Penguins 4, Islanders 3 OT
When the Pens needed to show up tonight they did. Granted it wasn't until OT that they were able to put away the Islanders. In all the game was pretty evenly played with each side taking a few runs until Crosby ended the game with a wrister on a 2 on 1 break with Armstrong.
The game started out with a decided edge to the Pens; however, it was the Islanders who got their first of 5 straight power plays 0:39 in. Ryan Malone was able pick up a rebound and break in alone on DiPietro. While Malone was gathering himself to make a move he fell but had enough concentration to bat the puck through the five hole while sliding on his side. It was the Pens 9th Shorthander and Malone's 4th.
The Islanders were able to then tie it 80 seconds later off a Hunter break and went up 2-1 just before the 1st intermission of a Blake wrister. The extended their lead to 3-1 just 1:16 into the 2nd period. Fleury never seemed to see the shot and only a couple of player and the goal judge seemed to know it was a goal. Fleury however settled down and kept them off the board the rest of the way.
Pens were finally awarded their first power play 8:35 into the 2nd and they used it to get back into the game. Crosby bring the puck into the zone sent a nice pass across to Hilbert who deflected the pass past DiPietro. Gonchar tied it just under 3 minutes later off a rebound of a Noah Welch slap shot as the Pens second power play expired. Welch got called up earlier in the day due to Cairns suspension. Welch never seemed out of place or overmatched and made some nice defensive plays that have been quite lacking this year. Stories of Welch making the team next year do not seem that far off. He recorded his first NHL point on the Gonchar goal and was named the game's 3rd star.
The game was pretty much back and forth the rest of the way with neither team able to get that 4th goal and that setup Crosby's heroic in OT. Crosby had a chance earlier in OT when DiPietro was out of the net and miss played a puck however Crosby hit the outside of the post on a shot from the left boards. Crosby was able to pick up a miss played puck by former Penguin Joel Bouchard and start a 2 on 1 with Armstrong. Crosby faked the slap shot and then was able ot put the wrister past the glove hand for this 3rd OT winner this year. He now ties Malone for the Rookie record for OT winners. With a Goal and an Assist, Crosby now has 78 point on the year with 12 games left.
Next up Montreal on Sunday...
The game started out with a decided edge to the Pens; however, it was the Islanders who got their first of 5 straight power plays 0:39 in. Ryan Malone was able pick up a rebound and break in alone on DiPietro. While Malone was gathering himself to make a move he fell but had enough concentration to bat the puck through the five hole while sliding on his side. It was the Pens 9th Shorthander and Malone's 4th.
The Islanders were able to then tie it 80 seconds later off a Hunter break and went up 2-1 just before the 1st intermission of a Blake wrister. The extended their lead to 3-1 just 1:16 into the 2nd period. Fleury never seemed to see the shot and only a couple of player and the goal judge seemed to know it was a goal. Fleury however settled down and kept them off the board the rest of the way.
Pens were finally awarded their first power play 8:35 into the 2nd and they used it to get back into the game. Crosby bring the puck into the zone sent a nice pass across to Hilbert who deflected the pass past DiPietro. Gonchar tied it just under 3 minutes later off a rebound of a Noah Welch slap shot as the Pens second power play expired. Welch got called up earlier in the day due to Cairns suspension. Welch never seemed out of place or overmatched and made some nice defensive plays that have been quite lacking this year. Stories of Welch making the team next year do not seem that far off. He recorded his first NHL point on the Gonchar goal and was named the game's 3rd star.
The game was pretty much back and forth the rest of the way with neither team able to get that 4th goal and that setup Crosby's heroic in OT. Crosby had a chance earlier in OT when DiPietro was out of the net and miss played a puck however Crosby hit the outside of the post on a shot from the left boards. Crosby was able to pick up a miss played puck by former Penguin Joel Bouchard and start a 2 on 1 with Armstrong. Crosby faked the slap shot and then was able ot put the wrister past the glove hand for this 3rd OT winner this year. He now ties Malone for the Rookie record for OT winners. With a Goal and an Assist, Crosby now has 78 point on the year with 12 games left.
Next up Montreal on Sunday...
Labels: 2005 Game Review
posted by Penguins Blog at 11:50 PM
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