Penguins at Avalanche - 02-16-11
PREGAME
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-Hey, guess where we are:
-No, not quite:
-EN readers Sarah Nelson, Ed Munoz and Dean Laroche are on site and have come through in a big way with some pregame photos. The ice:
-Some jerseys. Brent Johnson:
-Mario Lemieux:
-Evgeni Malkin:
-Peter Forsberg:
-Marc-Andre Fleury:
-Fleury and Jaromir Jagr:
-Marek Svatos and Alex Tanguay with a weird jersey foul:
-John-Michael Liles Team USA:
(Someone's getting a little grabby.)
-Brooks Orpik:
-412 is well-represented:
-Jordan Staal:
-Kyle Quincey:
-Patrick Roy:
-Miroslav Satan:
-Lemieux All-Star:
-Jersey of the Night: Peter Frosberg Team Sweden:
-Warm ups:
-Dan Bylsma presumably throwing pucks on the ice:
-The Penguins' starters are Nick Johnson, Jordan Staal, Brett Sterling, Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik and Marc-Andre Fleury.
-Their scratches are Matt Cooke, Eric Godard and Ben Lovejoy.
-The Avalanche's scratches are David Jones, Paul Stastny, Chris Stewart, John-Michael Liles, Ryan O'Byrne and Peter Budaj.
-Its only scratch is Jonos Holos.
-Matt Duchene is not playing due to a hand injury.
-The Avalanche is wearing its blue fluoride toothpaste jerseys:
-FSN Pittsburgh provides your lines and defensive pairings:
-We like the first line.
19:24: Jordan Staal has a clean chance in the slot and snaps off a wrister wide to the left side.
14:55: Kennedy rips a wrister from teh top of the slot wide of the cage.
14:43: Adams jabs a quick low wrister from the left circle. Budaj kneels down and kicks it out. Tough save.
13:10: Ryan Craig releases a wrister on net from the left wing. Budaj kicks it out.
12:49: Coming back from commercial, we see Joe Vitale getting some repairs to his face above his left eye. Just what the Penguins need. More batters forwards.
12:30: Paul Stastny has been Peter Stastny's kid at least twice in the broadcast:
x2
10:03: Fleury denies Philippe Dupuis (no relation to Pascal) and Cody McLeod are denied in tight by Fleury.
7:21: Off a rebound in tight, Ryan O'Reilly snaps off a wrister from the right circle. It clinks off the near post.
6:41: Paul Martin settles a puck at the left point, moves in and rips a wrister. Budaj sais no.
6:24: Jones pushes a puck up the right wing, fends off a check and taps a pass to Chris Stewart on the left wing. Stewart can't take the pass cleanly and pushes it on net with his backhand. Fleury's right leg says no.
5:17: Nick Johnson sweeps the puck from around the back of the cage and tries to jam im a wrap around. Budaj denies him with his stick.
4:43: Daniel Winnik snaps off a wrister from the left point. Fleury gloves it.
4:08: Rupp pulls up at the right point
3:57: Kevin Shattenkirk makes a nifty curl and drag move from the left circle and snaps off a wrister. Fleury fights it off.
3:43: Ryan Wilson pumps a slapper from above thel left circle. Fleury fends it off.
3:16: After the Penguins are called for icing, Dan Bylsma calls a time out to get his team a rest.
2:33: What a passing play. What a goal. Martin makes a nice cross-ice pass from the right point in the Penguins' zone to Sterling at the Colorado blue line. Sterling gains the offensive zone and from the right point, he snaps off a pass to the slot. Sterling takes the pass, moves in and rips a fantastic wrister over the left shoulder of Budaj. Bob Errey points out that Alex Goligoski and Martin were taking a shift together on the play. Sterling and Martin get assists. Penguins 1-0.
1:47: EN reader @Mancrush41 points out that with a goal and a cut, Vitale just needs a fight to complete a "Ben Lovejoy Hat trick."
0:00: End of period. Penguins 1, Avalanche 0.
FIRST INTERMISSION
-The Penguins gave up a few rushes in their own zone, but for the most part, they played a responsible and simple period. They played thigns safe. The cut down on mistakes and took advantage of at least one chance.
-As Errey mention, Bylsma planed on mising up his defensive pairing for this gam.e The change paid off in one instance at least.
-Fleury has been sharp so far.
-The Avalanche has a 11-10 lead in shots.
-Craig, Stewart, O'Reilly and Wilson each lead the game with two.
-John-Michael Liles leads the game with 7:32 of ice time.
-Orpik leads the Penguins with 7:12.
-The Avalanche has a 7-6 lead in faceoffs (54 percent).
-Stastny is 4 for 4 (100 percent).
-Adams is 3 for 3 (100 percent).
-No one has more than one blocked shot.
-For anyone wonder, Peter Budaj has an image of Ned Flanders from "The Simpsons" on the back of his mask on account of being a devout Christian:
-Sterling has four points in four games. Who needs Crosby or Malkin?
