If the Pittsburgh Penguins wanted to make big changes heading into 2012, their first game certainly did not live up to the task.
The Penguins continued their woes against top Eastern Conference opponents, losing to the first place New York Rangers 3-1. Just as they had lost their first game of the new year in 2011 3-1, the Penguins dropped their first game of 2012 and also may have lost one of their top centers in the process.
Midway through the third period, Jordan Staal’s left knee collided with the knee of former Penguin, Mike Rupp. While Rupp took a penalty, Staal laid on the ice for a few minutes clutching his leg before gingerly skating off with the trainer. Dan Bylsma offered no update to Staal’s status but it must be alarming and frustrating to have another key Penguins player out due to injury.
Last year, the Penguins lost their captain Sidney Crosby due to a concussion, stemming from a hit he took in the Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals on January 1st, 2011. Crosby, since then, has played in just nine games while his career appears to be in jeopardy. The injury to Staal likely removes another key piece of Pittsburgh’s championship puzzle for this season.
With Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang out for the past month, the Penguins have been able to beat sub-playoff teams while consistently losing to the league’s best including the Rangers (twice), Flyers (twice), Red Wings and Bruins.
Tonight’s game had a different start than the score indicated. The Penguins dominated for the better part of the first period. However, a timeout from coach John Tortorella got the Rangers back in the game after they fell behind 1-0 on a goal from Pens’ defenseman, Ben Lovejoy.
Whatever Tortorella told his team, it apparently worked as the Rangers were able to tie the game at one with under two minutes remaining in the first period. Newly acquired, Brad Richards, scored on a rebound from a sharp angled shot by Ryan Mcdonagh. Early in the second period, Brandon Dubinsky shorthanded on a bad turnover in the offensive end from the Penguins. Ryan Callahan skated down the right side and fire a perfect pass to Dubinsky for the eventual game-winning goal.
In the third period, things got uglier for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury misplayed a puck out of the net for the first time since the Winter Classic and Patrick Stepan buried the puck into a wide open net. With the Penguins desperately trying to get back in the game, Jordan Staal took a violent knee on knee hit from Mike Rupp. While the Penguins have given no updates to his status, the injury did not look good and it would appear Staal will miss at least a few games.
- The Penguins play the New Jersey Devils tomorrow. It will be the third time they play the Devils this season.
- The Rangers now have 56 points which is 3 more than the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins for tops in the NHL.
- Despite losing, the Penguins outshot the Rangers 38-21 in the game.
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! sports
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