Penguins 8, Maple Leafs 2

What a time for the All-Star break to show up just as the Penguins were click on all cylinders after an 8 - 2 mulching of the Maple Leafs they now have a 6 day layoff until they travel to Dallas to play the Stars. They also used this game to jump in to 8th place in the Conference (with current tie breakers) and found they now have a legitimate 2nd line with the play of Staal, Malkin, and Ouellet. Malkin has a career high (yeah a 40 game career high) 5 Assist and Crosby had a Goal and 2 Assist.

The Leafs started things of well for them and was able to convert on the Power Play just 1:31 into the game. They however thought the game was over because the Pens then score 7 straight. Staal started it off by converting a Malkin pass past Raycroft and Ruutu was able to convert a Penalty Shot for is second goal of the season and first since the opener to give the Pens a 2 - 1 lead. Recchi then used his skate to deflect a Whitney pass on the Power Play to give the Penguins a 3 - 1 lead at the end of the 1st Period and started him on his natural Hat-trick. Recchi then used 2 Power Play goals in the second the more conventional way to finish of his Hat-trick and give the Pens a 5 - 1 lead at the end of 2.

The Leafs didn't learn anything form the previous 3 Recchi Power Play goals and continued to take penalties and the Pens continued to score with the next 2 coming from Crosby and Ouellet to push the score to 7 - 1. Things then got a little chippy for the rest of the game with a few fights and a bunch of pushing and shoving after the whistle. The Leafs then stopped the bleeding when Bell was able to score his first ever goal when he used Whitney's slow foot to defect one past Fleury. Malkin then got his 5th assist to finish off the scoring when Malone converted it.

Next up for the Pens are Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Whitney playing in the All-Star games but only Crosby will be playing in the big one. Then a road trip to Dallas and Phoenix to hopefully keep this streak rolling...