SECOND PERIOD
19:17: Sterling is in some discomfort in the Colorado zone after getting high sticked by Stastny. Mike Rupp, Pascal Dupuis, NIck Johnson Kris Letang and Goligoski take the ice.
17:17: The Penguins do nothing with that power play.
16:36: Tie game. David Jones circles out of the right wing corner and centers a pass to the slot. It hits off either Orpik or Fleury and comes to a rest for Chris Steart in the crease. Stewart pushes in the easy goal. A lucky bounces for the Avalanche. The "Hey Song" is played. Jones and Stastny get assists. Avalanche 1, Penguins 1.
15:49: Letang zips up the left wing corner and releases a wrister which buzzes Budaj's tower but clears' the top of the cage.
14:59: Off a nice drop pass by Nick Johnson. Staal takes the pass and releases a quick wrister from the slot. Budaj eats it up. Johnson and Ryan Wilson mix it up and eventually drop the gloves. Johnson get pummelled by a ton of right hands from Wilson and falls down with Wilson on top. Johnson gets up and appears a big woozy. That was pretty brutal. Wilson heads to the penalty box. Johnson heads to the locker room.
14:10: Goligoski steps up and pounds a slapper from the slot wide to the right of the cage.
13:18: Conner attemps a backhander wrap around from the left of the cage but loses control of the puck in the crease.
10:05: Kennedy snaps off a wrister from the left circle. Budaj punches it away.
9:02: Winnick forces a centering pass from the left circle. Zbynek Michalek slides down and blocks it with his left hip.
8:24: Staal and Ryan O'Byrne battle in the left wing corner in the Colorado zone for a puck. O'Bryne is called for holding up Staal. that's two minutes. Staal, Sterling, Kennedy, Letang and Goligosk itake the ice.
7:39: Kennedy grips and rips a wrister from deep on the left wing. Budaj eats it up.
7:28: Goligoski snaps off a wrister from the right point. It hits something in front and skids wide of the cage as Rupp battles in the slot.
7:25: According to Errey, Nick Johnson is back on the ice.
6:24: The O'Byrne minor is killed. The Penguins were a little better that two minutes.
5:46: Cameron Gaunce pounds a one-timer from the top of the slot. Conner slides down and blocks it.
5:41: Gaunce gets the puck back and snaps off a wrister from the right point. It floats in by Fleury's glov handand into the cage. Fleury looke like he was screened there, but he needs to make that save. It's Gaunce's first career goal. Matt Hunwick and Stastny get assists. Avalanche 2-1.
5:09: With his team reeling a bit, Staal steps up. Staal rush ups the right wing with Sterling on a two-one one against Liles. Staal elects to shoot from the right circle and rips a wrister which toasts Budaj over his glove. The puck clinks off the cross bar and into the net. What a shot. Nick Johnson gets the only assist. Avalanche 2, Penguins 2.
3:02: O'Bryne collects a loose puck in the slot and rips a wrister. Michalek blocks it and covers in the slot to freeze play. Vitale is nabbed for hooking Milan Hejduk. Adams, Staal, Letang and Orpik take the ice.
1:57: As Talbot loses his stick, Shattenkirk cranks a one-timer from the left point. Dupuis is able to block it out of play.
1:40: Adams is called for tripping Kevin Porter in the Avalanche zone. Tough spot for the Penguins as they have 38 seconds of a two-man advantage to kill. Avalanche coach Joe Sacco calls time out to get his team organized. Staal, Talbot and Orpik take the ice.
1:03: Hejduk whips a wrister from the left circle. Fleury bodies it away.
1:02: Vitale's penalty is killed. The Avalanche still has 1:22 of a one-man advantage.
0:46: Liles blasts a one-timer from the left circle wide to the far side. Stewart was in front hoping for a re-direct.
0:28: Staal chips the puck down ice for a hugeclear.
0:00: End of period. Avalanche 2, Penguins 2.
SECOND INTERMISSION
-Things could have gotten out of hand there for the Penguins once they were down by a goal but they responded well and tied the game.
-The Avalanche could have reclaimed the lead late in the third period but the Penguins' penalty kill came through with a strong effort to finish the period.
-Fleury continues to play strong. He has to be this team's best player right now.
-Shots are tied, 23-23.
-Staal leads the game with four shots.
-Stewart leads the Avalanche with three.
-Liles leads the game with 17:06 of ice time.
-Letang leads the Penguins with 14:25.
-The Avalanche control faceoffs, 23-14 (62 percent).
-Stastny is 13 for 17 (76 percent).
-Talbot is 5 for 10 (50 percent).
-Martin leads the game with four blocked shots.
-Philippe Dupuis leads the Avalanche with two.
-Also, Granato has been Colorado's coach like three times:
x3
THIRD PERIOD
20:00: The Avalanche has 20 seconds of power-play time on fresh ice. Talbot, Michalek, Dupuis and Orpikt take the ice.
