Heather Wampler-OVathletics.com
The Penguins returned to play Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres. Forward Max Talbot has finally returned to the line up with the addition of a new defenseman, Jordan Leopold, who is paired with Alex Goligoski. It had been a long two weeks without any Pens hockey but it was great watching that USA and Canada game.
I was slightly surprised when I saw Brent Johnson in goal instead of Marc-Andre Fleury but of course he didn’t disappoint. The first half of the 1st period was rather uneventful. It didn’t start to get heated until 10:35 when Penguins captain Sidney Crosby gets two minutes slashing while Sabres defenseman Craig Rivet is sent for roughing. With the 4 on 4 play the Pens play hard but are stopped by Sabres goaltender Patrick Lalime. Max Talbot can’t seem to catch a break lately. At 13:21 Sabres left winger Tim Kennedy slams him into the boards resulting in a two minute boarding and giving the Pens their first power play of the night. Penguins’ defenseman Sergei Gonchar blasts a slap shot in past Lalime for his 200th career goal. Goligoski and Crosby assisted on the goal. Defenseman Kris Letang is the last to go to the sin bin at 19:06 for holding. The Pens outshot the Sabres 14-9.
The Pens were able to hold off the 1:54 power play of the Sabres. At 3:13 Ruslan Fedotenko took a pass from behind the net, setting up left winger Pascal Dupuis for an easy wrister giving the Pens a two goal lead. Malkin received the second assist. Crosby continues to impress at 6:08 he managed to stickhandle from his knees for a good five seconds. It didn’t result in a goal but he just doesn’t stop amazing us. Unfortunately Johnson did not get a shutout. 6:44 had Sabres defenseman took a pass from Patrick Kaleta and was able to slap the puck in past Johnson’s glove cutting the lead by 1. Craig Rivet received the second assist. Brook Orpik was the only penalty of the period. He was sent away at 17:17 for hooking and luckily the Pens were able to kill his penalty. The Pens outshot the Sabres 6-7.
The Sabres wasted no time getting into that penalty box. Left winger Chris Kuntiz was able to steal the puck off Thomas Vanek and was able to draw a hooking penalty. Even with the power play the Pens are unable to take advantage of it. Of course the Pens weren’t about to let the Sabres hog all the penalty time. 3:54 saw Fedotenko to the box for hi-sticking after he drilled Kaleta to the ice. The Fans were not happy about the call and so the boo birds emerged. Fortunately the Penguins penalty killers showed up for the game and were successful in preventing a Sabres goal. Ahhhhhh, something I’ve missed the past two weeks! A fight! Penguins center Mike Rupp and Sabres center Paul Gaustad threw done the gloves and sticks and went at it. Of course Rupp was able to beat down Gaustad with a few well placed punches. Gaustad headed to the locker room holding his hand with the Buffalo’s trainer trailing behind him. They both received five minute fighting majors. Gonchar receives the final penalty of the period at 7:13 when he goes to the penalty box for interference. They finally got the scoring started at 11:03 when Penguins Fedotenko took a Tyler Kennedy pass and snapped the puck in for a 3-1 lead over the Sabres. Kris Letang received the second assist. Desperation is sinking into the Sabres though and they respond at 14:21 with a goal of their own. Center Derek Roy is able to backhand the puck in behind Johnson bringing it within one goal. Kaleta and Chris Butler assisted. Luckily the Pens were able to hold them off for the final five and a half minutes. The Pens and Sabres ended the game with shots even at 28.
It has been a long two weeks without any Penguins hockey. Granted I did love watching the Olympics but it just wasn’t the same. I was more than thrilled when I read that Max Talbot was practicing with the team. It is great having him back. Captain Sidney Crosby really impressed while in Vancouver and he continues while back here at home. He remains third in the point’s leaders with 79. Alex Ovechkin remains number one with 89 points followed by Henrik Sedin with 80. Nicklas Backstrom is close at Crosby’s heels with 76 points and Joe Thornton pulls up fifth with 75 points. It’s getting to be a close race. The Penguins have finally passed the New Jersey Devils for the top spot of the Eastern Atlantic Division. With Tuesday’s win it brings their standing to 37-22-1 with 78 points while Devils have 77 points and are tied with the Philadelphia Flyers. Only a one point difference but it makes all the difference in the world. The New York Rangers are a very distant fourth with 65 points followed by the New York Islanders with 60 points. As far as the Atlantic Conference goes the Pens are number two behind the Washington Capitals who have 90 points. The Ottawa Senators are a close third with 76 points followed by the Devils with 77 and then the Sabres with 75.
The Penguins take on the New York Rangers on Thursday, March, 4 @ 7:00 pm @ the Madison Square Garden.
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