Penguins 4, Thrashers 3 OT
For some reason I feeling doing this as the game goes along, well at least at the end of every period...
1st Period
Penguins 1, Thrashers 1
Well this seems like most of the Pens games already. The Pens dominated the first period with a 16 - 4 shot lead over the highly skilled Thrashers. The Pens had 3 Power Plays in the period and scored on the first. Crosby skated in from the half wall and snapped one off the far post and behind Lehtonen. The first 2 Power Plays for the Pens were really well played they kept the puck moving and won all the battles and kept the Thrashers defending for almost all of the 2 mins. They however only came away with a few good chances on the second one but just couldn't beat Lehtonen. The third one however didn't start well at all. They gave up a shorthanded goal just 20 sec into the penalty. Then not even 10 secs later Christensen took a penalty to kill the rest. Hopefully the Pens can regroup and continue the good play and bury some pucks the rest of the way.
2nd Period
Penguins 2, Thrashers 1
Second verse, same as the first (almost)
The Pens came out in the second period the same as the did in the first and dominated the Thrashers again. They also scored on their first Power Play too. Malkin was able to take advantage of Thrasher without a stick when he moved into the slot and one-timed a Crosby pass past Lehtonen. The Pens then had a goal taken away from Staal when Ruutu was called for interfering with the goaltender as Staal put a rebound under Lehtonen. The Pens then looked pretty good on the Penalty kill and this was most evident on a play by Malkin. Malkin was able to take the puck in shorthanded and instead of taking a 1 on 4 shot he skated through and back out to center ice and in seeing help headed back in on goal. He then picked up a rebound and made a pass back the D, who wait at through the puck back up ice in all killing about 45 secs of the Thrashers Power Play. The Pens then did have a bit of a let down at the end of the period letting the Thrashers get a little bit of momentum but nothing on the scoreboard to show for it. This is where the Pens need to get that killer instinct and finish this game off which they were not able to do against the Rangers on Thurs.
3rd Period
Penguins 3, Thrashers 3
The period did not start well for the Penguins. They were killing off the last part of the Christensen carryover penalty. The Pens were trying to clear the puck when Kozlov was able to keep the puck in the zone and Hossa made the Pens pay by ripping the puck past Fleury. The Pens however didn't quit and kept the pressure on the Thrashers and were rewarded when Whitney was coming late and took a pass from Malkin to give the Pens their lead back. It was nice to see the D in on the offense all night long as well has help the forwards by pinching to keep the puck in. The Pens were then playing a good defensive game when a lucky rebound came right to Kapanen and he put it under the crossbar before Fleury could find the puck. The Pens stayed resilient and took the game to overtime after getting a few chances to put the game away in regulation.
Overtime
Penguins 4, Thrashers 2
The Pens were finally rewarded for their hard work all night long when Malkin took the puck to the net and Armstrong found the rebound and finished off the game with just about a min remaining. The Pens had a few chances earlier in the overtime and gave up a couple but we up to the task of keeping the Thrashers outside 4 on 4 until
Armstrong pick the right time to get his first goal against a team other then the Islanders.
Overall
It was nice to see Malkin play like he played when Crosby was out of the lineup. He seemed to be taken a back seat to Crosby until Therrien had a 1 on 1 talk with him before the game. Crosby and Malkin were able to outplay the tandem of Hossa and Kovalchuk to the tune of 2G-3A-(+1) to 1G-0A-(-2) respectfully. Crosby was also taking to the fact that he can control games as well by shooting the puck so much more which will help him find that open man for the easy goal when they have to think shot first. Hopefully this is the game that the Pens needed to put them over the hump and propel them for the rest of the season. This would be a complete turnaround from last year when back to back losses to the Thrashers kill any hope the Pens had of a good season. Also on a more ridiculous note of the three stars of the game 2 were unnamed Thrashers and Malkin was a 3rd star in a game which the Pens dominated. Can the Atlanta media be anymore obvious of being "Homers"?
Next up is the first Crosby/Malkin game against Ovechkin. I think there are going to be a few players ready for this one on Monday...
