Yes, after very publically being hit up for six (and counting) bench minors this season, the Penguins--courtesy of Kris Letang (on a great no-look feed from who else but Sidney Crosby), ended up scoring the game-winning powerplay goal on a penalty taken by the Coyotes on a too many men penalty of their own.
Bottom line, when the opposing coach's quote says: "We didn't deserve to win this hockey game" as Wayne Gretzky did you know as the opponent, you did deserve it. To that point the Pens outshot the 'Yotes 33-18, and the only goal scored by the visitors was with an extra man.
And, quietly, 17 saves on 18 shots on net for Marc-Andre Fleury earning another win to draw the Pens regulation record to 12-12. Also, it's worth pointing out Ryan Whitney night, picking up the still injured Sergei Gonchar's slack: playing a game high 28:14 (including an incredible 13:00 in powerplay minutes)....Geno Malkin threw 10 shots at net (5 on goal that were all saved, 3 that were blocked by defenders and 2 that missed the net outright). But Makin skated hard and, as usual, looked dangerous every time he touched the puck...Defensively, Brooks Orpik played more even strength + short-handed minutes than any other Penguin defenseman and was a +1 while leading all rear guards with 3 blocked shots and 3 hits.
Credit all the hard work from the boys. This is game is surely one a team with playoff aspirations needs to win and the Penguins did so, in convincing fashion.
Bottom line, when the opposing coach's quote says: "We didn't deserve to win this hockey game" as Wayne Gretzky did you know as the opponent, you did deserve it. To that point the Pens outshot the 'Yotes 33-18, and the only goal scored by the visitors was with an extra man.
And, quietly, 17 saves on 18 shots on net for Marc-Andre Fleury earning another win to draw the Pens regulation record to 12-12. Also, it's worth pointing out Ryan Whitney night, picking up the still injured Sergei Gonchar's slack: playing a game high 28:14 (including an incredible 13:00 in powerplay minutes)....Geno Malkin threw 10 shots at net (5 on goal that were all saved, 3 that were blocked by defenders and 2 that missed the net outright). But Makin skated hard and, as usual, looked dangerous every time he touched the puck...Defensively, Brooks Orpik played more even strength + short-handed minutes than any other Penguin defenseman and was a +1 while leading all rear guards with 3 blocked shots and 3 hits.
Credit all the hard work from the boys. This is game is surely one a team with playoff aspirations needs to win and the Penguins did so, in convincing fashion.
Bring on Western Canada; hopefully the young bucks Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen will play with extra intensity for their first NHL games back close to their boyhood homes.
But, before 3 games in 4 nights in a different country on a different coast, let's enjoy this one.....As the Capitals bloggers love to say, it has been a TWO POINT NIGHT!!!!
But, before 3 games in 4 nights in a different country on a different coast, let's enjoy this one.....As the Capitals bloggers love to say, it has been a TWO POINT NIGHT!!!!
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