Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Nicole Tracey
The last regular season showdown between the Caps and the Pens in our beloved Mellon Arena. A game the Pens would love to make a statement with going in to the playoffs. With the Sesame Street Line back in tact and Fleury between the pipes in his 300th career game, who wouldn’t get pumped for this one?
Versus informs us, Geno is scratched due to an illness and the Pens decide to go with 7 D men. J. Staal and company start the game by tasking the opening faceoff. Right off the bat the Sesame Street Line put in a quality shift up against the Ovechkin line. Sid shows Ovie what back checking is and creates a couple of opportunities. The back check was very much in play for the Pens in the first.
Flower gets our blood pumping as he dishes a pass over to Jordan Leopold that bouncing off Leo’s skate right in front of an open net. The Sesame Street Line puts in another hard working shift with a back and forth battle with the Ovechkin line. Ovie rings one off the post and rightfully so Flower thanks that post. A combination of Rupp, Crosby and Adams causing a stir in the Caps end with a few chances on net.
Alex Semin ends the 0-0 tie when Goose blows a tire which allows Semin to snipe one over Fleury’s shoulder. 1-0 Craps. Other than being down by a goal, the first period looked very promising for the Pens.
The second period doesn’t start out so nice for the Pens. Mike Knuble throws a long range shot at Fleur that floats under his pad and in. Pens now down by 2. It seemed for a while the Pens were doing everything but scoring until they finally get a break and get another chance on the PP. It doesn’t take long for Sidney Crosby to take center stage and get the Pens on the boards with a quick wrister past Varly beautifully screened by Bill Guerin. 2-1. Though the Pens one goal deficit didn’t last long when Fleischmann responds with a goal of his own only 21 seconds later. Flower gets yanked and BeeJ is in. After watching the replay of the Caps third goal, I happened to notice the lack of an icing call, could just be me but whatev.
Jordan Leopold, still feeling the adrenaline from scoring that OT GWG against the Thrashers, blast one from the blueline that trickles in on Varly. 3-2. Craig Adams was oh so close to getting a stick on the puck for his first of the season. Pens get a chance to tie up the game but no dice on the PP.
Pens start to click but Matt Bradley puts a damper on that, starting a rush from the neutral zone and scoring on his initial shot that sneaks in between BeeJ’s legs. 4-2.
A quick whistle pretty much jobs the Pens out of their third goal. 20 minutes left and a small mountain to climb.
An early chance for the Caps starts the third, but BeeJ stands tall, but the Pens don’t wait to capitalize as Jordan Leopold nets his second goal of the night. A great passing playing between Dupes and Sid set up Leo. 4-3.
Bill Guerin takes a penalty for high sticking, 2 seconds in the PP Ovie scores. 5-3. The Pens had chances but couldn’t cash in, Ovie gets the ENG and that’s game. 6-3.
Thursday is the Grand Finale in the Mellon Arena..let's send her out with a win..shall we gentlemen?
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