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The Penguins’ took on the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night. Right winger Billy Guerin returned to the lineup after missing three games. Defenseman Eric Godard took the ice in morning practice with the strength coach so hopefully he’ll be returning soon. Tyler Kennedy and Jay McKee were healthy scratches from the game. Backup goaltender Brent Johnson started the game while Marc-Andre Fleury was the dressed backup. Most likely saving himself for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Penguins’ center Jordan Staal opened the scoring at 1:04. He took a feed from left winger Pascal Dupuis and managed to wrist the puck in behind Carolina goaltender Justin Peters. The Pens got another scoring opportunity at 4:50 when Hurricane’s right winger Patrick Dwyer is sent to the sin bin for sending the puck sailing over the glass. I’ve always wanted to be one of those fans that get a rogue puck. How cool would that be? Unless you’re hit with it. The power play unit was out hard. The Pens get a 2-0 lead at 5:29 when Guerin is able to blast a rebound in. Center Evgeni Malkin and Captain Sidney Crosby were given the assists. This is the sixth power play goal in the past seven games for the Pens. Unfortunately the Pens did give Carolina their first power play and subsequent goal at 7:35 when defenseman Sergei Gonchar is sent to the box for boarding. Ten seconds later Carolinas left winger Ray Whitney beats Johnson on the stick side for a one-timer. Joni Pitkanen and Brian Pothier are given the assists. The Hurricanes played hard against our Pens. At 9:11 Hurricanes left winger Zach Boychuck evened up the score with a backhander past Johnson’s blocker. Pen’s center Max Talbot gave the Canes a spill over penalty at 19:05 when he’s sent to the box for holding. A fairly exciting first period. The Pens did out shoot the Canes 9-6.
The second period wasn’t nearly as crazy as the first. Carolina though gets started early. At 2:09 center Eric Staal, one of our Jordan Staal’s older brothers, and left winger Eric Cole cycled the puck before Staal was able to sneak a shot in past Johnson for a 3-2 lead. The Pens fought hard trying to tie up the game. It took them a few minutes but left winger Matt Cooke was able to backhand a Dupuis rebound in. Alex Goligoski received the second assist. The rest of the period was spent battling for the puck and trying to get shots in. The Pens made two big mistakes late in the period starting at 15:38. Mark Eaton was penalized for interference after he collided with Cole in the neutral zone. Gonchar must have missed him because at 15:59 he joined Eaton in the box for sending the puck over the glass. The period ended 3-3 with the Pens out shooting the Canes 16-7.
Johnson makes an amazing save on Cole at 6:25. Cole got through the Penguins defense on a breakaway and had the chance to get the lead for the Canes. Johnson managed to stay with him and stopped the puck with his right arm. Johnson got a scare at 8:29 when Canes right winger Tuomo Ruutu drilled Eaton into him. It caused Johnsons mask and gloves to fly off and into the net. Ruutu is given interference on goalkeeper penalty. Luckily Johnson is okay and continues in the game. Left winger Chris Kunitz fires a Staal rebound at Peters at 10:01 but is denied the goal. Getting to the end of the period both teams were getting desperate. They both had some close shots at ending the game but it ended tied 3-3 which means OT. The Pens outshot the Canes 14-6.
OT did not last long. At all. I’m still going, what happened? Twenty-three seconds. That’s all the longer it was. Carolina’s Pothier scored the game winning goal. At least the Pens still got a point out of it. They continue the road trip for 5 more games.
The Penguins’ remain at the top of the Atlantic Eastern Division with 84 points. The New Jersey Devils are steadily falling behind, they now have 81 points. The Philadelphia Flyers are still an extremely distant third with 74 points followed by the New York Rangers come in at fourth at 67 points and the New York Islanders are sixth with 60 points. As far as the Eastern Conference goes the Capitals are still at the top with 99 points. The Pens have a bit to go to catch up to them. If they can. The Buffalo Sabres are in third with 81 points while the Devils come in at fourth. The Ottawa Senators are fourth with 79 points and the Flyers pull up sixth with their 74 points. Our captain is still holding strong at third for point’s leaders with 85 points. Alex Ovechkin, of course, is still number one with 94 points. So Sid is catching up. Henrik Sedin is second with 90 points. Nicklas Backstrom is pulling in fourth with 80 points and Martin St Louis is fifth with 79.
The Pens take on the Philadelphia Flyers Friday, March 12 @ 7:00 pm @ the Wachovia Center.
