Penguins 4 - Wild 2
This game had the makings of a Wild victory from the moment we woke up in the morning, suffering from a 2-1 defeat to the Jets off of a lackluster performance. Adding to the feeling was the fact that the Penguins have simply been owned by the Wild. With the injuries, and the Letang suspension, the Pens were forced to piece together a make-shift lineup once again this season. Realistically speaking, going into this game, you couldn't help but think a three game regulation losing streak was an imminent outcome to this game. The Pens have played without Crosby and Malkin for so long, that it looked as if the team was flat, which would be perfectly acceptable given the circumstances this early in the year. However, the Penguins thought otherwise and with a gritty performance, they came out on top.
This could be a shot of confidence for this Penguins team, as they are battling through adversity early in the season, and with no help of the schedule maker as the Pens have played 8 games in the first 12 days of the season, with basically no breaks until the second week of November. If this team ever gets healthy, look out, and buckle up, because this could be a very fun season.
Highlights
First Period
Nothing happened in the first period. The Pens had to kill off two penalties, but the penalty killing unit is playing lights out. The Pens are also winning a ton of face-offs, and went 15 for 23 in the first period. It's the little things like the penalty killing and face-offs that will result in victories as the Penguins continue to battle in games with a depleted lineup.
Second Period
The Penguins finally solved the Wild early in the second period when Minnesota turned the puck over, and Pascal Dupuis found Chris Kunitz open in the slot and he beat Backstrom with a wrist shot over his right shoulder 46 seconds into the period. 1-0 Pens
The Pens would kill off their third penalty of the game when James Neal goes to the box at 1:50 of the period for hooking.
The Pens would go on a four minute power play and Jordan Staal would score his third goal of the season at 7:14 of the period. 2-0 Pens Matt Niskanen was a huge factor in this goal, and is quietly solidifying his place permanently on the Pens' blue-line. All the Niskanen haters are quietly being put in their place, because this guy is having a very solid start to the season.
During the second half of the double minor, the Penguins conceded a short handed goal when Cal Clutterbuck beat Brent Johnson at 8:07 of the period. 2-1 Pens
Third Period
The Pens were up 2-1 on the road to being the third period. Last year a one goal lead was not comfortable at all, and we'd have to sit and watch the Penguins get out of the period with at least one point.
That would not happen last night. Brent Johnson was stellar in the third period made huge saves to keep the Pens ahead and then shut the door late to eventually puck up his first win of the year.
Of course it helps when a player who was executed by media, fans, and bloggers last season gives the Pens a two goal cushion.
James Neal scored his league leading six goal at 3:38 into the third frame, when Joe Vitale creates problems for the Minnesota defense. 3-1 Pens
Suddenly shop.nhl.com sees an overwhelming amount of traffic from once-Neal-haters buying James Neal sherzeys and sweaters. Pens bloggers across the internet who crucified Ray Shero for the Neal trade quickly change their tune and dub Neal the winger the Pens have been looking for since Marian Hossa came to town. Ray Shero is all business. When is everyone going to stop doubting this guy?
Pascal Dupuis would score a shorthanded goal at 12:21 of the third to give the Pens a three goal cushion. 4-1 Pens. Matt Cooke assisted on the goal giving him six points for the season. I guess so-called goons can change. If Cooke is in the lineup during the playoffs last year, the Pens at least make the second round. He is a huge part of this team.
Guillaume Latendresse would cut the Pens' lead to two goals when he scored at 13:12 into the period, but Brent Johnson would shut the door the rest of the game.
4-2 Pens Win
POFA's Notes
Matt Niskanen has solidified his spot in the Pens' lineup and the battle for the sixth spot is down to two men. Matty Nice is playing with poise and swagger and looks much different than he did when he first came to the Burgh.
James Neal is having a monster of an October. Neal has had hot starts to the season in past years, so we can expect him to cool a bit. However, playing with Malkin and/or Crosby, he will have ample opportunities to prove his critics wrong.
And Neal has had many critics since he came to the Penguins. Bloggers across the internet quickly became impatient with Neal who did little to impress during his brief stint with the team last Spring. To be fair, Neal is not the type of player that will take over a hockey game, but he is a player who will succeed with talent around him. The Pens did not have the talent to surround Neal last year. He was inserted into a extremely depleted lineup and everyone expected him to score on a nightly basis. Guess what? Months later, when Neal seems more comfortable with the Pens system is off to a strong start and now everyone loves him. The criticism came from unrealistic expectations for the team as a whole.
Jordan Staal probably played his best game of the year last night. Staal has six points through eight games (3G, 3A), which is a pretty good start for the normal third line center.
POFA's Three Stars
3. James Neal
2. Brent Johnson
1. Pascal Dupuis
The Penguins return home to face the Montreal Canadians Thursday night at the CONSOL Energy Center with the puck set to drop at 7:08 PM.
No comments:
Post a Comment