(Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
The Pens make it seven in a row and beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in a shootout. The game was pretty entertaining to watch with the Pens recording 50 shots. Yes, you read right, 50 shots. You have to give credit to Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun for facing that many shots and only allowing three goals. The Pens had a lot of chances but just weren't getting the puck in the net. Staal was robbed on a great diving save by Vokoun, who also made a few other great saves.
The Pens got the first goal late in the first period with less than two minutes to go when the two-headed monster struck again. Crosby got Geno the puck and he scored on a nice, not often seen from Geno, backhander to put the Pens up 1-0.
Not long into the second period the Panthers would strike back to tie the game. The Panthers would add two more goals that period to put them up 3-1, including a reviewed goal for a possible kick-in but it was ruled a goal. That whole distinct kicking motion thing is just bull. Either you allow goals like that or you don't. Whatever.
In the third the Pens would strike early. Staal got the goal and the Pens were only down by one with plenty of time left on the clock. But it didn't take long for the Pens to score again. Crosby got the tying goal to make it 3-3 as he re-directed a Guerin shot into the net by way of hitting the goal post and Vokoun before sliding across the goal line.
(Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
Overtime produced no goals in more of a playing not to lose type atmosphere, especially from the Panthers. It was time for the shootout. Letang was up first and scored a nice goal to give the Pens the early lead. Zednik was next and Fleury made the save with his pad. Crosby would be next and was denied by Vokoun. Weiss for the Panthers had a chance to keep them in it but shot it high, no goal. Next, it was Malkin's turn and he got Vokoun to bite and attempt a poke-check while Geno calmly dragged the puck around a sprawled out Vokoun and into the net. Nice. Pens win 4-3.
A lot of guys looked really good last night. Tyler Kennedy was all over the place and so was his line-mate Jordan Staal. Staal was unreal, getting chances and creating chances all night. Staal even tracked down a rebound in mid-air to score a goal after TK made a sweet move to get the puck to Matt Cooke who shot the one-timer that Staal got the rebound on.
Geno had a nice game to go along with his parents being in attendance once again. He made Mom and Dad very happy, even seeing Dad high-fiving some fans in front of them. Geno sure does look a lot like his Mom. In this interview he points out Mom and Dad while talking about his shootout goal:
We might be a little late on this but we said a while ago that Crosby got a new hat and that was unlike him since he's usually superstitious about things like that and since it didn't coincide with the new coach we thought it was rather weird. Well tonight we got a good look at it and saw it said Bryce on it and we think Make A Wish. We heard that since Crosby didn't make it to the "Pens and Pins" charity bowling night because of being sick, that a kid had had a hat made for him which he received and we just now realized that's what that hat is. He must have given up superstition for him and we think that's pretty cool since we all know how superstitious Sid is. Nice.
The Pens also moved up in the standings and are sitting pretty in 6th place. Their next game is Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Go Pens!
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