HEATHER WAMPLER – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pens met the Boston Bruins for the first time last night since the big hit on Marc Savard just twelve days ago. Forward Eric Godard returned to the lineup. Center Evgeni Malkin is still out due to a foot injury. The Bruins were out for Matt Cooke’s blood. If you don’t remember Cooke delivered a rather severe blow to Savard’s head but upon review the NHL deemed it a clean hit and Cooke was not given a suspension.
The Bruins wasted no time letting left winger Matt Cooke know just what they think of him. As soon as he stepped onto the ice Bruins boo birds started. Cooke and Bruins left winger Shawn Thornton threw down gloves and were serving the blows. Cooke was quickly taken to the ice and Thornton delivered a few extra blows. Both players received 5 minute fighting majors and Thornton received an additional misconduct call. The Bruins got their first power play opportunity at 5:36 when the Pens are called for too many men on the ice. Center Tyler Kennedy served it. A minute after his penalty was up he managed to get the puck for a two-on-one chance. Kennedy managed to beat Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask for the first goal of the game. Cooke is the last off to the penalty box in the third. He’s sent off for tripping at 12:52. The Pens and Bruins were tied with shots on goal at five.
Bruins center Vladimir Sobotka was the first off to the sin bin for the second period for hooking. I was excited that the Pens had managed to hold onto the lead for an entire period and had my fingers crossed they would do it again. The power play was unsuccessful at gaining a two goal lead though. 7:21 in Penguins’ goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made a great save on Bruins center Patrice Bergeron to keep the score 1-0. The Bruins got another power play opportunity at 7:37 when defenseman Sergei Gonchar was sent to the penalty box for tripping. Center Jordan Staal was able to make a great play and clear the puck up ice. The big fight of the night came at 11:43 between Penguins’ center Mike Rupp and Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara. Despite being 6-foot-9 with the reach advantage Chara wasn’t able to connect with Rupp until he was falling to the ice. Rupp was able to land a few solid punches though. Both players receive five minute fighting majors. Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart is the next to head off to the box for hooking at the 12:00 mark. And finally Bruins left winger Steve Begin gave the Pens their final power play chance at 17:44 when he’s sent for kneeing left winger Pascal Dupuis. One second after the power play is up new comer left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky scores the second goal of the night. Defenseman Kris Letang took a shot but Rask was able to block it. Ponikarovsky was able to tip-in the shot on a backhander. Gonchar received the second assist. The Pens outshot the Bruins 15-5.
Penguins’ Rupp was the last player to score in the game. He was able to block a shot in the defensive zone and followed the puck into the Boston zone. After fighting to get the puck back Rupp wristed the puck into the goal for a 3-0 lead. New Pens defenseman Jordan Leopold gave the Bruins their last chance at redemption at 12:23 when he was sent to the box for hooking. Luckily the Pens penalty killers were able to stop the Bruins power play unit. At 16:28 the Bruins are caught with too many men on the ice and Thornton is sent off to the box. This was Fleury’s first shut out of the season and 16th in his career. Congratulations Fleury! The Pens outshot the Bruins 11-7.
This win pushed the Pens just above the New Jersey Devils for the Atlantic Eastern Division. The Pens now have 89 points and the Devils 88. They’re the only real competition the Pens have this year. The Philadelphia Flyers are still down there with 79 points. The New York Rangers are a very distant third with 71 points and the New York Rangers are still in fifth with 67. The Washington Captials are still top of the Atlantic Conference with 104 points. The Penguins’ are definitely not catching them this year. The Pens remain in second with the Buffalo Sabres catching up with their 84 points. The New Jersey Devils are fourth followed by the Flyers who are tied with the Ottawa Senators. Alex Ovechkin still holds onto the top of the points’ leader but not by much. His 96 points seems to be nothing to Henrik Sedin and his 94. Crosby is now tied with Nicklas Backstrom at third with 87 points. Steven Stamkos and Martin St Louis are tied at fourth with 82 points.
The Pens take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, March 20 @ 1 pm @ the Mellon Arena.
