Bruins at Penguins - 03-11-12

-Simon Despres:

-Matt Niksanen:

-Fans walking in off Fifth Avenue:

-Fans walking in off Centre Avenue:

-Fans heading up to the 200 level:

-Fans viewing the Civic Arena's remains:

-A few former Penguins/Bruins. Mark Recchi:

-Bill Guerin:

-Rick Tocchet:

-Joe Mullen:

-The Bruins have several fans present. Milan Lucic:

-Nathan Horton and Ray Bourque:

-Joe Thornton:

-Tim Thomas:

-Keep this gentleman away from the Milbury and Neely fans:

-Can we permit this Steve Yzerman jersey based on any sort of Penguins-Red Wings rivalry?

-Jerseys of the Day: We have to go with this Tyler Seguin-James Neal Plymouth Whalers combo:

-Warm ups:

-The Penguins starters are Matt Cooke, Tyler Kennedy, the great Joe Vitale, Deryk Engelland, Matt Niskanen and Marc-Andre Fleury.

-Their scratches are Dustin Jeffrey, Brent Johnson, Kris Letang, Paul Martin, Richard Park and Brian Strait.

-The Bruins' starters are Patrice Bergeron, Jordan Caron, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg and Tim Thomas.

-Their scrathces are Mike Mottau, Daniel Paille, Rich Peverly, Benoit Pouliot, Tuukka Rask and Greg Zanon.

-Jimerson:

FIRST PERIOD

19:29: Niskanen flings a wrister from the right wing wide to the far side.

18:58: Chris Kunitz knocks Johnny Boychuk to the ice with a strong check in the left wing corner of the Bruins' zone.

17:47: Malkin coats up the right wing circle, moves in on net and snaps off a wrister from the right circle. Thomas says no.

16:36: Ben Lovejoy chops a slapper from right point. it hits something in front. Asham, fights off a defender, collects the rebound and sweeps it from the left circle through the five hole of Thomas. A nice dirty goal. Lovejoy and Adams get assists. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Penguins 1-0.

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15:35: The Bruins get the first power play as Neal is called for interference against Chara. Chara misplayed a puck in the right wing corner of his own zone and Neal slammed him into the boards. That's a pretty borderline call. Chara looked like he touched the puck and Neal should be allowed a second or two to hit him.  Pascal Dupuis, Brooks Orpik, Zbynek Michalek and Adams take the ice.

13:55: Joe Corvo takes a pass at the right point and booms a slapper which hits a body in front.

13:36: A pass by Lucic from behind the Penguins net and i intercepted and tipped out to the neutral zone. The Penguins do a marvelous job of killing off that minor.

12:48: Neal chips a chases a puck into the right wing corner, He fights off a check from Adam McQuaid and allows Malkin to collect the puck. Malkin deals a pass to Niskanen at the right point. Niskanen winds up and booms a slapper. It glances off Chara and beats Thomas on the far side. What a play by Neal to create that chance. Malkin and Neal get assists. Malkin's assist is his 500th career point. Neal's assist is his 200th career assist. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Penguins 2-0.

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12:09: Caron tries to chip and chase a puck into the offensive zone on the left wing. He gets to the puck first but BLAM! Engelland slams him into the boards and sticks him on the ice.

11:47: Lots of hitting so far today. Kunitz tries to corral a puck in the left wing corner of the Boston zone. Chara tries to hit him. Kunitz braces for the hit and both players take a tumble.

9:44: Cooke tries to deal a pass off the right wing of the Boston zone but is held up and spun to the ice. No call.

9:17: Gregory Campbell flings a wrister from the right wing on net. Fleury steers it to the opposite boards with his blocker.

9:02: Eric Tangradi chips a puck into the offensive zone, chases it behidn the net and is dropped by Seidenberg.

8:49: Adams circle around the offensive zone and from the top of the slot, he flings a wrister on net. Thomas eats it up. During a commercial break, Evgeni Malkin's parents are shown in the stands. They get one of the louder cheers of the day.

7:36: After a bad turnover by Orpik, David Krejci flings a wrister on net from above the left circle. Fleury fights it off to his right. The rebound slide to Seguin on the left wing. He chips a wrister wide to the far side.

