STUNNING. :-O
I didn't really get to enjoy my first HD game yesterday because of a splitting headache, but MAN IS IT BEAUTIFUL! I've had this LCD TV since I graduated college in 2006 (I promised myself I'd splurge and get one if I made it through with a 4.0), but I've been too cheap to spring for HD television service. Let me just tell you: I will never go back to regular.
The Pens dominated this game in every way except in number of shots on goal. It didn't really matter, though, because the percentage of shots that went into the twine was higher. Mike Zigomanis and Tyler Kennedy were out due to "undisclosed injuries." Sid had another 4 point night. That kid is a DEMON on blades. I'm so glad he's ours. :)
FIRST PERIOD
Less than a minute into the game, Geno Malkin fired a shot that hit the crossbar. The night's first penalty when to our title man for tripping. On the penalty kill, Pascal Dupuis set Mad Max Talbot up for a shorthanded chance that Michael Leighton blocked, and Jordan Staal managed to steal and go shorthanded on his own. Leighton blocked that one, too. The Canes didn't score on their advantage.
It was about this time that I first discovered the drawbacks of high definition of television: When the camera is focused on a player on the bench, the view is extended to include the players on either side of him. Unfortunately, as FSN PGH was focused on Sid, Geno was on the right side of my screen blowing snot rockets. [*GAGS*]
Tuomo Ruutu (brother of Jarkko) flattened Alex Goligoski with a cheap shot into the boards. Sid went over to confront Ruutu but did so without earning a retaliatory penalty. The Pens didn't score while Ruutu was in the box for boarding. Just as Ruutu's penalty ended, Niclas Wallin was called for hooking. On the ensuing power play, a pass from Sid to Petr Sykora = Syko's 99th career PPG! [Pens 1, Canes 0]
A little later, ex-Pen Josef Melichar fanned on a pass. He had no support to recover, so Dupuis was able to apply pressure and separate Melichar from the puck, which popped out to the middle of the ice in the Canes' zone. Siddo was right there to gain possession and set up Dups for the goal. [Pens 2, Canes 0]
FIRST INTERMISSION
Bob Errey's Hockey 101 segment was about astronomy. Why? Because "Sidney Crosby [is] our shining star!" It was a great segment that highlighted some of Siddo's most fantastic goals from this season, as well as a few of the classics from Sid's entire NHL career.
SECOND PERIOD
Just over 30 seconds into the period, Ruutu was sent to the box for high sticking Dups. A hard slapshot from Saint Siddo on the ensuing power play got the puck to the net for Syko to clean up the garbage to claim his 100th PPG. What a player! :) [Pens 3, Canes 0]
Ruutu, just out of the box, redeemed himself to his team by scoring the Canes' first goal a mere 19 seconds later. [Pens 3, Canes 1]
Eric Godard took a big hit that left him shaken. (He came back to the ice later.) Kris Letang stole the puck and chipped it off the wall to Sid. He sent the puck towards Miroslav Satan, who had to stretch to collect it. Satan went hard to the net with Sid and Dups. While Satan was the last Penguin to touch the puck, the person to put it over the goal line was Chad LaRose. [Pens 4, Canes 1] If you're keeping count, this was Sid's fourth point of the game. It was his 3rd four point game this season and the 11th four point game of his career. Oddly, Siddo has never had a five point game, but his career best was the six point game he had on 12-13-2006 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Geno tripped and seemed stunned as he left the ice, but he too came back to the ice for his next shift. Dany Sabourin made a big save on Sergei Samsonov but couldn't control the rebound. Samsonov made it over to take a second shot on his own rebound, but Sabou robbed him with a beautiful glove save. Mark Eaton went to the box for holding, but the Canes didn't capitalize on their advantage. A few minutes later, Godard was penalized for hooking, and while Sabou denied Samsonov again, he couldn't stop a shot from Matt Cullen after it was deflected by the stick of Jordan Staal. [Pens 4, Canes 2]
But a few minutes later, Geno stole the puck at the blue line and fired a shot that Leighton blocked. Seemingly from out of nowhere, Ruslan Fedotenko (who is even pinker in high def) swooped in and banged the rebound home. [Pens 5, Canes 2]
THIRD PERIOD
Eric Staal attempted a backhand shot on the open net while Sabou was down, but somehow our goalie managed to shut the door on the on him. Geno was called for tripping, but the Canes didn't score on their advantage. Brooks Orpik leveled Ruutu with a Mack truck-style hit. The Canes developed a 2-on-1, but Sabou confidently blocked Joni Pitkanen's shot. Syko, despite Geno's best efforts, unfortunately did not get the elusive hat trick tonight. This was Syko's 42nd two goal game. (I'm holding onto the hope that he'll get that hat trick in a Pens sweater at the Mellon Arena.) With 2:06 left in the game, Mad Max was sent to the sin bin for a high stick, but the Canes couldn't add to their tally. Pens WIN!!!
The Pens head north to face the Senators this Saturday.
GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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