I just got home from the game. It was another great night at the Old Igloo. The Pens looked like a team that came to compete with one of the top teams in the league, and the Devils looked like they forgot to practice for a week or two.
I don’t know what I liked best about this game. It could be the Pens putting six on the Devils, it could be the abuse that Dainius Zubrus took so frequently throughout the game, it could have been the overwhelming droaning of “Maaaarty…..Maaaarty….Maaaarty”, it could have been seeing Bill Guerin fighting David Clarkson or the fact that the Pens got two powerplay goals. I am not sure what was best, but it is hard to find anything to complain about with this game.
Notes:
- The Pens finished up the longest homestand in team history on a very strong note. They went 6-1-1 in that period. That is 13 of a possible 16 points. Nice work, boys!
- Ruslan Fedotenko left the game after a hit by Bobby Holik at the end of the second period. Feds was looking good again. Hopefully, he is OK.
- Malkin had one point to add to his league leading total and Crosby had two points to put him just one shy of 100 for the season.
- And, yes, Hal Gill had two assist tonight. You just can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
- This may be a bit ambitious, but we are currently tied with Philly (they have one game at hand) and only six points behind the sinking Devils with five games remaining. hmmmmmm
- THE HUNT FOR THE PLAYOFFS
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference | ||
| 1. Y – San Jose | 111 | 1. Y – Boston | 108 |
| 2. Y – Detroit | 107 | 2. X – Washington | 101 |
| 3. Vancouver | 93 | 3. X – New Jersey | 98 |
| 4. Chicago | 93 | 4. Pittsburgh | 92 |
| 5. Calgary | 92 | 5. Philadelphia | 92 |
| 6. Columbus | 88 | 6. Carolina | 91 |
| 7. Anaheim | 84 | 7. NY Rangers | 89 |
| 8. Nashville | 84 | 8. Montreal | 88 |
| ————————————————— | |||
| 9. St. Louis |
83 | 9. Florida | 87 |
| 10. Minnesota | 81 | 10. Buffalo | 83 |
| 11. Edmonton | 81 | ||
| 12. Dallas | 78 | ||
| 13. Los Angeles | 73 | ||
** Through 04/01/09 games, current as of 11:02 p.m. ET
X – Clinched Playoff spot Y – Clinched Division
Teams not listed have been eliminated from contention.
Thanks to NHL.com for the standings
@ Boombastic
Shanahan has turned into one of those whining old men like Roenick who should have lefts a few years ago.
Dainius Zubrus looked to have lost his mind when he went after Brooks Orpik. Like Orpik was fixed on taking a out a forward that would be playing on our 4th line (3rd at best). Stick a fork in Zubrus he done too.
How about Hal Gill 2 assists and him and Scuderi were both +4’s, so they were on for all of the even strenghth goals. +Fleury got an assist. I’m planning on watching the Pens until summer!
Here we go – now Brendan Shanahan is wining about Pens players taking a run at Clarkson! According to old and senile Shanahan we were
“taking turns” going after Clarkson. After Zubrus trying to take off Orpik’s head with a crosscheck it was Zubrus we were going after not Clarson. Shanahan should really hang them up.
ms forechech – I think the only reason he plays them regular shifts in the blowout is the scoring title. probably not a good idea, but Dunlop here seems to think the players played poorly to get Therrien fired. That being said, probably for Bylsma, keeping his stars happy is a good idea.
@ Malore
What’s your problem with Sykora? He’s streaky. The line on him has always been he gets rattled in physical contests but I think that’s total BS. He’s going to get 25 to 30 goals and 50 to 60 total points and has a history of delivering on the PP. That’s not too bad for a 2nd line RW. Plus, he had as many goals as Crosby (Malone and Staal)in the playoffs last year.
Malore, Sykora would be what is known as a clutch player. The Penguins have been winning very easily so much lately that Sykora’s talent for getting that goal when most needed, well, is just not needed. Sykora STILL has OVER twice as many game winning goals as the next closest Penguin. All this from a guy who ranks 14th on the team in ice time.
Has he been struggling, yes, but his shoulder is also not at 100%.
I have a complaint about the game and I guess it’s more related to Bylsma. In a blowout game (which this was) why does he play Crosby and Malkin regular shifts? Absolutely nothing good (except the scoring race)can come with playing these guys in the last 7 -8 minutes of the game. Crosby takes that shot to his leg and Malkin is still going after Zubrus. Is it worth the risk of losing either of these two so close to the playoffs? Even Guerin taking on Clarkson – for what reason was that? Is Guerin’s hand hurt? It looked like it might be. I’m just asking: Do you think it is worth the risk.
Just for the record, Peter Sykora is still 1 goal shy of 300. Are YINZERS here at PenguinPOOP still supporting his signing?
The Devils and Marty Brodeur are looking brutal right now. Sutter can’t seem to get them focused. Sort-of like when Claude Julien did the same thing and Lou Lamoriello canned him about this time of the year. Lamoriello spent about $7.5 mil to bring in Holik and Rolston. Holik still is one of hockey’s most overpaid tools.
It was fun to see ol’ Brent Sutter get all fired up at the ref also! I thought they were going to throw down! I wonder if he’ll get fired today?