Shoulda been a quiet evening with the Hurricanes on the verge of losing until Mr. Ruutu struck for them with 26 seconds left. But at least Chicago got the extra point. Whatever. Shit happens. There's gonna be days like that. But the thing is, the Penguins just need to keep winning. Columbus is the next game Thursday.
It was just one of those nights during a winning streak. When you just feel like everything is too good for the Penguins to not win. I was at a class when the Pens fell down to the Cats 3-1 at the end of the 2nd period. But for some reason, I felt they would come back. I mean I usually feel like that just to stay optimistic, but today was just a great feeling of confidence for the team. Like the feeling of sheer genious after the game was over. A month ago, they lose this game, but playoff lives are on the line and it seemed like Jesus was watching.
Go Pens My Son!
In a nutshell, the Pens took a 1-0 lead when Evgeni Malkin roofs a garbage goal off of a Crosby pass. Then the wheels came off and the Panthers scored 3 consecutive goals in the 2nd from unusual characters. Kudos to them for playing hard with one of their top d-men and forwards out. But the third was a playoff atmosphere period. Jordan Staal was out of his mind that period, scoring a rebound goal making it 3-2 and then those "bounces" that we've been waiting for all season or even thought of when they were down 3-1 at the end of 2 happened. Off a 4 on 2 rush, Billy Guerin shoots the puck which deflects off of Crosby's stick and hits the post and bounces off a sprawling Tomas Vokoun. Tie game. No scores in OT. With each team earning a point, the shootout gives them a chance to earn the extra one.
*Kris Letang up first and is money... 1-0 Pens
Le-Tang Clan Ain't Nothin' To Fuck With!
*Fleury stones Zednik
*Sidney Crosby poops on himself and misses
*Stephen Weiss forgets where the net is and completely misses.
*Evgeni Malkin for the win!!! 2-0 Pens Win Shootout and Game 4-3!
GAME! BLOUSES!!
Entire Shootout For The People
7 in a row... 9 of 10... They have to keep earning those 2 points. Next game is @ Columbus with a goalie who's pitched 10 shutouts this season.
SCOREBOARD WATCH
*Buffalo Scott Norwood's themselves and gets shalacked by Philadelphia 5-2
Not Funny Guys!
*Montreal has some drama happen to them within the last 24 hours and it carries over for some more drama with a 4-3 OT win vs. Edmonton. Captain Saku Koivu nets the game tying and game winning goals.
So Now The Crazy Ass Eastern Conference Standings After Tuesday Night (Games Left in Parenthesis)...
1. Boston 95 Pts (14): Even after a shutout loss tonight to Columbus, they are still at the top of the conference.
2. New Jersey 89 Pts (16): If they make up the 2 games with wins, they'll only be 2 pts back of the top seed. With Marty Brodeur in goal, that can easily happen.
3. Washington 88 Pts (14): Slowly floundering. But a big OT win at Nashville though tonight.
4. Philadelphia 82 Pts (17): Big huge win @ home against Buffalo. With their games in hand, they can certainly climb the ladder with more victories.
5. Montreal 79 Pts (15): Huge OT comeback win tonight. The Habs showed some guts tonight.
6. PENGUINS 78 Pts (14): If the playoffs started today, guess who we play??? Wishful thinking?
7. Florida 77 Pts (15): Earned a deserved point tonight. Gonna need McCabe and Horton back soon though.
8. Carolina 77 Pts (14): The fighting Eric Staal's keep truckin' along.
-----SHIT OUT OF LUCK-----
9. NY Rangers 76 Pts (15): Need to keep winning to keep pace.
10. Buffalo 73 Pts (15): Inside they're slowly dying... Yes I quoted a Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam song.
Wednesday's Games To Focus On...
*Carolina @ Chicago: Those damn kids in Chicago can certainly give the Canes a hard time.
First off... The comments about Montreal the first few posts was proved correct as the Canadiens fired their head coach. Trying to take a page out of the Pens' coaching change may be a little risky. The Habs have horribly underachieved all year and this has the makings of a major overhaul if it fails. Where I'm from hockey is NOT a hotbed and no one really cares, but in Montreal, if you don't win or be successful, you are disowned and the key to the city is shoved up your ass.
Take it from me, Montreal hates ME.
Anyways just one Monday game to recap...
-Carolina shuts the Rangers out 3-0: This win by the Hurricanes makes things much more crowded in the East like NHL'ers with Elisha Cuthbert! Ziiing! Had to throw in a Sean Avery joke there.
If I end up with Alex Ovechkin next, hell has officially frozen over.
So standings-wise (Games Left)
1-4: Boston, Jersey, JOKES, Philly 5. Montreal 77 Pts (16): You're playing with fire Montreal. 6: Carolina: 77 Pts (14): Another team on a roll right now. 7. Florida: 76 Pts (16): Big game tomorrow 8. PENGUINS: 76 Pts (15): 8-1-1 in last 10. Finally a home game
-----SHIT OUT OF LUCK----- 9. NY Rangers: 76 Pts (15): Pens got more wins than you. 10. Buffalo: 73 Pts (16): Can T.O suit up too?
Tuesday's Agenda...
*FLORIDA @ PENGUINS: If you don't understand the magnitude of this game, then you didn't read the above post and shouldn't be on this blog or you sir/ma'am have no pulse or soul and you should just stand walk through a crowded freeway. My Penguins come home after a 5 game road trip. It has the makings of a trap game since the first home game after a long road trip is the hardest, but no need for excuses. They have a playoff spot to reach. Must prove once again that Florida is America's Wang.
PROOF!!!
*Buffalo @ Philadelphia: Philly wins, the ghosts of Scott Norwood, Brett Hull and Kevin Dyson is slowly rearing its ugly head for the city of Buffalo.
*Edmonton @ Montreal: First game with a new/old coach Bob Gainey. If this don't work, they should hire G.S.P to coach the Habs.
Story behind this: While in Chicago on their road trip, the Penguins ended up winning the game in overtime and Penguins forward Eric Godard blasted this song in the locker room and apparently was dancing... They have not lost since and it's been played inside the Pens locker room (apparently) during the trip.