3:17: After several stale minutes of play, Michalek flings a wrister from the right point. It hits a body in front.

2:47: Fleury plays a puck behind his cage and Krejci runs into the back of him knock him to the ice. Lucic socks Michalek in the face in front of the cage. Michalek doesn't retaliate. Lucic is called for slashing. No call against Krejci? Malkin, Kunitz, Neal, Sullivan and Niskanen take the ice.

2:09: Great situation for the Penguins as Chara is called for interference after slamming Neal into the boards away from the puck. The Penguins will have 1:25 of a five on three.

1:12: Two slumps broken. Malkin collects a puck int the neutral zone, turns around, returns to the offensive zone and slides a cross-ice pass to Neal in the left circle. Neal snaps a pretty wrister between Thomas' right leg and the near post. That's Neal's first goal in nine games. It's also the Penguins' first power play goal in 15 chance. Malkin gets the only assist. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is getting a lot of early work. The Penguisn will still have 1:03 of a five on four to work with. Staal, Malkin, Cooke, Sullivan and Despres take the ice. Penguins 3-0.

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0:24: Meltdown time for the Bruins. Seidenberg, one of their best defender, is called for tripping Malkin as he gained the offensive zone. Malkin took a slightly easy tumble on that play. The Penguins will have a five on three for 15 seconds.

0:01: Just as play expires, Kunitz jabs a bouncing puck from the left circle wide to the far side.

0:00: End of period. Penguins 3, Bruins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-What a period for the Penguins. Just about everything went right for them there. They controlled the bulk of play. They forced the Bruins into several penalties and make life tough on Thomas.

-Don't discount the Bruins' role in this. They look awful. Their effort was sluggish. They don't look focused and they've taken way too many penalties.

-The Penguins' power play looks sharper than it has in recent games. They're moving the puck around a lot better.

-Thomas looked pretty leaky there.

-The Penguins have a 10-7 lead in shots.

-Kunitz leads the game with two shots.

-Seidenberg leads the game with 9:03 of ice time.

-Niskanen leads the Penguins with 7:56.

-The Bruins have an 8-7 edge in faceoffs (53 percent).

-Bergeron is 5 for 7 (71 percent).

-Staal is 3 for 5 (60 percent).

-Boychuk leads the game with two blocked shots.

-McQuaid will not return tot he game for undisclosed reasons.

-Pascal Dupuis is the Icetime coverboy:

-Marty Turco, who was out of the NHL until a week ago, will replace Thomas. This could get ugly.

THIRD PERIOD

20:00: The Penguins will have 1:36 of a power play on fresh ice. Malkin, Neal, Sullivan, Kunitz and Niskanen take the ice.

19:38: Nisaken chops a slapper from the top of the slot. Bergeron blocks it and limps a little bit.

19:06: Malkin booms a slapper from the right circle wide to the right side.

18:55: Bergeron hobbles down the runway to the dressing room.

18:24: The Seidenberg minor expires. Not a ton going on there for the Penguins.

18:04: And the Penguins start this period off on a bad note. After a turnover in the neutral zone by a falling Orpik, Seguin snaps off a pass from the neutral zone to Krejci. Krejci streaks down the slot, blows by Lovejoy and lifts a wrister over the left shoulder of Fleury. An ugly play for all involved in a black jersey. Seguin and Lucic get assists. Penguins 3, Bruins 1.

16:57: Malkin races behind the net, emerges to the left of it, turnos in the left circle with Chara chasing and floats a wrister on net. Turco holds it out.

15:33: Not far. off faceoff wing by Malkin the right circle, He floats behind the net, fights off a check from Ference and deals a one-handed backhand pass to Neal int he left circle. neal taps a pass to Kunitz in the right circle. Kunitz rips a one-timer by the glove hand of a helpless Turco. Turoc didn't have a prayer on that. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Neal and malkin get assists. Penguins 4-1.

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15:05: A faint "Turrrrr...Cccccoooooo...." sing-song chant begins.