1st Period
Penguins 1, Thrashers 1
Well this seems like most of the Pens games already. The Pens dominated the first period with a 16 - 4 shot lead over the highly skilled Thrashers. The Pens had 3 Power Plays in the period and scored on the first. Crosby skated in from the half wall and snapped one off the far post and behind Lehtonen. The first 2 Power Plays for the Pens were really well played they kept the puck moving and won all the battles and kept the Thrashers defending for almost all of the 2 mins. They however only came away with a few good chances on the second one but just couldn't beat Lehtonen. The third one however didn't start well at all. They gave up a shorthanded goal just 20 sec into the penalty. Then not even 10 secs later Christensen took a penalty to kill the rest. Hopefully the Pens can regroup and continue the good play and bury some pucks the rest of the way.
2nd Period
Penguins 2, Thrashers 1
Second verse, same as the first (almost)
The Pens came out in the second period the same as the did in the first and dominated the Thrashers again. They also scored on their first Power Play too. Malkin was able to take advantage of Thrasher without a stick when he moved into the slot and one-timed a Crosby pass past Lehtonen. The Pens then had a goal taken away from Staal when Ruutu was called for interfering with the goaltender as Staal put a rebound under Lehtonen. The Pens then looked pretty good on the Penalty kill and this was most evident on a play by Malkin. Malkin was able to take the puck in shorthanded and instead of taking a 1 on 4 shot he skated through and back out to center ice and in seeing help headed back in on goal. He then picked up a rebound and made a pass back the D, who wait at through the puck back up ice in all killing about 45 secs of the Thrashers Power Play. The Pens then did have a bit of a let down at the end of the period letting the Thrashers get a little bit of momentum but nothing on the scoreboard to show for it. This is where the Pens need to get that killer instinct and finish this game off which they were not able to do against the Rangers on Thurs.
3rd Period
Penguins 3, Thrashers 3
The period did not start well for the Penguins. They were killing off the last part of the Christensen carryover penalty. The Pens were trying to clear the puck when Kozlov was able to keep the puck in the zone and Hossa made the Pens pay by ripping the puck past Fleury. The Pens however didn't quit and kept the pressure on the Thrashers and were rewarded when Whitney was coming late and took a pass from Malkin to give the Pens their lead back. It was nice to see the D in on the offense all night long as well has help the forwards by pinching to keep the puck in. The Pens were then playing a good defensive game when a lucky rebound came right to Kapanen and he put it under the crossbar before Fleury could find the puck. The Pens stayed resilient and took the game to overtime after getting a few chances to put the game away in regulation.
Overtime
Penguins 4, Thrashers 2
The Pens were finally rewarded for their hard work all night long when Malkin took the puck to the net and Armstrong found the rebound and finished off the game with just about a min remaining. The Pens had a few chances earlier in the overtime and gave up a couple but we up to the task of keeping the Thrashers outside 4 on 4 until
Armstrong pick the right time to get his first goal against a team other then the Islanders.
Overall
It was nice to see Malkin play like he played when Crosby was out of the lineup. He seemed to be taken a back seat to Crosby until Therrien had a 1 on 1 talk with him before the game. Crosby and Malkin were able to outplay the tandem of Hossa and Kovalchuk to the tune of 2G-3A-(+1) to 1G-0A-(-2) respectfully. Crosby was also taking to the fact that he can control games as well by shooting the puck so much more which will help him find that open man for the easy goal when they have to think shot first. Hopefully this is the game that the Pens needed to put them over the hump and propel them for the rest of the season. This would be a complete turnaround from last year when back to back losses to the Thrashers kill any hope the Pens had of a good season. Also on a more ridiculous note of the three stars of the game 2 were unnamed Thrashers and Malkin was a 3rd star in a game which the Pens dominated. Can the Atlanta media be anymore obvious of being "Homers"?
Next up is the first Crosby/Malkin game against Ovechkin. I think there are going to be a few players ready for this one on Monday...
Labels: 2006 Game Review
posted by Penguins Blog at 7:42 PM
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