HEATHER WAMPLER – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pens took on the Ottawa Senators for a major win in game 4. Backup goaltender Brent Johnson returned to the lineup. Forwards Ben Lovejoy and Eric Godard as well as defensemen Jordan Leopold and Ruslan Fedotenko were scratched from the game. This was an amazing game. You know, I’m not even sure amazing covers it. If the Pens continue playing like they did on Tuesday there is no doubt in my mind that they’ll have no issue winning the cup again.
The Pens got the first power play at 6:37 when Sens center Chris Kelly, right winger Chris Neil and Pens goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury got into a skirmish after a great save. All three players received roughing penalties. Pens center Max Talbot served for Fleury. 10 seconds into the power play Pens captain Sidney Crosby got off a great shot but was stopped by Sens goaltender Brian Elliott. Despite a great attempt the Pens remain scoreless. They are back on the power play at 10:35 when Sens defenseman Anton Volchenkov is in the sin bin for hooking. This time the Pens are able to take advantage of their opportunity. Head coach Dan Bylsma’s pair up of Crosby, Malkin and Gonch seems to be the golden trio. Center Evgeni Malkin was able to slap the puck in behind Elliott for his fourth goal of the series at 11:50. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar and Captain Crosby assisted. Considering the Sens are down in the series you would think they would be more concerned with scoring than with fighting. At 13:46 Pens center Mike Rupp and Sens defenseman Erik Karlsson go at it after the whistle and both players are given roughing penalties. The Final penalty of the period went to captain Crosby for slashing at 15:33. The Pens outshot the Sens 14-6.
The second period was absolutely amazing. It was exciting and frustrating at the same time. The first seven minutes were filled with goals. Mainly to the Pens. The first came at 3:47 when captain Crosby got a pass from left winger Chris Kunitz and was able to beat Elliott to the five-hole. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar received the second assist. Just eleven seconds later the Pens struck again. This time center Max Talbot got a loose puck behind the Sens net and fed it to left winger Matt Cooke, who then wristed it in for a 3-0 lead. Captain Crosby struck again. With Gonchar and Kunitz assisting he is able to drive a shot in past Elliott at 6:12. Now that the Pens were up 4-0 Sens head Coach Cory Clouston made the decision to pull Elliott and put in backup tender Pascal Laclaire. As if that could do anything to help them. The Sens did get into the game at 7:06 when Neil was able to toss defenseman Chris Campoli’s rebound in under Fleury. Center Chris Kelly received the second assist. During his celebration, Neil received a roughing penalty. Unfortunately the Pens were unable to do much. At 10:59 the Sens were able to cut the Pens lead in half. Right winger Daniel Alfredsson took a cross-ice pass from Karlsson and slapped the puck home. Center Matt Cullen received the second assist. The Sens got the man advantage at 11:45 when Pens center Jordan Staal was given a hooking penalty. Despite being shorthanded the Pens increased their lead. Right winger Craig Adams gives Talbot a beautiful pass, who then tips it in past Laclaire. There is no help for the Sens. Defenseman Jay McKee gave the Sens a two-man advantage at 13:07 when he took a hooking penalty. It only took the Sens 12 seconds to score. Center Jason Spezza set up Cullen for an easy shot, which he took. Right winger Daniel Alfredsson received the second assist. The Pens picked up their fifth goal at 18:11 when Crosby was able to pick up his own rebound and send it to Kunitz, who wristed a one-timer in past Laclaire. Right winger Billy Guerin received the second assist. The Sens are caught with too many men on the ice at 19:11 and left winger Nick Foligno served the minor. The Pens outshot the Sens 17-14.
The Pens had a 1:41 power play to start off the third. Unfortunately they weren’t able to take advantage of that or the next one which came at 2:22. Foligno was punished for too many men on the ice once again. Kunitz is in the box at 6:44 for interference and Cooke joined him for hooking. With the two man-advantage the Sens were able to monopolize for the last time during the game. At 7:37 Spezza threw a shot in over Fleury assisted by Karlsson and Cullen. Sens defenseman Andy Sutton was given a hooking penalty at 10:33. They were finally able to get another power play goal at 12:27 when center Jordan Staal drove the net and threw a backhander in. Defenseman Alex Goligoski and left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky assisted. It has to be disheartening for the Sens to watch their “loyal” fans leaving their game early. 18:23 brought about a bit of excitement as Neil and left winger Jarko Ruutu gang up on Cooke behind the Pens net after another great Fleury save. Cooke is given a roughing penalty while Neil is given a cross checking and misconduct and Ruutu is given a misconduct penalty and a roughing which was served by right winger Jonathan Cheechoo. The Sens are obviously frustrated. At 19:36 Sutton and defenseman Mat Carkner are penalized after another scrum. Sutton is off for cross checking and Carkner is given a misconduct. The Pens outshot the Sens 11-10.
The Pens won 7-4.
For news around the playoff world, The Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-1, The Boston Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1, The Los Angeles Kings beat the Vancouver Cannucks 5-3, The Detroit Redwings beat the Phoenix Coyote 3-0, the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1, the Nashville Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2 and the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche are tied up at 1 at the end of the 2nd.
The Pens play the Sens in game 5 (hopefully the last for this series) on Thursday, March, 22 @ 7:00 pm. Which I will be sitting in that beautiful arena for my last Mellon game.
