HEATHER WAMPLER – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pens met with the Ottawa Senators for game two of the playoffs Friday night. After the last game I was nervous going into this one. If they had lost it, it would have been hard for them to come back. If they did. If they won, it would be anyone’s series. Forward Ruslan Fedotenko and backup goaltender Brent Johnson were scratched from the game. Mike Rupp and baby pens Brad Thiessen were the replacements.
As the first period started I was sure the game was already over. 18 seconds in Ottawa opened the scoring when center Peter Regin pretty much walked up to the goal and threw a wrister over Pens goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove. He was assisted by center Jason Spezza and right winger Daniel Alfredsson. What a way to start game two. Fortunately this goal helped rile up the Pens and they played amazingly the rest of the night. They almost tied up the game 38 seconds later when Captain Sidney Crosby sent a pass to right winger Billy Guerin. Guerin sent the shot flying at Sens goaltender Brian Elliott but was stopped. The first penalty was given at 5:16 to Pens defenseman Brooks Orpik for roughing. Left winger Chris Kunitz stole the puck from Sens defenseman Anton Volchenkov at 8:45. He sent a shot to the net but was blocked by Elliott. Crosby was able to crash the net and backhand a rebound in to tie up the game. Crosby’s goal was exactly what this team needed. 19:45 was a scary moment for defenseman Jordan Leopold. Sens defenseman Andy Sutton gave a dirty elbow to head hit knocking Leopold out for a few minutes. Fortunately he was able to get up and skate off with a bit of help from the trainers. No penalty was given to Sutton. I really hope the boys up north decide on a really good punishment for the dirty jagoff. If you watched the game, you saw right before Sutton made contact he leapt into the air ensuring his elbow hit Leopold’s head. I know it’s the playoff’s and the Refs don’t like calling penalties, but come on! At the whistle Pens center Max Talbot and Sens center Zack Smith dropped gloves and went at it. The crowd went nuts. Both players received five minute fighting majors. By the end of the first the Pens outshot the Sens 10-6.
Crosby had a great chance 49 seconds into the second when he was able to walk in around the net and get a great backhander off, but Elliott was able to make a pad save. 1:59 in had Sens instigator, left winger Jarkko Ruutu, tripping up Pens left winger Pascal Dupuis and much to the dismay of the fans (myself included) again there was no penalty called. I was screaming “wake up refs!” but I’m sure they didn’t hear me. Sutton came back on the ice to a very cold welcome from the Pens fans. Anytime he touched the puck boo’s rang throughout the Mellon. Nobody was happy with him or the refs. Talbot was at it again. 8:40 in he and Ruutu went round after the whistle. Both players were given roughing minors. It might not have been total retribution for the Leopold hit, but Sutton was off to the box for holding Pens center Evgeni Malkin. To keep with the theme of the game, not calling penalties, Crosby was hit in the face by a Senator’s stick at 12:08 and big surprise, no penalty. The final penalty of the second went to Pens left winger Matt Cooke at 13:31 for roughing after he was sent to the box for a skirmish in front of Elliott. The Pens outshot the Sens 11-7.
Sens Ruutu didn’t waste time trying to draw a penalty on Pens captain Crosby. At 1:47 Crosby drilled Ruutu into the boards behind Fleury. Ruutu then stayed on the ice for a few minutes expecting a call. No penalty. Sutton found himself back in the box at 6:20 for holding the stick. I thought for sure the power play unit would be able to pull the Pens ahead. Unfortunately they didn’t do much of anything besides get a few good shots off. At the end of their two minutes the game was still 1-1 with the minutes ticking down. What would the Pens do without Captain Crosby? He really is a hockey god. Not only is the captain amazing in offense, defense he can also goal tend. At 10:46 he dove into the crease behind Fleury stopping a loose puck from skidding into the net. Fleury was able to redeem his almost goal allow though. Sens Spezza almost had a mini breakaway but Fleury flew out of the net and knocked the puck away. The game winning goal came at 15:48 when none other than Crosby danced around behind the Sens net wearing them out. He fell to his knees but does that stop him? He sent a pass sailing to defenseman Kris Letang who was able to slap the puck in. Guerin received the second assist. The Pens outshot the Sens 11-7.
With this win the Pens and Sens are now tied at one in the series. It’s any man’s game now. As for news around the hockey world, so far as of 11:42 pm the Nashville Preds beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in their series opener. The New Jersey Devils beat the Philadephia Flyers 5-3 and are now tied at 1 in the series. The Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks are nearing the middle of the second period and the Avalanche are leading 3-2. The Detroit Redwings and the Phoenix Coyotes are tied at 3 at the end of the second.
The Pens and Sens will meet for the third time on Sunday, April 18, @ the Scotia Bank Place at 6:30 pm.
