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The Penguins took on the Boston Bruins Sunday afternoon. Winger Billy Guerin is out for his third consecutive game because of a back injury while defensemen Eric Godard and Jay McKee remain out as well. I was half expecting to see backup goaltender Brent Johnson starting Sunday’s game but was pleasantly surprised to see Marc-Andre Fleury between the posts.
The first five minutes of the game were spent battling for the puck. Penguins’ defenseman Brooks Orpik gave the Bruins their first power play of the game at 5:29 when he was sent to the box for tripping. The penalty killers showed up for the game. The Pens gave the Bruins yet another man advantage at 11:05 when defenseman Mark Eaton is the next to the penalty box for high-sticking. Luckily Fleury is able to stop all the Bruins attempts to score. They get their third consecutive power play at 18:42 when Penguins’ left winger Ruslan Fedotenko is the last to go to the sin bin for interference on the goalkeeper.
The first period remained scoreless as both teams tried to get the coveted first goal. The Pens outshot the Bruins 10-3.
One minute into the second period Penguins’ center Jordan Staal blocks a shot and hobbles off the ice. No sooner do the Pens finish off the last of the penalty from the first period, they are given yet another. This time it goes to center Evgeni Malkin at 2:15 for hooking.
Staal is a real trooper. He returns to the ice for the penalty kill. Bruins right winger Blake Wheeler opens up the scoring at 3:12. The fans weren’t happy about this goal considering Wheeler had to jam his stick under Fleury to find the puck and sent it into the net. I’d have to say bad call refs. He was assisted by Marco Sturm and David Krejci. The Pens are finally on the power play. Bruins right winger Michael Ryder is in the box for tripping at 3:43.
They are unable to do anything in the two minutes they had and the Bruins keep the lead. Thankfully the refs are staying consistent with their calls. The Penguins jammed at the puck and pounded away. It amazes me though. The Bruins had just done this to the Pens yet when the Pens do the same they throw a fit. Now isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby sent a pass to left winger Pascal Dupuis center Mike Rupp joins Dupuis at net slamming at the puck. Dupuis is awarded his sixteenth- goal of the season at 8:57. Now the game is started. Fedotenko and Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart exchange a few hits in front of the Bruins net. Both players are given roughing penalties for four-on-four play. The rest of the period was spent fighting for the puck but they remained 1-1. With only two minutes left in the game there was a bit of an altercation behind the net. The refs were able to separate the players before a fight could break out. I was bummed out about that. The Pens outshot the Bruins 12-8.
Penguins’ center Evgeni Malkin was able to get the only third period goal at 1:27. Left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky made a pass to Malkin, allowing him to skate down and send a snap shot past Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas. Most of the third period was spent fighting for the puck. Amazingly there were no penalties. This slightly surprised me, especially after the hit left winger Matt Cooke gave to Bruins center Mark Savard. Cooke’s elbow connected well with Savard’s head sending him flying backwards. Savard was down on the ice not moving for a good five minutes. The classy Pens fans gave him a standing ovation as he was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher.
With thirty seconds left in the period Bruins head coach Claude Julien pulled Thomas so the Bruins could have the man advantage but Fleury and the defense were able to hold them off. The Pens and Bruins were tied with 11 shots a piece during the third.
The Pens now stand at 40-22-4 and remain at the top of the Eastern Atlantic Division with 84 points while the New Jersey Devils remain in second but with 79 points. The Philadelphia Flyers aren’t even a threat. They haven’t been for a long time. They do; however, remain at third with 70 points while the New York Rangers stay at fourth with 66. It seems no matter how many points the Pens receive the Washington Capitals get four more. They remain at the top spot for the Eastern Division with 96 points followed by the Pens. The Buffalo Sabres are given third spot by default with their 77 points. The Devils are fourth with 79 and The Ottawa Senators are trailing in at fifth with 77. Crosby is inching his way closer and closer to the top of the point’s leaders. He still remains at third but now has 84 points. Alex Ovechkin remains at number one with 90 points followed by Henrik Sedin with 85.
Martin St Louis trails at a distant fourth with 78 points and Nicklas Backstrom is pulling up fifth with 77. Evgeni Malkin has moved up to thirteenth with 68 points but I don’t think he’ll be in the running for point’s leader this year.
The Pens begin a six game road trip on Thursday, March 11 against the Carolina Hurricanes @ 7:00 pm @ the RBC Center.
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