Once again eschewing their preferred run-and-gun style in favor of a more focused, controlled game, the Penguins staved off a late Canadiens push last night at PPG Paints Arena to prevail, 3-1. In the process bagging their second win in a row.
Sidney Crosby notched a pair of goals, including a power-play marker late in the second period, to pace the black-and-gold attack. Between the pipes, Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 of 26 shots for his second strong start in a row.
A good thing, too. After unleashing 16 of our 24 shots on goal during an active second period, we spent most of the final period pinned in our zone as the speedy, young Habs pressed for the equalizer. The contest wasn’t decided until Blake Lizotte zipped home an empty-netter with 45 seconds to play to seal the victory.
Still, thanks to our turtle-shell defense we were able to protect a lead at crunch time. We’ll see how our new-found discipline holds up as we take to the road this week for match-ups against the Islanders, Hurricanes and Metro-leading Capitals.
Sid-sational
With four goals and three assists in his past three games, Sid’s been on a heater since coach Mike Sullivan placed him between Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell. Unfortunately, the depth scoring that was evident through the early going has dried up.
Such is the way of things for our Pens these days. Still, it’s great to see Sid get ‘er in gear.
Put ‘Em Up
The contest proved to be a chippy affair as the two clubs combined for 47 hits, 19 by the Pens.
Black-and-gold buzzsaw Noel Acciari, described by color analyst Colby Armstrong as a cigarette machine on skates for his blocky build, drew the Canadiens’ ire for dishing out crunching checks on Christian Dvorak and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Seeking retribution, rough-and-tumble 240-pound Canadiens defenseman, Arber Xhekaj, put a hip into Acciari in the closing seconds, then pursued “Cookie” and challenged him to a go.
As players from both sides swarmed the would-be combatants, Habs d-man Jayden Struble jumped Ryan Graves and took him to the ice. Graves shook himself free, popped to his skates, and proceeded to tag Struble with several right uppercuts from long range.
That makes two fistic victories during the homestand for Pens defensemen. Jack St. Ivany bested the Wilds’ Brock Faber on Tuesday.
Soon they’ll be calling us the Pengoons. (Kidding of course.)
Loaded with tough guys we ain’t. But I will say this…our stars don’t back down from a fight. Malkin skated straight into the fray and fearlessly squared off with Xhekaj, even tossing a couple of gloved shots over a linesman for good measure, while Sid grabbed Dvorak and put him in a headlock.
Speaking of Xhekaj, he’s been a healthy scratch several times during the young season and is rumored to be available.
Although he isn’t a future All-Star, I sure wouldn’t mind acquiring the bruising blueliner, who demolished fast-swinging Zack Kassian in his first NHL fight and decisioned old friend Ryan Reaves.
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Rick
i would like to see Graves get mad a little more often. He actually lost his composure for
a second and was throwing caution to the wind. I hate repeating myself but if the Pen's
would add a couple of physical tough Hombre's this could be a different team, and one
that could at least make the playoffs and win a round. The problem I have with management
is everyone can see this as a weakness except for the people closest to the situation.
"Makes you wonder" On another note our bottom six has once again went into a scoring
drought and Malkin has scored one goal and 3pts in his last 8 games.