HEATHER WAMPLER – OVATHLETICS.COM
Thursday night was the final time the Pittsburgh Penguins would ever play at the Mellon Arena. They met with the New York Islanders for a well deserved win. Prior to the game the Penguin hockey greats were brought back. It was amazing seeing all that Penguin history standing on the ice at the same time. I can’t say that I was surprised by the win. The Islanders haven’t done all that well during the rest of the season and it would just have been wrong for the Pens to lose their final game in that amazing arena. It was bitter sweet. 43 years in the Igloo and now it’s time to move on. I can still remember my first in person hockey game. It was a mere three years ago (yes, I am a fairly new hockey fan, but devoted none the less) on December 27, 2007. My husband took me and it was amazing. It was that game that solidified my love for hockey. Here I am now, almost a bigger fan than he is. I just hope that don’t tear down that beautiful arena.
Civic/Mellon Arena: 1967-2010
Scratches for the Pens were forwards Chris Kunitz and Eric Godard as well as defenseman Jay McKee.
I knew the Pens were psyched for the game but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them score so fast. 23 seconds into the opener defenseman Brooks Orpik got everything started when he beat out Islanders goaltender Martin Biron with a wrister to the short side assisted by center Tyler Kennedy and left winger Matt Cooke. Center Evgeni Malkin was finally back in the lineup and was the first to go off to his apparent favorite place on the ice, the penalty box. He was sent off for hooking. Malkin now has the 3rd highest penalty minutes in the entire NHL. Yes folks, the 3rd highest in the entire NHL. Luckily the Islanders don’t get to enjoy their full power play. With 40 seconds left defenseman Andrew MacDonald was sent to the box for high-sticking. The Pens were able to finish off the four-on-four play without the Islanders scoring and getting onto their own power play. The Pens were able to strike again at 5:01. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar sent a pass up to Captain Sidney Crosby who was able to feed a shot to defenseman Alex Goligoski. Gols then buried a shot deep in the net for a 2-0 lead. That was Crosby’s 101st point of the season. He’s catching up to Alex Ovechkin and Henrik Sedin pretty quickly. The Pens were able to get another power play chance at 6:04 when Islanders right winger Tim Jackman is in the box for holding. Their power play didn’t last too long because Crosby was joining him at 7:14 for interference after knocking center Josh Bailey’s stick out of his hands. The Islanders were able to cut the lead at 8:29 when left winger Matt Moulson deflected defenseman Mark Streit’s slap shot over goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove. John Tavares received the second assist. As if that goal wasn’t bad enough, Pens left winger Ruslan Fedotenko was off to the box two minutes later at 10:20 for interference. A slight set back but that one goal and penalty weren’t about to hold down the Pens. They were able to kill of Feds penalty and at 15:15 get another goal of their own. Islanders rookie center John Tavares tried to send a pass to the point but instead it went to Malkin. He was then able to skate the puck the length of the ice for his first goal back from injury/sickness. These next four and a half minutes were intense. The Islanders responded to Malkin’s goal with one of their own at 17:08 when right winger Kyle Okposo picked up a loose puck and wristed it in behind Fleury. Left winger Jeff Tambellini and Freddy Meyer received the assists. The one thing I hoped for most out of this game, besides a win, was a fight. The Mellon could not have its final game without a fight. I got my wish at 18:17 when center Mike Rupp and Islanders left winger Trever Gilles dropped their gloves. It didn’t last long and wasn’t particularly exciting, but it was still a fight. Both players were given five minute fighting majors. Our fearless captain Crosby would close up the opener period with his 49th goal of the season. At 19:02 he picked up a drop pass from left winger Pascal Dupuis and snapped the puck in past Biron. Pens were outshot by the Islanders 13-10 at the end of the first.
Islander’s backup goaltender Dwayne Roloson is now in the net. The Pens were given yet another chance at the power play at 2:38 when Islanders Jon Sim is sent to the box for tripping Orpik. Fleury was on fire. I can say I was honestly impressed and he was the Fleury I have come to love. While on the power play the Pens gave the Islanders a shorthanded rush, testing out Fleury. He managed to make a chest; right-pad and glove save within a matter of seconds. I couldn’t believe my eyes. With the help of Fleury the penalty killers were able to do their jobs. The Islanders were able to bring down the lead yet again at 6:49 when Streit sent the puck sailing to the net but it was tipped in by center Josh Bailey. MacDonald received the second assist. Streit is the next off to the box at 14:22 for slashing. The Pens power play unit is able to take full advantage. Crosby was out for his 50th goal and he got it at 14:34 when he fired a slap shot in behind Roloson. He is the first Penguins player to score 50 goals in a season since Jamir Jagr in 2000-2001 season and also the third youngest in NHL history to accomplish the feat. Congratulations Crosby! He was assisted by Gonchar. Just to make up for the lost goal during the period at 16:41 Kennedy sent a slap shot home for a 6-3 lead. Center Jordan Staal and defenseman Mark Eaton received the assist. The final penalty of the second went to defenseman Kris Letang at 17:51 for holding. The Pens and Islanders were even with shots at 14.
The Pens decided to rub salt in the wounds of the Islanders 1:46 into the final period. Crosby sent a pass to Dupuis who was open in front of Roloson. He turned and tried to get the puck in but was stopped. Luckily Guerin was there and kept jamming at it until he got his 20th goal of the season. But then they turn around and give the Islanders a five minute gift when left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky is sent off for a boarding major. He was also given a game misconduct. The rest of the period followed suit. Penalty after penalty. The next came at 8:09 when Islanders Tambellini is off for slashing. The Pens weren’t able to get anything done with the power play. Fleury decided to get in a penalty of his own at 11:26 for tripping. Kennedy served it. Shortly after Kennedy is back on the ice Orpik and Jackman decide to exchange a few shots at each other. Both players receive two minute roughing minors. Don’t worry, that’s not the end of it. With less than a minute left in the period, no hope of the Islanders catching up Gilles is off to the box for roughing and at 19:43 Crosby joins him in the Pens box for interference. Pens won it 7-3. What a way to end a wonderful life for the Mellon Arena.
The New Jersey Devils are top slot for the Eastern Atlantic division with 99 points as are the Pens but seeing as how the Devils swept them in the regular season they automatically get first. The Philadelphia Flyers are close to breaking 90 points. They’re in third with 86. The New York Rangers are pulling in fourth with 84 while the Islanders trail way down at fifth with 78. You almost have to feel bad for them. Almost. Of course the craptastic Washington Capitals hold onto the top spot of the Eastern Division with 118 points while the Devils trail at second with 99. The Buffalo Sabres are third with 98, the Pens fourth with 99 while the Ottawa Senators are in fifth with 94. After looking over the Western Division…the Eastern Division is in need of some help. Henrik Sedin is still barely holding onto the top spot for point’s leader with 107 points. Alex Ovechkin is handing onto second with 106 while our stupendous captain Crosby is speeding to the top with 104 and is in the lead for the Rocket Richard (pronounce Rishard for those who don’t know) Trophy. Nicklas Backstrom isn’t that far behind with 98 points and Martin St Louis is pulling up fifth with 92.
The Pens take on the Atlanta Thrashers Saturday, March 10 @ 7 pm @ the Philips Arena.
