Penguins at Flames - 10-08-11

(We need to clean our BlackBerry.)

FIRST PERIOD

19:10: David Moss chops a slapper on net from the right circle. Fleury fights it off.

19:05: Off a wrister from the right wall, Alex Tanguay attempts a re-direct in tight. Fleury appears to get a piece of it. If he did, he's not aware. He looked unaware of the play.

18:32: The Flames have the Penguins running around in their own zone. Tanguay attempts to feed Roman Horak in tight but Michalek slides down

18:08: Matt Niskanen booms a slapper from above the right circle but Anton Babchuk slides down to block it.

16:16: Malkin goes high with a check on Stempniak in the left wing corner of the offensive zone. Play is halted. The two have issues:

(How sweet are the Flames' uniforms?)

-Stempniak takes objection and gives Malkin a cross check. Malkin returns the favor with a slash. Stempniak returns with another cross check. The rest of the Flames jump Malkin. Malkin ends up getting the only penalty. Martin, Michalek, Staal and Matt Cooke take the ice.

15:45: You don't see this in too many other NHL venues. Four fans in cowboy hats:

15:06: Jay Bouwmeester gets a chance in tight but can't punch it by Fleury from the slot.

14:31: After a point shot by Bouwmeester from the right point is wide on the near side, Dupuis swats the puck down ice for a clear.

14:16: Malkin's minor is killed. The Flames generated some chances there.

13:24: Tom Kostopoulos used to be a Penguin AND a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin:

10:02: James Neal sails a wrister from above the right circle wide to the far side.

9:50: Niskanen snaps off a wrister from the left point on net. Kiprusoff gloves it easily.

9:00: Stempniak circles around in the right circle by Martin and snaps off a wrister wide to the far side.

8:32: Jokinen is nabbed for what is essentially a crack-back block on Asham in the Penguins' zone. Neal, Steve Sullivan, Malkin, Kunitz and Letang take the ice. Sullivan is on the right point.

8:28: Off a faceoff win by Malkin in the left circle, Letang puts a quick shot on net. Kiprusoff eats it up.

7:41: Letang fumbles the puck at the right point. Chris Butler steps up and clears it down ice.

6:30: Just as Jokinen's penalty expires, Kennedy makes a few nifty moves to get some space on Kostopoulos and whips a wrister from the left circle. Kiprusoff fights it off.

6:23: Jokinen tries to power by Niskanen on the left wing boards in the neutral zone. Niskanen steps up and smother Jokinen along the boards and separates him from the puck. A nice play by Niskanen.

4:28: What a play. Giordaano takes a pass at the left point, moves in, paralyzes Adams with a slick move and deals a pass to Glencross in the left circle. Glencross booms a one-timer by the glove hand of a helpless Fleury. Wow. Giordano with some serious skill there. Bylsma's not too impressed:

Giordano and Scott Hannan get assists. Flames 1-0.

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-What a horrible goal song.

3:02: Off a good effort by Vitale, Cooke snaps off a wrister from in tight. Kiprusoff fends it off.

2:36: Iginla tries to cut through the Penguins' defense but Niskanen and Ben Lovjeoy team up to force a nice strip.

2:27: Malkin flips a backhander on net from the left circle. Kiprusoff swats it away. Malkin chops at the rebound. Kiprusoff closes his legs and eats it up.

1:45: Off a rush up ice, Tanguay deals a pass from the left wing to Iginla on the right. Iginla blasts a one-timer wide on the near side.

1:04: Kennedy is sent off for tripping Giordano. Rough time to take a penalty. Vitale, Adams, Martin and Michalek take the ice.

0:00: End of period. Flames 1, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-The Penguins looked a little overwhelmed at times that period. Perhaps the Flames have a little extra energy since it's their home opener, but they had a slightly better period than the Penguins. The bulk of play was in the Penguins' zone.

-The Malkin-Neal-Sullivan line isn't nearly as noticeable as it was Thursday night.

-The Penguins weren't all that disciplined that period taking two penalties.

-Lee Stempniak might have been the best player for either team that period.

-Surprisingly, the Penguins have a 9-4 lead in shots.

-That said, most of their shots were low percentage shots from the perimeter.

-Malkin leads the game with two shots.

-Michalek leads the game with 8:42 of ice time.

-Tanguay leads the Flames with 8:05.

-Faceoffs are tied, 12-12 (50 percent).

-Jokinen is 5 for 7 (71 percent).

-Malkin is 4 for 6 (67 percent).

-Butler and Letang each lead the game with two blocked shots.

SECOND PERIOD

20:00: The Penguins will have to kill off 0:56 of power-play time on fresh ice. Michalek, Cooke, Staal and Martin take the ice.

18:56: Welcome to the 2011-12 season Tyler Kennedy. Kennedy's penalty expires. he picks up a puck on the left wing, gains the offensive zone, walks in and snaps off a wrister from the left circle through the five hole of Kiprusoff. What a shot. Looks like the 2010-11 version of Tyler Kennedy. Dupuis gets the only assist. Flames 1, Penguins 1.

17:22: Another penalty for Malkin. Is he trying to make up for the "new" Matt Cooke? Malkin is called for hooking Stempniak in the slot of the Penguins' zone. Staal, Cooke, Martin and Michalek take the ice.

16:12: Rene Bourque tries to center a pass to Niklas Hagman in the slot but Michalek blocks it and smothers the puck to freeze play.

15:56: Stempniak controls the puck on the left wing and deals a pass to Iginla streaking up the right wing. Iginla snaps off a wrister high of the cage. He had an open net there.

15:22: The Malkin minor is killed.

15:15: The Flames are called for too many men on the ice. Tim Jackman will serve the minor. Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, Sullivan and Letang will take the ice. Sullivan mans the right point.

15:06: Neal is set up with a chance in the left circle and whips a wrister wide on the near side.

14:40: Malkin booms a slaper from the right circle. Giordano is there to block it.

14:04:  Letang leads a rush up the left wing and leaves a drop pass for Neal in the left circle. Neal takes the pass, hesitates for a moment and snaps off a shot. Giordano is there to block it.

13:57: Giordano is a puck magnet. Neal recovers the rebound, circles in the left circle and snaps off a wrister which

13:44: Staal releases a low wrister from the left circle. Kiprusoff punches it away.

13:20: Greatest. Power. Play. Ever. Staal pushes the puck up the right wing, gains the offensive zone and deals a pass to Niskanen trailing in the slot. Niskanen booms a slapper which is blocked by David Moss. Niskanen recovers the rebound and jabs it into Kiprusoff's left foot. Niskanen is there for the second rebound and tucks it into the net. What an effort by Niskanen. Staal gets the only assist. It is Staal's 200th career point. Penguins 2-1.

12:06: Hagman takes a drop pass at the left point, moves in and rips a wrister on net. Fleury is able to located the shot despite a screen by Stempniak and gloves the shot. Tough save.

10:51: Letang moves in from the left point and relases a wrister from the slot. Kiprusoff gloves it.

9:57: Dupuis cracks a slapper from above the left circle. Kiprusoff knocks it dead and covers.

9:49: Craig Adams, the Calgary native, strikes. Off a faceoff win in the left circle. Niskanen snaps off a wrister from the left point. It hits a body or two before Kiprusoff fends it off. Letestu jabs at the rebound which deflects to Adams just in front of the crease. Adams just hacks at the puck which hits off the skate of Anton Babchuk and takes a "magic bullet" type of bounce into the net. What a fluky junk goal. But it counts. The goal is unassisted. Penguins 3-1.

8:38: Lovejoy chocps a slapper from the right point which hits a body in front.

8:05: Butler booms a one-timer from the left point. Fleury makes the save despite having Tanguay running him over. Play is halted as Tanguay is sent to the box for goaltender interference. Engelland gives Tanguay the business. Staal, Niskanen, Letestu, Kennedy an Martin take the ice.

7:57: Letestu floats a wrister on net from the right half wall. Staal is in front hoping for a re-direct but no dice.

7:03: Malkin makes a fancy dash through the Flames defense on the right wing and snaps off a wrister high of the cage.

6:56: Welcome back to the score sheet Evgeni Malkin. Malkin controls the puck behind the cage and kicks it to Neal to the left of the crease. Neal jabs a little shot on net. Kiprusoff makes the initial save but the puck hops around. Malkin is Johnny-on-the-spot and pokes it in. He celebrates behind the cage. It's Malkin's first real goal since his knee injury. Neal and Letang get assists. Penguins 4-1.

6:39: It would have to be Matt Cooke huh? Cooke pushes a puck up the right wing only to get hit in the face by the the left shoulder of Cory Sarich. A massive scrum develops next to the Flames' net as Engelland appeared to jump Sarich. Officials break it up. Engelland and Sarich each get double-minors for high sticking. Uh.. okay. Cooke is dazed and heads to the locker room. A classy Flames fan mocks Cooke:

4:57: Malkin just loses his mind. He has the stick hacked out of his hands a Stempniak. A penalty is coming against the Flames Glencross pushes Malkin's stick away Malkin shoves Glencross. Glencross slashes Malkin's leg. Malkin throws a punch and all heck breaks loose. A pseudo-fight breaks out. Officials break it up before it gets too serious. Malkin's jersey isn't tied down in the scrap. Stempniak and Glencross each get slashing minors. Malkin gets only a roughing minor. Malkin caught a break there, especially with the jersey not being tied down. The penguins get a power play. Kennedy, Letang, Sullivan, Kunitz and Neal take the ice. Sullivan ois on the left point.

