POST-GAME BUZZ
The Pittsburgh Penguins had the type of night they needed.
They put together an excellent first period in firing 16 shots on goal and then got the results they deserved early in the second period on an Evgeni Malkin goal 23 seconds in and Daniel Sprong’s first career goal 2:02 later.
[PENGUINS PLAYER GRADES VS SENATORS]
The Penguins with a little more speed in the lineup on the wings tonight with Bobby Farnham and Bryan Rust dressing, Pittsburgh established a consistent forecheck from the drop of the puck. Some of the grit provided a bit of a spark early.
“Wanted the forecheck from Farnham and Rust is a responsible, two-way guy,” Johnston said of the lineup change and feels he got it from those two.
The Senators while quick at the forward position, have some slow footed defensemen on the backend and it played into the Penguins advantage in being able to establish a cycle and create zone time.
“We put their defense back on their heels,” Johnston said of the Penguins strong forecheck in the first period.
Meanwhile, the Penguins transition game was much improved. The Senators are a team systematically that plays a bit risky. They come aggressive with two forecheckers and the Penguins blue-liners were very effective at making quick short passes to exit the zone.
The Penguins were able to beat the Senators initial wave and then able to exit the zone as a five man unit. The best way to exploit the Penguins on the forecheck is to bring one aggressive forechecker and then have the F2 and F3 in a read and react situation. Something the Senators don’t do.
The way the Sens forecheck played into the Penguins favor.
The Penguins group of defensemen supported each other very well in avoiding the Senators pressure by taking a hit and making a soft chip to their d-partner to the left or right side. Short support among the d-men was a key in the Penguins having a numbers advantage in [hide] exiting the zone for much of the night until Ottawa made adjustments mid-way through the second period.
SPRONG’S NIGHT
— The Senators came into the game giving up 36 shots a night, Pittsburgh out-shot Ottawa 36-22.
“We got more pucks to the night and that’s the way we have to keep playing,” rookie winger Daniel Sprong said after the game.
Sprong among the Penguins best players tonight in elevated minutes, had a goal, 4 shots on goal and 5 shot attempts.
“Very happy [scoring 1st goal] but most importantly we got the win,” Sprong said. “We played the right way, got the win at home.”
Sprong played a career high 13:07 and was even used late in the game in defensive situations.
“He responded with a good working game,” Mike Johnston said of Sprong seeing a bigger role tonight. “I like what I see out of him and how competitive he is but I still want to see good habits.”
TIDBITS
— The Penguins were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and Evgeni Malkin was very strong on the PK.
“Good to see Geno can kill,” Johnston said.
— Brian Dumoulin was on the ice for 22 shots attempts for and just 12 against.
— Mike Johnston called scratching Rob Scuderi, Sergei Plotnikov “lineup decisions”[/hide]
Bitching!
Paris Ford!!!!
Are we allowed to say, ” I have a German Shepherd bitch. “
Why would you sensor that? She’s a bitch. Just like an ass on a farm. That’s what they are called. My Uncle Richard would probably get sensored too. We call him Dick.
This is fucking ridiculous! Jesus fucking Christ!
You can say bitching but not bitch. Good to know.
I want to see more people bitching about MAF’s .930 Sv Pct.
all hail st.blurry! stanch i’m so pumped that you have posters of st.blurry in your bedroom!
I’ll bitch about it. It’s meaningless, because as you know at any given moment, usually the worst possible moment, the Mental Midget will strike. That’s why I’ve never bitched about hos low playoff Sv pct. The dude is unreliable from game to game, period to period, shot to shot.
i wish we could just ship BB and scuderi to shero but he has nothing to offer in return since devils is a garbage team just like him
Really? We’re bitching about Bennett? At least he opens up a roster spot. Unlike our captain who is still on sabbatical, stealing a paycheck.
crosby has been eating mushrooms before the games. he is tripping balls on the ice.
why Malkin is not ?
Malkin?! If you want to compare the two, Malkin is making Sid look like Craig Adams.
bennett is officially on injured reserve. i guess he is out for a while??
1 week min
ha..when geno scores and is dominant theres no word from sam…..Geno needs to catch wind of this and continue to play like a beast!
Or hes grounded again
9.5m and he probably scored his first goal in last 30 games or so including the playoffs quite impressive coletrain just enough for you to start riding his d..k again
Quit living in the past….currently hes way better than any canadian on the team….and all that matters is what have you done for me lately
Letang?
how about Fleury and Letang Mr Trolltrain32. Letang has been the only consistent player for pens if he wouldn’t been for him this team would’ve been in a deeper hole now . letang is earning his underpaid check unlike our part time super star Geno that he was a ghost since last march .Now one good game and he is GOD. don’t worry WC this year is in Moscow so be ready he pulls another vacation mode come this spring
Sid sucks. Malkin has been worlds better than 87 from day one this season. There’s one person on this team worth bitching about right now, and he’s your captain.
yeah ok when was the last time her dominated 09 ? this bum has been on a vacation mode since last march now he plays one game and all of a sudden he is amazing and and MVP candidate watch and see he will pull another hibernate mode
Was Crosby slashed on his hand last night? I remember seeing him shaking his hand on the way to the bench and looked to be in a little bit of pain.
he was slashed in his v-agina
do you believe v-agina was editied? that’s not profanity. wtf depaoli! haha!
Thanks Yoda! That was my 2nd guess.
Crosby still looks like shit although having Kunitz tied to his ankles did him no favour last night either.
It’s hard to discern who’s tied to who’s ankle, right now.
thank god scuderi was scratched. the next move needs to be kunitz to line 3 and promote sprong. also, rick tocchett needs to bitch slap crosby to wake him up.
Crosby looks like he has parkinsons, when he’s handling the puck.
crosby sucking so bad is disturbing and shocking.
I would love to see you Sid start elevating the puck, maybe go away from the butter knife blade and go with a slight curve?
Sid can’t get the puck above 4 inches off the ice because he’s retarded.
I just found out you can’t vote thumbs up for your own comment. This place sucks.
Please tell me Crosby’s wrist is broken. The dude has nothing on his shot, it’s barely an AHL quality shot. That and a ton of bad passes. Kessel is dying on Crosby’s wing. if the Pens are truly serious about winning then Kessel and Malkin would play together. Let Kunitz, Crosby and Horny grind out goals.
It’s very rare that we agree on anything hockey related but I agree 1000000000%
Yeah – likewise.
No doubt… he has to be hurting somewhere. He looks like he is shooting with cooked spaghetti.
How many points did Sid get?
It was actually an encouraging game for him. I actually saw him out there!
I saw him too. He looked like Matt Cullen.
At least Cullen setup Sprong.