Penguins 5 – Canadiens 4

Despite surrendering a two goal lead late in the third period, the Penguins controlled the play for much of the game and kept their focus and composure to a 5-4 shootout win against the Canadiens. From the drop of the puck the Pens and Habs were going at it as Sidney Crosby was speared in the stomach just two seconds into the game. The Penguins did not lose their focus and go after the chump who speared Crosby, instead Colby Armstrong took matters in his own hands delivering a clean blind sided hit to the Canadiens top player Saku Koivu. That’s exactly what you do when other teams are tormenting Crosby or Malkin. You go after the others teams best player not their goons. Armstrong is never going to be the goal scorer many thought he would be after scoring 16 goals in 40 games last season but he is now playing the role that suits him. That role is a third line checking winger.

Sergei Gonchar is still not the player he was in Washington but he is getting back to a resemblance of his Capital days. Tonight he was not timid and was firing shots from the point and the result was two goals and 1 assists. He was still lazy Sergei in overtime after taking a hooking penalty on Kovalev but his game in improving. Evgeni Malkin not only had two points in the game but it might have been his most complete game of the season. A lot of people complain about Michel Ouellet on a regular basis but he fills in nicely along side Malkin and Jordan Staal. What can we say about Staal. How good is this kid going to be. He’s never going to put up the offensive numbers Crosby and Malkin will but he’s not going to be far behind. He has the potential to be a second coming of Sergei Federov. I see the resemblance in the two because of Staal’s ability to contribute in all assets of the game of hockey.

Marc Andre Fleury was phenomenal once again stopping 40 shots. He took his game to another level in overtime and looked very sharp in the shootout. No one was going to stop the move Kovalev made. Eric Christensen may only do one thing good and that is shooting the puck. In every other aspect of his game, he is average at best but for how long have we been saying the Penguins need a shootout specialist. Well they have one in Eric Christensen. Oh yea on a last note Sidney Crosby had a 3 point night.