It took two games but the Pens got their shit together. A little reminder that they are the reigning champions at the highest level of professional hockey was a dose of medicine everyone needed after the way things got started this year — also you have to understand that some people around here still view sports on a game-to-game basis, with no real concept of the big picture that the season is 82 games long and Olli Maatta and Brian Dumoulin and company just got done pounding 82 beers just a few months ago.
The Pens are set up for a tough open to this season. I’m not a big numbers guy these days but it’s something like 49 games this month and 48 of them are back-to-backs. All of them are against good teams or something. Two straight Stanley Cups did this to me. I’m proud of that. You should be, too. But anyway, if they come out of the gate slow, who cares. They’re still making the playoffs. And they’ll be there at the end, same as it ever was.
And Saturday night proved that. This team can still hit the gas when they need to. Sully still pushes the buttons and pulls the strings. This team is going to fuck with us through stretches, again. But you know what? They’re still fully capable of railroading the second-best team from last season on a random Saturday in October. Let’s get to it…
FIRST PERIOD
The Pens got rolling a little over a minute in and that would prove to be all they would need. Phil Kessel set up Evgeni Malkin for a one-timer that de-pantsed Jusse Sorrows, giving the Pens an early 1-0 lead.
Geno has recorded at least one point in every single home game (8 total) he’s ever played against the Predators (regular season + playoffs). pic.twitter.com/gvanMG5E9I
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 7, 2017
The Pens ran a tribute video for Nick Bonino. It was 45 seconds of him blocking shots.
About halfway through the first, the Pens were on the board again. The Pens were swarming and everyone in the arena was in front of the net, but it was Jake Guentzel driving the rebound home.
Happy belated birthday goal, Guentzel! pic.twitter.com/xD7yI5cvKO
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 8, 2017
Not long after, this happened…
Ian Cole takes a shot straight to the face pic.twitter.com/lNAHDeouhA
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 7, 2017
The aftermath…
Poor Ian Cole just lost teeth on a slap shot. #Penguins pic.twitter.com/yMzkwdXGOz
— Ian Smith (@ismithKDKA) October 7, 2017
The after aftermath…
*NSFW*
Thank you all for the concern, down a few good teeth and some jaw but doing well. Looking forward to getting back ASAP pic.twitter.com/NNAARACaDs
— Ian Cole (@ICole28) October 8, 2017
RIP in pieces to Ian Cole’s teeth.
SECOND PERIOD
Pretty boring until Ryan Reaves beat up Tom Watson.
Reaves vs Watson
Decision: Reaves
🐧🤛🏽 pic.twitter.com/9od0NC3WiP
— Penguins Nation (@EngellandsEye) October 8, 2017
And then scored a damn goal.
The Grim Reaver. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/kBtirO0NTT
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 8, 2017
THIRD PERIOD
Quick strike again to open a period as goal-scoring machine Olli Maatta made it 4-0.
The Maatta goal is incredible from this angle pic.twitter.com/YU7GoG5dfr
— Allie (@Allie874) October 8, 2017
Maatta might be the Pens most improved player from last season. Offensively, he’s jumping into plays and starting them from the defensive end. Defensively, he’s cleaning up everything. Somehow passing out in the sun after the parade has made him stronger and faster. I know it doesn’t make sense but it’s the only explanation we have right now.
Only 5 shot attempts for the Preds tonight with Maatta on the ice at even-strength. A few points on the board as well. Huge night for him.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) October 8, 2017
With the game out of reach and little to no chance he would ever be capable of doing anything to change that, Scott Hartnell had to do what he does best and remind everyone he’s a complete douche.
Hartnell knocks Crosby’s helmet off – He & Reaves get misconducts #Pens pic.twitter.com/BRqx6TW2Fs
— Pens Den (@PensDen) October 8, 2017
Ball game.
That'll do it!! #Pens win 4-0!! Reaves with a goal, 2 fights & legend status. Murray with a 26-save shutout -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 8, 2017
Murray has an active shutout streak of 206:26 minutes against Preds dating back to Cup Final -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 8, 2017
This is how Ryan Reaves is conducting his postgame interview. #TheLegendGrows -MC pic.twitter.com/gtVdRVqfQ7
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) October 8, 2017
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