Late Night Cooke-ing: Pens Win 4-3(SO)

The first win of every season feels so great, but the first win of the the season that comes on the road in Western Canada feels even better.  The Pens saw their power play score on two out of three changes, and the goals came from two guys the Pens are hoping to have a big impact on the season. We learned that Matt Cooke made a statement that he will be a contender for the Rocket Richard Trophy. Really, Matt Cooke is leading the league in scoring.

Penguins 4--Canucks 3 (2-0 SO)

First period

Finally the puck dropped for the Penguins' 2011-12 season and both teams came flying right out of the gate. It was surprisingly a fast pace start to the game, but was also a bit sloppy at first as both teams settled into the tilt.

At 4:48 into the first Period, Canucks defensemen Kevin Bieska took a two minute minor for hooking Matt Cooke and the Penguins capitalized on their first power play of the season. James Neal beat Robert LOLuongo from an odd-angle shot only 16 seconds into the Penguins' man advantage.

The Pens would go back onto the power play at 10:38 of the first period when Jannik Hansen took a elbowing minor and the Penguins' power play converted again to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead. Matt Cooke registered his first tally of the night off of a nice feed from behind the net by Pascal Dupuis.

First Period Notes:

Matt Cooke really looked like he did buy into the fact that he needed to change his game. Not because he scored a goal, but looked good positionally and played with responsibility.

MAF looked sharp, other than that softie he gave up where the puck seemed to have eyes. As we know with MAF he tends to let those up, but then comes up with huge saves late in games, which he did last night.

The Penguins would lead in shots 10-9 at the end of the Period.

Second Period

The Penguins penalty killing unit was called upon to kill its first penalty of the season when Evegni Malkin went to the sin big for an elbowing minor at 1:34 into the period. The penalty would not only be killed off, but Matt Cooke added a shorthanded goal for his second tally of the evening at 3:09 into the period giving 

the Pens a 3-1 lead.

Vancouver would again pull within one on a Keith Ballard goal that was assisted by the Sedin Twins at 17:47 of the period. At this point the Pens were scrambling to get out of the period but would hold onto their 3-2 lead at the horn.

Second Period Notes

The Penguins outshot the Canucks 11-10 at the end of the period.

Fleury again looked sharp in this period and made some big time saves including the one early in the period.

Third Period

The third period was all Canucks, and quite frankly the Penguins were lucky to get out of regulation with a point.

The only goal scored in the third was a wicked writster from Daniel Sedin at 7:51, 

and from that point on, the MAF shut the door to preserve the point.

Shootout

MAF would make a pad save on Mikael Samuelsson.

Kris Letang then embarrassed LOLuongo with filthy move to give the Pens the 1-0 lead.

MAF stoned the Canucks second Shooter Alex Burrows with his glove hand.

Evgeni Malkin then patiently waited for the patented LOLuongo belly flop and went 

top shelf to give the penguins the 2-0 shootout victory and the extra point.