Pens Continue Undefeated Road Trip: Beat Sens

Do you think that Tyler Kennedy read my recent post where I challenged his ability to finish.  If he did, he apparently set out to prove me wrong tonight. He had two goals tonight.  One of those goals was a wonderful slapshot.  He is really playing well.  In fact, the third line in general is playing consistently well.  Even when Staal has spent time on the second line, the third line continues to impress.

It was a good thing the third and even fourth lines came to play tonight.  The top two lines did not have their best game.  Malkin especially seemed to be out of sorts.  It is hard to point out something negative with an extraordinary talent such as Malkin, but he did not play well tonight.  He turned the puck over quite a bit.  One of those turnovers resulting in the Sens only goal.  It just wasn’t clicking for Malkin this evening.  Though Crosby was held off the scoresheet, he did not play poorly.  His line did account for a goal.  (A very nice effort by Billy Guerin)  The “role players” picked up some slack.  Kennedy had two goals, Craig Adams was good for two assists, Eaton had an assist, Mike Rupp had a helper and even Jay McKee got on the scoresheet with an assist.

Some of the thanks has to go to the Senators who missed on many opportunities. They hit a couple of goal posts, Kovalev missed a great opportunity after a bad bounce and they missed the net consistently.  By the middle of the third period, the Senators looked like a beaten team.  That was very clear during a 5 on 3 power play which they looked like they didn’t want to score.

Notes:

• Nice to see Jordan Staal with a goal in three straight games.
• Matt Cooke continues to play strong in both zones.
• Fleury is really playing well.  If he keeps getting stronger, it could be very hard for opposing teams to score.
• It is great that the Pens are winning, but I still think this team can play better.
• Good news: the Penguins penalty killers were killed all five penalties including the 5 on 3, the bad news: the Penguins power play was 0-4.

Let’s keep the streak alive in Carolina.