflected a Craig Adams backhand-shot into the net at 10:42 into the period.



Tyler Kennedy put the Pens up 3-1 at 14:14 of the period when he jammed home a looks puck in front of the Hawks net.



Hawks pulled Ray Emery with a little over a minute left, then put him back in only to be embarrassed by Jordan Staal with eight seconds remaining.



Game. 4-1 Pens.

Notes
Pens outshot the Hawks 27-16. Zbynek Michalek led all Penguins players with 23:03 of ice time. Pens take on the Minnesota Wild Saturday afternoon at the CONSOL Energy Center.

Thoughts
The Pens turned it up in the third period and scored four unanswered goals. Jordan Staal was a beast in the third period and his late goal was a thing of beauty. A health Staal and Malkin and the Pens will be just fine this season. Ben Lovejoy had a great game, as did Deryk Engelland, and Alexandre Picard. Will be a tough decision to see who will get the 5th, 6th, and 7th spots, but I think Lovejoy will be in.

Eric Tangradi did show some promise, but definitely not enough to warrant him a spot on the NHL roster.

POFA's Three Stars
1.  Jordan Staal
2.  Ben Lovejoy
3.  Matt Cooke