4:29: Kennedy deals a pass from the left corner into the left circle. Neal leans down and snaps off a shot. Kirpusoff makes th save as the world crashes down around him.

3:05: Dupuis takes a pass on the left wing, races up the boards and cranks a slapper on net. It hits Kiprusoff and deflects out of play.

3:01: Off a faceoff win by Vitale in the left circle, Lovejoy booms a slapper from the left point. Kiprusoff eats it up despite traffic.

2:57: The teams return to even strength.

1:39: Off a give and go with Staal, Kunitz snaps off a wrister from the left circle over the cage.

1:07: Rene Bourque attacks the net with speed but Martin catches up with him and poke checks the puck away before he can release a shot. What a play.

0:00: End of period. Penguins 4, Flames 1.

SECOND INTERMISSION

-What a reversal of play. The Penguins just flat-out dominated. They stormed the Flames' zone and overwhelmed their defense. What an effort.

-Probably the best part of this display is the fact that the Penguins have gotten contributions from all over the lineup. The first, second and fourth lines have produced goals as has one of the defensemen on the third pairing. Lots of secondary scoring is represented.

-Malkin has been something of a knucklehead this game. He looks dominant at times then just does something stupid like try to start a fight without his fight strap tied.

-Martin has been everywhere on defense with some wonderful one-on-one plays.

-Matt Niskanen. Two point. 'Nuff said.

-Kiprusoff has done an okay job, but he's getting overwhelmed.

-The Penguins are dominating shots, 25-9.

-Niskanen leads the game with four shots.

-Tanguay leads the Flames with two.

-Bouwmeester leads the game with 15:54 of ice time.

-Martin leads the Penguins with 15:23.

-The Penguins lead in faceoffs, 26-23 (53 percent).

-Vitale is 7 for 9 (78 percent).

-Jokinen is 8 for 13 (62 percent).

-Giordano leads the game with four blocked shots.

-Letang leads the Penguins with three blocked shots.

-Matt Cooke is back on the team's bench.

THIRD PERIOD

17:51: Cooke appears to get robbed by Kiprusoff. A puck slides out to Dupuis in the slot. Dupuis fakes a shot in initially then deals a passto Cooke right on the doorstep of the goal. Kiprusoff appears to get a piece of his shot and deflects it out of play.

16:49: The Saddledome has been playing plenty of Johnny Cash during stoppages:

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-Solid.

15:04: According to Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun, NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan will review the Sarich-Cooke hit.

13:38: Iginla has a shot/pass off the left wing blocked by Lovejoy.

 

12:32: Hannan chucks a wrister towards the slot. Stempniak re-directs it on net. Fleury is sliding to his right but is able to hold it out with his left foot. Tough save.

11:47: Dan Bylsma calls time out to make this face at Zybnek Michalek:

9:15: Stempniak takes a pass at the top of the left circle, turns and chucks it on net. Fleury eats it up.

9:05: Butler is chased by Asham in his own zone and backhand flips the puck out of play. That's a delay of game penalty. Kunitz, Malkin, Neal, Sulliv and and Letang take the ice.Sullivan is on he point with Letang.

8:15: Malkin gains the offensive zone on the right wing, pulls up and deals a little pass to letang at the top of the slot. Letang booms  one-timer on net. Kiprusoff makes the easy save without a screen.

7:13: Niskanen takes a pass from Kennedy at the right point, moves towards the slot and cracks a slapper on net. Kiprusoff eats it up.

7:09: Off a faceoff win, Letang fires a slapper from the right wing. Horak blocks it.

6:37: Tanguay booms a slapper from above the left circle. Fleury makes the inital save but allows a rebound. Jackman follows up on the rebound but pokes it over the cage.

5:22: Staal releases a wrister from the slot. Kiprusoff gloves it. Root Sports announcer Paul Steigerwald mentions Evgeni Malkin is not on the bench.

5:21: Sure enough, afte ra commercial, Malkin returns to the bench. But as Root Sports, Bob Errey points out, Staal is centering his line as play resumes.

4:17: Cooke swats a wrister wide to the far side of net from the left circle wide. According to Errey, Malkin has been moving between the bench and locker room repeatedly.

3:37: Olli Jokinen, a pseudo Penguins killer, strikes. Jokinen dumps a puck behind the net. FLeury doesn't handle it cleanly. Hagman recovers the puck and deals it to Jokinen in the left circle. As Fleury hustles back to the crease, Jokinen snaps off a one-timer by Fleury. Put that one on Fleury. Hagman gets the only assist. Fleury could make a case for one. Penguins 4-3.