During their tumultuous six game losing streak the Penguins tried to find a spark to pull them back into the W column, only to see another crushing loss. After a loss to the New Jersey Devils last Saturday, Brooks Orpik blasted the team’s demeanor and work ethic. Rather than respond with a brilliant performance, the Penguins were flattened by Ottawa two nights later. The next day, it was report Sidney Crosby would join the team on their road trip to Washington and then Florida. The Pens came out with a better effort but still lost in a 1-0 snooze-fest against the Caps.
Maybe seeing their captain take the ice for the first time in nearly two months was Pittsburgh’s key.
The Penguins defeated the Panthers 4-1 to give them their first win of 2012. Backed by goals from Steve Sullivan, Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Kennedy and James Neal, the Penguins not only won, but recorded points in the standings for the first time since December 27th. Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar, stopping 25 of 26 shots, while the Penguins pelted Panthers goaltender Scott Clemmensen with 41 shots.
Earlier in the day, Sidney Crosby joined his teammates on the ice for about 25 minutes. While the real captain added no special meaning to his own arrival, the entire team took duct tape and made a little “C” to wear on their shoulder (Malkin with a K). They were paying tribute to the leader and face of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
During their losing streak, rumors began to swirl that Crosby was cleared to play and that he did not want to play. Publications in the media came out stating that the captaincy had been discussed behind closed doors between the players, with none of those players being Crosby. In the end, the Pens found a way to possibly use this minor slide as a means of inspiration and an opportunity to refocus.
Pittsburgh started the game in a very typical style to that of a team who has been down on their luck.
On the powerplay in the first period, James Neal hit the post twice within half a minute only to see Evgeni Malkin hit the crossbar with his wrist shot less than a minute later. Matt Cooke had a shorthanded breakaway that was stopped by Clemmensen, then Chris Kunitz’s backhand shot on another breakaway went through the pads of Clemmensen and bounced off the crossbar. Despite out shooting the Panthers 18-6, the Penguins ended the first period with zero goals, a scoreless streak stretched over 140 minutes long. In this game, it seemed as though one goal could open up the flood gates.
And it did.
The Pens took a 1-0 lead when Scott Clemmensen lost control of the puck behind his net. As he went to play the puck, it trickled towards the no play zone, leaving Clemmensen in no-man’s land. Matt Cooke quickly took the puck and passed to Steve Sullivan whose one timer from between the faceoff circles found the back of the net. The Panthers tried to recover but Fleury made some incredible saves to keep Florida off the board. The most notable save, was the amazing stop on Stephen Weiss in front of the net. Brian Campbell fed Weiss from behind the net but Fleury’s lightning fast right pad stopped the shot from going in.
Evgeni Malkin, who had another dominating performance, scored with under a minute to go in the second period. With the time winding down, Malkin took the puck and had a 2 on 1 with Chris Kunitz. Instead of trying the cross ice pass, Malkin fired a slapshot that was stopped by Clemmensen. The puck careened into the boards where Malkin blindly fired a backhand shot that deflected off Clemmensen and into the net to extend the lead to 2-0.
Tyler Kennedy scored 36 seconds into the third period and the Penguins cruised from there. Nearly 7 minutes into the period, Michal Repik scored on a weird deflection but the Penguins got the goal back on a perfectly placed wrist shot from James Neal. For Neal, it was his first goal since their last win against the Carolina Hurricanes seven games ago.
Now the Penguins will travel to Tampa Bay for a matchup against the Lightning on Sunday afternoon. If the Penguins hope to make the playoffs, they can turn this season around with another win against a Florida opponent.
After all, if they hope to make a playoff spot, they cannot plan for Sidney Crosby to return just yet.
Photo courtesy of Cbc.ca
Discussion about this post