19:40: The Adams minor is killed. That was big for the Penguins
19:15: Staal whips a puck into
19:03: O'Reilly gets loose in the slot and whips a lowr wrister on net. Fleury fight it off. O'Reily is playing pretty good for someone who was incarcerated in Oswald State Correctional Facility:
16:28: O'Bryne is called for cross checking Staal. Kind of a ticky tack penalty. Staal, Goligosk, Letang, Ruppa nd Dupuis take the ice.
15:01: Brandon Yip steals a puck off at the right point, taps it up ice and is off on a breakaway. As Letang gives chase, Yip goes forehand to backhand and pushes a shot on net. Fleury sticks with the puck and fight off the shot with his right leg. HUGE save.
14:42: Michalek cranks a slapper from above the right circle. The puck sails well high of the cage.
13:38: Rupp rushes up the right wing and flips a little backhander on net. Budaj eats it up.
14:28: The O'Bryne minor is killed.
12:45: Michalek chops a slapper from the right point. Budaj kicks it out wih is right leg.
9:55: Craig tries to push a puck from behind the net to the crease. Cody McLeod reaches out and hauls down Craig. That's two minutes. Kennedy, Goligoski, Sterling, Letang and Staal take the ice.
9:31: Off a faceoff in the right circle in the Penguins' zone, Yip actually jabs a quick shot from the dot to the side of the cage. That was sneaky.
8:06: Martin pumps a wrister from the right point. It hits the near post and rings away.
7:55: The Penguins allow another power play to expire without much of a threat.
4:15: After a stagnant three-plus minutes, Kennedy chips a slapper from the right half wall. It hits a skate and deflects away ont he far side.
2:59: Hunwick tosses a wrister from deep on the left wing. Fleury makes the inital save. Philippe Dupuis collects the rebound and is denied in tight.
2:29: Michalek is deep on the right wing and tosses a wrister at the cage. Budaj kicks it out.
1:14: After some serious work down low below the goal line by Adams and Dupuis, Letang snaps off a wrister from the top of the slide wide to the right of the cage.
0:00: End of period. Avalanche 2, Penguins 2.
THIRD INTERMISSION
-The last five minutes of regulation were very reminiscent of a playoff game. Both teams went all out and dug in along the boards.
-The Penguins have a 34-30 lead in shots.
OVERTIME
4:31: Hejduk taps a backhander wide to the left side of the net.
4:15: Martin grips and rips a wrister from the left point wide on the near side.
3:21: Jones chases down a dump in on the right wing. He rips a heavy wrister from the right circle which misses wide to the far side and clunks off the boards.
1:36: Staal snaps off a wrister from the left circle. Shattenkirk blocks it with his stick.
1:26: Big break for the Penguins as Michalek is tripped up behind the Penguins' net by Porter. Kennedy, Staal, Goligoski and Letang take the ice.
0:59: Letang taps a pass to Goligoski to the right point. Goligoski pounds a one-timer which Budaj fights off.
0:49: Second chance rebounds wins the game. Kennedy taps a pass from low on the left wing to Goligoski at the top of the left circle. Goligoski pounds a one-timer. Budaj makes the save but allows a rebound. Kennedy collects on the left wing along the goal line. Kennedy whips it into the cage behidn an out of place Budaj for the win. A sizeable collection of Penguins fans erupt. Goligoski and Letang get assists. End of game. Penguins 3-2.
POSTGAME
-What a hard-fought win. The Penguins matched the Avalanche's effort and grinded out this win.
-We know the Avalanche is reeling. It's a team which has lost nine consecutive games. But it was embarrassed Monday by the Flames. They were motivated. They fought for every inch on the ice and gave an honest effort tonight. This was was not an easy win for the Penguins.
-The Penguins are all about opportunity right now. As in opportunity for prospects in the organization. This is the greatest chance players like Vitale, Johnson, Craig and Sterling will have to show what they can do for the franchise. They all contributed to a win and showed management they want to stay at this level.
-The Penguins' two remaining, healthy core players, Staal and Fleury, both stepped up in this game as well. Fleury turned away plenty of quality chances while Staal seemed like he was all over the ice tonight.
-Conversely, the Avalanche's star players like Statsny and Hejduk disappeared in the second half of the game.
-Sterling has four points in four games. Regardless of anyone else's health, we don't see how he doesn't belong on the Penguins' NHL roster at the moment.
-Kennedy is a player who can frustrate you quite a bit. He ends up with tons of quality scoring chances but doesn't always make the most out of them. But during this recent run of injuries, he has been this team's best winger.
-The Penguins' penalty kill had a huge rebound after a dreadful Sunday in New York. While they are fighting through these injuries/suspensions, they need that special teams unit to be nearly perfect.
-The Penguins led in shots, 36-31.
-Staal, Kennedy and O'Reilly each led the game with five shots.
-Liles led the game with 25:05.
-Staal led the Penguins 24:26.
-The Avalanche controlled faceoffs, 29-24 (54 percent).
-Stastny is 15 for 22 (68 percent).
-Talbot is 6 for 12 (50 percent).
-Shattenkirk led the game with five shots.
-Martin led the Penguins with four.
-Kennedy's goal was the 50th of his career.