DEAN JACOBS – OVATHLETICS.COM
After 4 straight wins last week, it was the opposite this week for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins didn’t start the week good, losing the first 2, but managed to get a W before the week was over. The opponents were tough for the most part, and the Penguins just weren’t playing up to their abilities, especially considering their knack this season for winning road games. In this second week of March, the Guins played one Stanley Cup hopeful, one team on the cusp of the playoffs, and one team that’s not making it in. Now let’s look back and break it all down.
This week in Penguin’s hockey got a late start. The Guins didn’t have a game scheduled until Thursday (I’m not counting last Sunday because I already covered it.). Thursday’s game was against the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina is currently 28-32-8, and not making the postseason. The Pens however are sitting safe looking ahead to the playoffs. But as hockey goes, any given team can win on any given night. And Thursday was just the Cane’s night. The Penguins managed to loss to them 4-3 in OT to start the week, squandering a 2-goal 1st period lead. Penguin’s goals came from Stall and Geurin in the 1st, and Matt Cooke in the 2nd. The game remained tied at 3 for more than half the game, from before halfway in the second period, until 00 23 of Overtime, when Pothier scored for the Canes to end the game. Fleury was off for the night, and that could have been part of the problem, combined with a general lack of focus for the team on Thursday.
*Friday night was more of the same for Pittsburgh. Losing another game, but this time to a good team. Also a team they just can’t seem to beat this season. The game was versus the New Jersey Devils (40-24-3), a great hockey team. The Penguins lost the game 3-1 to Jersey, making it their 5th loss to this team, this season. In the 5 games, the Devils have outscored the Pens 17-3. The scoring started immediately on Friday evening. Patrick Elias scored first at 1:43 in the opening period, and right after that Sidney Crosby scored for Pittsburgh at 2:24, tying the game. Little did the Penguins know that Sid’s early goal would be their only for the game. The score remained tied at 1 until the 3rd period, when at 2:06 New Jersey got their 2nd goal, and the point that would prove to be the game winner. But just to ensure the victory, the Devil’s Kovalchuck notched the teams 3rd goal halfway through the final period. The Guins could not mount one of their famous comebacks, and the game ended 3-1 in favor of the Devils, again.
*Going into the Sunday’s contest, the Tampa Bay Lightning were 1 game above .500. It was a scoreless, though relatively aggressive and offensive 1st period for both teams. Both goalies made some huge saves, especially right at the end of the period. In the 2nd period, Tampa Bay got on the board first, with Lecavalier scoring at 8:09, and that was the only goal of the period for either team. Though with just seconds left, the Guins came within inches of getting the tying goal, the puck just didn’t bounce their way.
Finally, in the 3rd period, right after a Penguins power play expired Pascal Dupuis tied the game at one, shooting it in off a rebound on Stall’s shot. Then, right after the goal, the Penguins went on two power plays, having a 5 on 3 for 9 seconds. During the 2nd power play of the two, the Penguins got the lead. Sergei Gonchar ripped a shot from the point, and it got behind Tampa’s goalie for the Penguins 2nd goal of the game. The rest of the game was exciting, with scoring opportunities for both clubs, more for the Guins. But really it all comes down to this: The Lightning has the second highest penalty tally of any team in the league and it certainly hurts them on Sunday afternoon. Fighting for their playoff lives, the Lightning let penalties get the better of them. And couldn’t return the favor on the chances the Penguins gave them. Thus, the game ended in favor of the Pittsburgh Penguins, coming from behind to win 2-1.
So, It’s now a game past the middle of a Pittsburgh’s 5-game road trip. Unfortunately, the Guins were only able to get 1 win this week, it was their last game for the week, which I guess you could say ended the week on a good note. But the rest of the week leading up to Sunday left much to the imagination for fans of great Penguin’s hockey. One thing I do know, the Pens better be stocking up on wins against the New Jersey Devils, and just waiting to unleash them all in the playoffs. They haven’t been able to be them this season; and they must find a solution for that particular team, and quick. In the upcoming week, the penguins have another shot at the Devils, and the Bruins away, rounding out the 5 game road trip. Then Pittsburgh faces the Carolina Hurricanes again next Saturday at home to finish out the week. We’ll see how it goes for the Pittsburgh Penguins. No matter what, it will be interesting, so tune in.
