Penguins 4, Maple Leafs 1
Finally the Pens were able to put together a full game. In what has been a habit of the Pens of late was not the case tonight as the Pens kept the pressure on the Maple Leaf's for all three periods. The Pens forced the Leafs into 10 penalties and were able to convert on 3 of them to give them the difference in the game. The game also showed why the Pens drafted Fleury and gave up on Aubin. Fleury badly out played Aubin who was guilty, as he always was with the Penguins, of giving up a couple of soft goals.
The first soft goal that Aubin gave up gave the Penguins a 1 - 0 lead with 36 secs left in the first when Christensen put a puck under the arm of Aubin. The Pens kept the momentum through the first half of the second period until Aubin made an impressive save on Malkin which sent the Leafs in 3 on 1. Fleury was able to make the first save and who was on the door step to knock in the rebound but Sundin. Ruutu was then able to give the Pens another spark when we fought Ondrus and took it to him. Ruutu took a few shots but easily gave more and better ones then he received. The game was back and forth at time for the rest of the period and as the second period expired McCabe took a stupid penalty in tripping Talbot as the horn blew.
McCabe's penalty was compounded when Sundin was called for hooking Staal while they were playing 4 on 4 waiting for the Pens power play to start. Gonchar was able to take advantage of 5 on 3 Power Play that ensued when he fired a shot on Aubin who from the looks of the had the puck deflect off his stick and into the top part of the net. The Pens were then able to get some breathing room when Malkin worked hard to hold a puck in on the Power Play and was rewarded when Gonchar found him on the back door for an easy redirect for his 18th goal. Staal sealed the game on what is becoming something of his signature when he stole the puck on the forecheck and wrapped it around Aubin, who seems surprised by the shot.
The only bad news to come out of this game was the status of Ekman. Late in the first period Ekman fell awkwardly on his right arm near the Penguins runway. Ekman got up and instantly went for the runway and in turn gave the Penguins a Too Many Men on the Ice penalty because Ekman didn't go to the bench first. Ekman looked like he either dislocated his wrist or broke his arm badly but was reported by the Penguins as an elbow injury.
Crosby was able to break his pointless streak and extend his scoring lead back to 6 over Hossa. Crosby also looked to be getting back to his old form from before the holiday break.
Next up are the Hurricanes on Tue...
The first soft goal that Aubin gave up gave the Penguins a 1 - 0 lead with 36 secs left in the first when Christensen put a puck under the arm of Aubin. The Pens kept the momentum through the first half of the second period until Aubin made an impressive save on Malkin which sent the Leafs in 3 on 1. Fleury was able to make the first save and who was on the door step to knock in the rebound but Sundin. Ruutu was then able to give the Pens another spark when we fought Ondrus and took it to him. Ruutu took a few shots but easily gave more and better ones then he received. The game was back and forth at time for the rest of the period and as the second period expired McCabe took a stupid penalty in tripping Talbot as the horn blew.
McCabe's penalty was compounded when Sundin was called for hooking Staal while they were playing 4 on 4 waiting for the Pens power play to start. Gonchar was able to take advantage of 5 on 3 Power Play that ensued when he fired a shot on Aubin who from the looks of the had the puck deflect off his stick and into the top part of the net. The Pens were then able to get some breathing room when Malkin worked hard to hold a puck in on the Power Play and was rewarded when Gonchar found him on the back door for an easy redirect for his 18th goal. Staal sealed the game on what is becoming something of his signature when he stole the puck on the forecheck and wrapped it around Aubin, who seems surprised by the shot.
The only bad news to come out of this game was the status of Ekman. Late in the first period Ekman fell awkwardly on his right arm near the Penguins runway. Ekman got up and instantly went for the runway and in turn gave the Penguins a Too Many Men on the Ice penalty because Ekman didn't go to the bench first. Ekman looked like he either dislocated his wrist or broke his arm badly but was reported by the Penguins as an elbow injury.
Crosby was able to break his pointless streak and extend his scoring lead back to 6 over Hossa. Crosby also looked to be getting back to his old form from before the holiday break.
Next up are the Hurricanes on Tue...
Labels: 2006 Game Review
posted by Penguins Blog at 10:26 PM
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