14:14: Off a turnover by the Bruins in hit rown zone, Kunitz rips a wrister from the left circle. Turco eats it up.

13:46: A wrister by Engelland from the right circle is deflected out of play by Chara.

12:46: Seidenberg grips and rips a wrister from the top of the slot. Despite a moving screen by Lucic, Fleury snags it with a fancy glove hand.

11:34: Caron chucks a wrister from the right circle. Fleury eats it up. Lovejoy mixes it up with Chris Kelly and Marchand. As Kelly and Lovejoy are engaged, Marchand gives Lovejoy a cross check to the abdomen.

10:52: Wow! Huge save. Sullivan pushes the puck up teh right wing, gains the offensive zone, spins off a check from Chara and and taps a backhanded pass to a streaking Staal. Staal blows by Chara and attacks the net. Turco flops down and kicks his legs up. Staal tries to lift a wrister but Turco's leg knocks it away. Wow! He still has it.

9:59: The Bruins aren't quitting. Off a turnover in the neutral zone, Lucic races into the offensive zone, gets a step on Michalek, circle behidn the net and taps a feed to Krejci in the slot. Krecji beats Orpik to the puck and jabs a feed by Fleury for a goal. Fleury had not chance there. Michalek and Orpik, the new "shut-down" pairing didnt' shut anything down there. Lucic and Seguin get assists. Penguins 4-2.

9:03: After another turnover by Penguins in their own zone, Boychuk pounds a slapper from the left point. Fleury says no.

8:40: Caron rips a wrister from the left wing. Fleury fights it off.

7:14: Malkin challenges Chara and Ference two-on-one. he tries to chip a puck between them and chase after it but Ference stands him. Malkin puts a flying shoulder into Ference and sticks him on his butt.

6:05: Kennedy gets a little space on the right wing and almost cashes. He settles a puck in the lft circle and rips a wrister which clanks off the near post.

5:07: Staal races into the offensive zone and lifts a wrister from the left circle. Turco eats it up. Attedance is announced at 18,609. It is the team's 242nd consecutive sellout.

4:16: Seidenberg blocks a wrister by Malkin in the right circle.

3:24: The Penguins call a timeout following an icing call to get a breather.

3:11: Tough save. After a turnover by Adams in the left wing corner of his ozne zone, Krejci taps a pass to Corvo in the right circle. Corvo jabs a wrister which Fleury bodies away.

2:10: Lucic grips and rips a wrister from the left circle. Michalek flops down and blocks it.

1:42: After Engelland turns the pcuk over in the neutral zone, Lucic flings a wrister from the left circle to the far side. Fleury kicks it out with his left skate.

0:29: Seguin pounds a slapper from the left circle. Fleury fights it off. Krejci follows up on the rebound but fans on this shot. Fleury smothers the puck to freeze play.

0:00: End of period. Penguins 4, Bruins 2.

SECOND INTERMISSION

-Play seemed to even out a bit that period, but the Penguins still played their game and kept control of the game for the most part.

-Boston seemed to get sparked a bit by Turco's insertion into the game. He made a few tough saves and his teammates seemed to rally around that.

-The Bruins saw McQuaid, Bergeron and Max Sauve each leave the lineup that period. Oof.

-The Penguins have been turning the puck over quite a bit today and that's leading to several offensive chances for Boston. They need to cut those down in order to hang on to this game.

-Turco has been solid. He didn't have a prayer on the fourth goal but he stole one from Staal. He's played well enough for his team to come back.

-He appears to be wearing some of his old Dallas Stars gear today:

-The Bruins have a 23-21 edge in shots.

-Kunitz and Krejci each lead the game with four shots.

-Chara leads the game with 17:12 of ice time.

-Niskanen leads the Penguins with 15:23.

-The Penguins have a 21-17 lead in faceoffs (55 percent).

-Malkin is 10 for 14 (71 percent).

-Krejci is 7 for 12 (58 percent).

-Orpik, Michalek, Seidenberg and Boychuk each lead the game with two blocked shots.

-Bergeron has returned for the start of the third period.

