Sunday, March 26, 2006

Canadiens 6, Pens 5

This was a strange game that went back and forth. Every time that the Pens would mount a charge and pull with in one, the Habs would get the goal to extend it back to 2. The Pens showed up a little late as usual this season but were able to battle the rest of the game to make the Canadiens earn this win. There were also some calls that seemed to be favoring the Habs either from call that were not called for them and called against them. This seems to happen with the NHL helping out teams in playoff contention vs those that are not. The Pens also missed out on a chance to sweep the season series for the first time in their history.

Montreal got off to a good start with a Power Play goal and an even strength goal 41 seconds apart. The Pens were able to turn the tide for the rest of the period but were unable to put anything past Aebischer and went into the intermission on a Power Play.

Armstrong was able to pull the Pens back to within 1 on the carryover PP of an Assist from Crosby and Gonchar. Armstrong was able to sneak the puck just through the five-hole of Aebischer. However, as rest of the game would go, the Habs returned to the 2 goal lead off of a good bounce to the stick of Higgins. Surovy got a Power Play goal by jamming a lose puck in past the foot of Aebischer that was made by a nice keep in by Welch. Former Penguin Alexei Kovalev was next in line with the put back of a rebound after what looked like a boarding on Hilbert that would have killed the Power Play. After another questionable call on Orpik, Armstrong picked up a rebound off a Hilbert shot for the Pens 10th SH goal this year and 7th in the last 22 games. The shorthanded goal have come from a direct result of the more aggressive PK that the Pens have been using.

Noah Welch figured in on the next two goals, one good and one bad. The bad one happened first at the end of the 2nd when he knock the puck past Fleury while trying to knock a Kovalev centering pass behind the net. Kovalev was credited with his second goal of the game. Welch however got that one back early in the 3rd by lashing a slapper from the left point for his first official NHL goal. Crosby got the second assist on Welch's goal for his second point of the game.

Ryder and LeClair traded goals 1:05 apart mid way through the 3rd. Ryder's coming first on a 2 on 1 break by wristing a puck under the crossbar. LeClair got his 399th goal off a rebound in front. The rest of the game was pretty tight from the Candians who were working to make sure they left with at least a point. The Pens were awarded a Power Play with 2:51 left but could not get the tying goal with Fleury pulled. The Habs had about 5 chances for an empty netter but were happy to get the win.

The Pens now have 2 days off and will face the Florida Pathers at home on Wed...

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