The Confluence
Round One Goes to the Penguins
by Tony on 12/24/10 at 09:38 AM ET
Comments (6)
Capitals fans spouted “We Want Pittsburgh” during their recent home win over the Devils.
Well, you got ‘em. Anything else we can help you with?
Helluva hockey game at the Phone Booth last night. Pascal Dupuis’ goal in the bottom of the 7th shootout frame gave the Penguins a 3-2 win over the Caps. The win was the third straight for the Penguins, who have now gone 17-2-1 in their last 20 games.
Notes:
- The Penguins did their best to give the game to the Caps, but Washington just couldn’t capitalize. The Pens took poor penalties all game long, giving the Caps two separate 5-on-3 powerplays. If it weren’t for Marc-Andre Fleury and their PK units, this game would have been a blowout. The Caps finally got on the board on the powerplay when Mike Green scored on a wrister. Technically, Green scored on a 5-on-4, but it came only one second after the penalty to Mike Rupp had expired.
- Speaking of Green, boy did he take a punishment last night. Rupp and Brooks Oprik pounded him several times. Give Green credit, though, overall he played a damn good game. Had it not been for Fleury’s fantastic glove save of Green’s shot in overtime, that would have been the game-winner. Was Fleury’s glove over the line as he covered the puck? Personally I didn’t think so, but the world will never know, for as Caps’ coach Bruce Boudreau pouted after the game, “you can’t see through leather”.
- On the Penguins’ side, their powerplay was absolutely horrible, going 0-for-5. Very lackadaisical, and it bit them square on the ass as Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang fumbled the puck in the neutral zone, eventually resulting in Mike Knuble’s short-handed goal to tie the game with only about 5 1/2 minutes left in the game.
- Of course, the hit statistic is one of several judgmental stats during an NHL game. But the 68 hits awarded (35 for the Caps, 33 for the Pens) looks pretty accurate. Orpik was awarded nine himself.
- Give Mark Letestu credit for his performance in the faceoff circle, going 12-for-17. Sidney Crosby only went 11-for-28, but most of the time he went against David Steckel, who went 13-for-17.
- The playoff-type atmosphere translated into the amount of blocked shots, with the Penguins getting 23 to the Caps’ 21.
The Penguins are off now until Sunday when they travel to Ottawa. They’ll then be back home on Tuesday vs. Atlanta, where my son and I will be in attendance.
Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins, Washington+Capitals,
Comments
Yeah, I missed a bunch of stuff….
Writers block…. It happens….
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/24/10 at 10:51 AM ET
1. Geno’s refusal to use his outstanding head/shoulders fake and go forehand.
2. Non-call on Sid’s breakaway.
3. Shutdown D-men.
Oh well….
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/24/10 at 10:52 AM ET
The D in general played awesome all night except for Gogo and Letang on the shorthanded goal.
Orpik’s stick check on Ovie could have definitely been a game saver. It never seemed to matter if the Pens got their matchup with OV or not, everyone on the team was able to do a pretty good job defending his line.
Posted by Kstewy16 on 12/24/10 at 11:18 AM ET
Oh it wasn’t just this game tony ! I think they have been beasts since they got acclimated to the Pens system.
Posted by Evilpens on 12/24/10 at 11:30 AM ET
I agree, they’ve been outstanding….
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/24/10 at 11:31 AM ET
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I just want to add Michalek & Martin are Beasts !!!
Posted by Evilpens on 12/24/10 at 10:46 AM ET