THIRD PERIOD

17:51: Another clutch save by Turco. Asham forces a turnvoer by Marchand in the neutral zone, races into the offensive zone on a breakaway and lifts a wrister which Turco swats away.

16:54: Seidenberg snaps off a wrister from the left point. It hits something in front and deflects out of play.

16:07: Kunitz dumps Seidenberg in the left wing corner with a solid check into the boards.

15:10: Pouliot dumps Despres into the left wing corner of the Penguins' zone with a strong hit on a forecheck.

14:37: After some strong forecheck work by Adams in the right wing corner, Cooke and Adams each have a chance in the blue paint but Turco holds the fort.

13:21: Dupuis drops Corvo with a solid int in the right wing corner of the Bruins' zone.

13:12: A quick one-time by Sullivan in the right circle is off the mark.

12:38: A wrister by Neal from the slot is steered away by Turco.

11:13: Boychuk wires a slapper from the right point wide to the far side.

10:58: Adams flings a wrister from the left circle. Turco punches it away.

9:50: The great Joe Vitale takes a shift with Sullivan and Dupuis. Hmm...

9:22: The great Joe Vitlae does wha we wall wish we could do and hammers Marchand to the ice with a solid shoulder on shoulder hit at the Penguins' blue line.

8:40: Staal is skating with his old running mates, Cooke and Kennedy, on the third line. Hmm....

6:31: Lovejoy booms a slapper from the left point. Boychuk chases after and is slammed from behind into the boards by Malkin. That's two minutes for boarding. That almost looked like Boychuk turned into it. A scrum develops but nothing comes of it. Malkin might get a call from Brendan Shanahan. Boychuck heads to the dressing room. Staal, Cooke, Orpik and Michalek take the ice.

5:45: Wow. Wow. Wow. Corvo cranks a slapper from above the left circle. Fleury fights it off. Krejci collects the rebound in front of the blue paint and lifts a wrister from the left side. Fleury falls to his left and gloves it. Wow. That was impressive.

4:31: The Malkin minor is killed. The Penguins allowed very little there.

4:10: Boychuk returns to the bench.

3:53: Pascal Dupus. Goal scorer. Staal settles a puck in the right wing corner of his own zone and zips a pass to Dupuis at the top of the slot. Dupuis settles the puck, taps it by Lucic, and is off on a breakawy. He races in on net, swings to his backhand and flings a backhander by the left skate of Turco. Lucic slams his stick off the right post breaking it in frustration. The Penguisn all but secure the win. Staal and Engelland get assists. The "Woo-Hoo!" song and the "Super Duper!" clip from "Anchorman" are played. Penguins 5-2.

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3:22: Campbell dumps a puck into the offensive zone and is dumped by the great Joe Vitale at the red line. A small grou p of players cluster up but nothing comes of it. The big bad Bruins are getting bullied around

2:02: Boychuck fires a slapper from the left circle. Fleury eats it up.

1:52: The Bruisn manage to take another penalty late. Boychuk runs into Fleury's That's two minutes.  Malkin, Niskanen, Sullivan,

1:36: Malkin cracks o one-timer from above the left circle. Turcor battles it away.

0:00: End of period. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Mike Lange infroms us of Elvis' whereabouts. Penguins 5, Bruins 2.

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POSTGAME

-Pretty simple to figure this out. One team came in worn out after a tough loss the day before, suffered some some injuries and had to play a goaltender who was playing in Switzerland a few months ago. The other was fairly healthy, had its top line find its groove back and played its game for the most part. Guess which one won?

-The Penguins took advantage of a horrible start by the Bruins and never looked back. It was hardly a perfect game for the Penguins. They had some sloppy play in the second period, particularly in regards to turnovers, but they cleaned house against a reeling team.

-Regarding the Evgeni Malkin hit against Johnny Boychuk in the third period. That's a close call. Boychuk seemed to turn at the last minute. But Malkin did make contact with his numbers. It won't be easy for the NHL to make a call on this one.

-Bruins coach Claude Julien, no stranger to questionable hits by the Penguins against his players in Pittsburgh, gave an... interesting response, when asked about Malkin's hit:

-Boychuk was a little bit more diplomatic with regards to the hit: