Senators at Penguins - 01-10-12

-Downtahn:

-The red roof of the Civic Arena:

-The current barn:

-The ice:

-The rink:

-The motor which lifts and lowers the scoreboard:

-Zbynek Michalek is... you know... your IceTime cover boy... you know:

-A few jersey sightings. Ruslan Fedotenko:

-Jersey of the Night: Fulton Reed Mighty Ducks:

-The Penguins' starters are Chris Kunitz, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Deryk Engelland, Brooks Orpik and Brent Johnson.

-Their scratches are Steve MacIntyre, Colin McDonald and Paul Martin.

-The Senators' starters are Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Condra, Kyle Turris, Jared Cowen, Sergei Gonchar and Craig Anderson.

-Their only scratch is surprsingly, all-star defenseman Erik Karlsson. He is out due to an "upper-body" injury.

-Jimerson gets his maple leaf on:

FIRST PERIOD

19:20: Kunitz takes a pass int he right circle, settles it, spins and whips it on net. Anderson boots it out.

18:33: From the left of the cage, Tyler Kennedy deals a pass to Eric Tangradi in the left circle. Tangradi pumps a quick shot on net. Anderson kicks it out.

17:57: Richard Park whacks a slapper from the right circle. Brian Lee deflects it wide.

17:45: Ben Lovejoy settles  boucing puck at the right point, winds up and chops it on net. Anderson fights it off despite traffic.

17:25: Asham whilstes a wrister from the right circle. It hits a stick and deflects out of play.

16:44: Kaspar Daugavins floats a wrister from the right point. Johnson gloves the shot and distributes the puck to Malkin.

15:26: Malkin and Neal force a steal on the left wing wall. Malkin taps a pass to Engelland above the right circle. Engelland grips and rips a wrister on net. Anderson kicks it out.

14:35: Big save. Michalek steals a puck off Pascal Dupuis in the neutral zone and pushes it past the Penguins' blue line. Spezza taps a pass to Milan Michalek above the crease. Michalek tumbles but still manages to poke the pass on net. Johnson kicks it out with his right leg.

12:38: The great Joe Vitale steals a puck off Daugavins at the right point of the Ottawa line, races up the right wing boards and snaps off a wrister from the right circle. Anderson fights it off with his chest. Vitale recovers the rebound and attempts a forehanded wraparound on the other side of the cage but shoots it wide through the crease. Great effort.

12:19: Lee is called for holding the great Joe Vitale. Neal, Malkin, Kunitz, Steve Sullivan and Matt Niskanen take the ice.

11:04: Simon Despres has a wrister from the right point blocked by Condra.

10:34: Dupuis snaps off a wrister from the right circle. Anderson kicks it out.

10:19: As the Lee penalty expires, Despres tries to slam Daugvins into the boards at the left point of the Penguins zone but gets mostly boards. Despres takes an akward tumble and heads to the bench with a limp. Athletic trainer Chris Stewart checks on him in the ramp way then both head to the dressing room.

8:47: The Senators strike first. Chris Neil settles a bouncing puck behind the cage, emerges on the left side of the cage and attempts a wraparound on his forehand. Johnson holds out the inital shot but can't prevent Neil's rebound attempt. Someone biffed on defens there. Either Ben Lovejoy or Matt Cooke left Neil all alone. Turris and Nick Foligno get assists. Senators 2-0.

7:34: Orpik smacks Chris Phillips with a stiff check in to the left wing boards at the left point of the Penguins' zone.

5:57: This just keeps getting world. Foligno zips up the left wing, turns Lovejoy inside out at the left circle with a brilliant move and and deals a pass to Bobby Butler to the right of the crease. Butler rips a wrister by the left pad of a helpless Johnson. What a pass by Foligno. A rough first period for Lovejoy thus far. Foligno gets the only assist. Dan Bylsma calls a timeout to get organized. Senators 2-0.

3:23: Cowen pumps a slapper from the left point. Zbynek Michalek blocks it wide to the near side.

0:04: After a few stagnant minutes, Neal snaps off a wrister from teh right point. Anderson gloves it down.

0:00: End of period. Senators 2, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-How bad are things for the Penguins right now? They played Cotton-Eyed Joe in the first period. That's usually reserved for the third period during wins:

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-Desperate times.

-The Penguins started this game pretty well. They controlled play in the Senators' zone and pressured Anderson with a few quality shots.

-The Senators were able to take advantage of some mistakes by the Penguins in the first period and capitalized. The Penguins simply failed to respond in kind.

-The pairing of Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland had a rough 20 minutes.

-No word yet on Despres' status.

The Penguins have a 9-7 lead in shots.

-Daugavins, Neil and and Kennedy each lead the game with two shots.

-Cowen leads the game with 8:46 of ice time.

-Malkin leads the Penguins with 8:20.

-The Penguins have a 10-12 lead in faceoffs (83 percent).

-Malkin is 6 for 7 (86 percent).

-Spezza is 1 for 2 (50 percent).

-Niskanen, Zbynek Michalek, Dupuis and Phillips each lead the game with two blocked shots.

SECOND PERIOD

18:45: And the rout it on. Spezza works his way put the right wing  and fakes a slapper. Johnson challenges the would-be shot heavily and kind of slips outside his crease. Spezza pulls the shot down sneaks by Johnson and is able to make a fantastic move ot his backhand. From the left of the cage, he's able to tuck the shot over the goal line. Oof. Johnson is pulled for Marc-Andre Fleury. Colin Greening and Chris Phillips. Senators 3-0.

17:55: Anderson covers a puck in the crease. Neal comes barging in and jabs at Anderson's glove a few times. Milan Michalek takes offense and gives Neal a few shoves. A smalls scrum develops. Officials break it up. Michalek is called for roughing. Neal is sent off for slashing. Four on four.

16:34: Dupuis lifts a wrister from the left wing. Anderson eats it up.

16:07: Malkin races up the right wing boards one-on-one with Filip Kuba, goes behind the net and emerges to the left of the cage. He seems to have Anderson beat whiffs on his backhand attempt. It hits off the near post. Anderson is late getting to his right but covers the rebound with his glove.

14:50: Orpik takes a pass at the left point, settles the puck, surveys the ice and pumps a slapper on net. Anderson steers it away.

14:44: Neil carries a puck out of his zone and is smacked to the ice by Orpik. Nice hit.

14:43: Asham is called for slashing Zack Smith in front of the Penguins' bench. Dupuis, Orpik, Zbynek Michalek and Craig Adams.

14:18: And the hole gets deeper. Spezza controls a puck at the right wing corner of the offensive zone and snaps off a backhanded pass to the slot. Greening pumps a shot on net which appears to his off the right skate of Milan Michalek and deflects into the cage behind Fleury's left skate. Officials rule a good goal on the ice. A replay confirms the call. Greening and Spezza get assists. Ugh. Senators 4-0.

12:20: Despres will not return due to a lower-body injury.

11:08: Orpik whips a wrister on net fromthe left point. Tangradi re-directs it on net with his backhand. Anderson gloves it.

10:16: Orpik is still playing hard. Milan Michalek pushes a puck up the left wing and tries to tap it by Orpik. Orpik is able to go stick on puck and pokes it back into the neutral zone.

9:27: Kunitz smacks Cowen with a solid hit behind the Senators' net.

8:46: Just wen the Penguins break through, it comes with a concession. Gonchar fumbles a puck in the left wign corner of his won zone and turns it over. Malkin picks off his pass and works his way in on net. He's able to flip a forehand shot by the right leg of Anderson. Just as the shot goes in, Gonchar shoves Malkin from behind into the cage. Malkin is on the ice in discomfort. Neal gives Gonchar a shove. Malkin eventually recovers and returns to the bench hunched over. He appears fine for the most part. The "Woo-Hoo!" song and the "Malkamania" video are played.

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6:45: Malkin returns to the ice.

6:15: Zbynek Michalek snaps off a wrister from the right circle. It gets blocked out of play.

6:03: Orpik chops a slapper from the left point. Tangradi is in the left circle and re-directs the shot on net. Anderson fights it off. Great effort by Tangradi. He's been strong in front of the cage.

5:32: Dupuis snaps off a wrister from just to the left of the crease. It hits a body in front.

4:30: Lee whips a wrister from the right point wide of the cage.

4:01: Attendance is announced as 18,603. It is the team's 230th consecutive sellout.

3:26: Niskanen takes a pass at the right and cranks a slapper wide of the cage on the near side. Richard Park is called for goatlender interfernece. Sullivan tries to start something with Lee hoping to goad him into a penalty. Lee doesn't bite. Michalek, Dupuis, Adams and Orpik take the ice.

3:20: Gonchar booms a slapper from the right point which Fleury fights off Neil crashes into

2:10: Fans are booing Gonchar everytime he touches the puck. Apparently for his hit on Malkin.

1:26: The Park minor is killed. The Senators didn't do too much with that chance.

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

SECOND INTERMISSION

-There's some good news. The Penguins have only allowed 13 shots.

-The bad news, they've allowed four goals on 13 shots.

-This is pretty bad. The last time we recall feeling this doom and gloom for a Penguins game was when Sidney Crosby beat up Florida's Brett McLean in 2008-09:

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-Brent Johnson has seen better days.

-The Penguins have a 22-13 lead in shots.

-Cooke and Lovejoy each lead the game with three shots.

-Milan Michalek, Butler, Daugavins and Neil each lead the Senators with two.

-The Penguins have a 22-13 lead in faceoffs.

-Malkin is 10 for 13 (77 percent).

-Zenon Konopka is 3 for 5 (60 percent).

-Gonchar, Niskanen and Zbynek Michalek each lead the game with three blocked shots.

THIRD PERIOD

19:42: Off a faceoff win in the right circle, Zbynek Michalek booms a slapper from the right point. Anderson steers it away with hsi glove hand.

16:46: Spezza booms a slapper from the right circle. Fleury glvoes it near side.

16:19: Phillips fires a slapper fromthe left point .Fleury kicks it out.

15:03: Tangradi chucks a wrister from the left wing. Anderson eats it up.

14:03: Malkin and Neal combine to wallop Matt Carkner in the left wing corner of the Senators' zone.

11:20: After a few stangant minutes, play is halted as Smith is in a heap in the Penguins' crease. Neal smacked him in the back. He left his feet to do it too. Undisciplined penalty. Zbynek Michalek, Adams and Park each leave the game.

9:12: Neal comes out of the box. Adams snaps a pass up ice to him on the right wing. Neal races in on net and snaps it on net. Anderson makes the initial save. The great Joe Vitale chops the rebound on net. Anderson freezes the puck.

8:42: Off some hard work by Makin behind the net, Neal has a chance in tight but Anderson holds it out.

7:42: What  a wonderful exclamation mark to end this night. Greening circle around the back of the net with Zbynek Michalek chasing him. from the left circle, he deals a pass to Milan Michalek. Milan Michalek snaps off a lethal wrister by the blocker of Fleury. Eric Tangradi was slow in pursuing Milan Michalek on that play. Their Michalek > Pittsburgh's Michalek. Greening and Kuba get assists. Senators 5-1.

5:56: Orpik looks pretty mad. As Turris goes offsides, Orpik thumps him to the ice. Officials kind of huddle around Orpik to prevent a scrum. Malkin is sent off for hooking Turris, Adams, Lovejoy, Park and Engelland take the ice.

5:09: Gonchar booms a slapper from the left point. Fleury fights it off. Lovejoy whacks the rebound down ice.

4:03: Philips has a slapper from the right point blocked by the Great Joe Vitale.

3:56: The Malkin minor expires.

1:56: Cooke chips a puck behind the Senators' net. He races after it with Gonchar and sticks Gonchar into the boards dropping him. That gets a late cheer from fans.

0:00: End of game. The game ends with Carkner taking a pop shot at Cooke. Officials do a good jobe and hold off everyone for the most part. Both teams head to their dressing room. Senators 5, Penguins 1.

POSTGAME

-First things first, there was no update on Simon Despres.

-Is this rock bottom? It sure feels like it. Unfortunately for the Penguins, it seems like this can continue, especially given the injuries.

-The Penguins just didn't have anything this game.  The effort might have been there, but that was it. They looked sloppy. They lacked focus. They lacked execution. They lacked chemistry. This is a pretty awful team right now.

-It's still too early to press the panic button. Other team have suffered longer losing streaks and have had success. The 2007-08 Flyers had losing streaks of six and 10 games. They were in the Eastern Conference Final. The 2010-11 Capitals had an eight-game losing streak and ended being the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

-We're not guaranteeing success for these Penguins by any stretch, we're just not calling the coroner yet.

-The injuries are obviously key. It's noble that the Penguins don't want to blame them, but at some point, reality needs to be acknowledge. Kris Letang and Paul Martin routinely eat 25-plus minutes a night and neither were available tonight. Their replacement, Despres, left the game 10 minutes in. And obviously, Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal mean so much to team as well.

-It's become painfully obvious that Brent Johnson just hasn't played well at all this season. Nearly every time he has gotten the start, he has not put his team in a good position to win. We hate to be the genesis of any trade speculation, but it might be time for the team to look for another back up goaltender. Either that, or you can run Marc-Andre Fleury into the ground.

-The defensive pairing of Deryk Engelland and Ben Lovjeoy has had better nights. They were torched for Ottawa's first two goals.

-Brooks Orpik might have been the best Penguins player tonight. He ripped the team's performance Saturday and backed his words up tonight.

-Don't take anything away from the Senators. They are one of the hottest teams in the NHL having gone 9-1-2 in their past 12 games. They caught the Penguins at the right time.

-It's kind of scary to think how bad this game could have been if the Senators had Erik Karlsson.

-On his hit against Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar said, "It’s a part of the game. I didn’t see he had scored already. I thought there was a chance that if I pushed him a bit, he might miss the puck. I probably hit him a littler harder than I expected. In the middle of the battle, you’re just hoping to not allow him to score."

-We'll have more with Gonchar tomorrow on PG+.

-Eric Tangradi had an elevated role tonight and produced mixed results. He was a presence near the cage and had a few nifty re-directions.

-The Penguins led in shots, 30-23.

-Matt Cooke and Chris Kunitz each led the game with four shots.

-Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza each led the Senators with three.

-Orpik led the game with 25:36.

-Gonchar led the Senators with 24:02.

-The Penguins had a 32-29 lead in faceoffs (52 percent).

-The great Joe Vitale was 8 for 11 (73 percent).

-Zenon Konopka was 6 for 9 (67 percent).

-Gonchar led the game with four blocked shots.

-Matt Niskanen and Zbynek Michalek led the Penguins with four.

-Game summary.

-Event summary.