DEAN JACOBS – OVATHLETICS.COM
A 6-game home stand, which the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the midst of, will bring them to the final 4 games of the season. During this stand, the Penguins played 4, won 3, lost 1 and have 2 yet to play. The final 4 games of the Season begin tonight against Washington, and continue on to Thursday, Atlanta on Saturday, and finishing the regular season against the New York Islanders, the team they play tonight. This past week displayed the Guins beating the Leafs, dropping 1 to Tampa Bay, and finishing with a win against the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday afternoon.
It was another big game for Sidney Crosby last Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Crosby scored two goals in regulation, helping the Guins come from behind to defeat the Leafs in a Shootout. Sid’s goals also gave him the league lead in that category. He and Pascal Dupuis also both scored in the shootout to propel the Pens to the 5-4 victory. It was with only 3:48 left in regulation when Matt Cooke deflected an Orpik shot, finally tying the game for the Guins. Another highlight from the game is Orpik’s 3 points on 3 assists, his 1st 3point game of his career. It was a great way to start the week for Pittsburgh, continuing a successful home streak, and giving them momentum going into Wednesday’s game. The other Penguins goal came from Tyler Kennedy halfway through the 1st period.
Unfortunately Pittsburgh’s momentum didn’t carry over to Wednesday’s game. The Pens blew a perfect opportunity to edge further away from Jersey in the standings. Taking on the Tampa Bay Lighting, a team who isn’t making the postseason and lost 14 of their last 18 games, the Penguins let them come into Mellon arena and control and win the game. The final score was 2-0 Tampa Bay, and the Guins played absolutely lethargic. They thought they could just show up and win, and that wasn’t at all the case. Goals in the 1st and 2nd periods for the Lightning came from Stamkos and Downie, and that was all they needed. Throughout the course of the game, the Guins had plenty of chances, including a 5-minute power play, which they couldn’t capitalize on. It was a poor showing, bad enough to warrant an unscheduled morning practice the next day from head coach Dan Bylsma. The Pittsburgh Penguins’s next would prove to be a solid rebound.
Saturday afternoon against the Atlanta Thrashers was a gutsy game for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and their final game for the week. The intensity was high between these two teams, and Pittsburgh had something to prove after the embarrassing loss to Tampa Bay the game before. Atlanta started the scoring, but the goal didn’t come until the last minute of play in the 1st period. Afinogenov slipped one past Marc Andre Fleury and the period ended with Atlanta leading 1-0. The 2nd period displayed two power play goals, 1 for each team. Evgeni Malkin scored for Pittsburgh at 12:05, and Tim Stapleton scored for the Thrashers just 5 minutes later. The second period ended with the score still favoring Atlanta 2-1.
The third period was huge for Pittsburgh, and their true grit shown through. Tyler Kennedy got things started early for the Pens, scoring on a wrister at 3:27 of the period. But again, just over a minute later Atlanta, maintaining their 1 goal lead. Pittsburgh was swarming the net and Hedberg the entire 3rd period but the shot were getting turned aside. Then the break the Pens need came in the form of a power play, with under 2 minutes to play in the game. The unlikely hero, Sergei Gonchar, ripping a goal past Hedberg to tie the game at 4 as the clock wound down in the final period. The goal was somewhat reminiscent of Ulf Sammuelson from the playoffs in the early 90’s, but this wasn’t game winning, it sent the contest into Overtime. And in the OT period Justin Leopold had the turn around shot, winning the game for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was a big goal, a big win, and the Pens ended the week on a good note.
The team is healthy, the playoffs are rapidly approaching, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are poised to chase another title. The rest of the regular season won’t be easy, and the remaining 4 game mean allot to Pittsburgh’s seed in the playoffs. We’ll see how they fair. Tune in to Versus this evening, Tuesday when the Pens take on their rival Devils. This game is all-important for both teams, as the playoffs approach. It’s time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to lower their shoulders and drive forward toward the 2010 Stanley Cup.
