Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the whole game as I had to work a particularly long day today. I missed the first period. From the point that I started watching until the end of regulation, I thought the Pens dominated. The overtime period was a little bit different with the Senators showing more determination. Ottawa actually got some good goaltending and just a sh**load of blocked shots. In fact, the Senators had more blocked shots than they took shots on goal. (46 Blocked shots – 44 Shots on goal) You have to give Ottawa credit, they played well and showed a great deal of resolve.
One thing I noticed myself thinking during the course of this game was how each time the Senators had a shot or scoring chance, it feels like there is a chance the puck will go in. I lack the kind of confidence in Fleury that I had last year. I am not saying that this game was in any way his fault, but that is the feeling I was having as I watched tonight. He has played inconsistent for much of the season, leading to my reduced confidence. With that said, I thought he played well tonight. In fact, I gain a bit more confidence with each game. I still think he is our man and will get back to the form we saw last year.
Notes:
- Ponikarovsky played well again tonight. He did not show up on the score sheet, but had probably his best all around game.
- Billy Guerin showed a little extra jump in his step tonight.
- Just for the record, Fedotenko, who Krundle pointed out as having the worst +/- rating on the team, was a -2 tonight. In his defense his whole line was -2, inlcuding Selke finalist Jordan Staal.
- The referees have to be extra drained tonight…..and not just because of the overtimes.
Looks like the Pens will have to saw this series off in Ottawa.
Guerin played like complete crap for 4 periods. You cant really sit him or move him on another line. Horrible in the corners, on the boards, turn overs, never skates, forechecks, stands still on the powerplay, never takes it to the net but if he gets the puck and no one is near him, he has a nice little shot. thats it. end rant.
MAF did keep the Pens in it for more that 2 overtimes, stopping many that should have been goals. Did Cooke play after he hit his head into a sens knee? he did just come off a concussion + gogo didn’t come out for the last 4 or 5 shifts.
If you have 1 guy like feds not with the system tk, staal and cookie use, it fails.
I don’t know where Dupuis gets his energy, but his work ethic is amazing, he was still flying in the 3rd overtime. It would have been nice to have Kennedy out there doing the same.