There were a couple of moments last night where the Penguins could’ve made you think “shit, maybe these guys are actually going to lose 2 in a row.”
But for the second night in a row, 87 put the team on his back and hammerdicked the Stars into submission. His late second period artistry set the tone for the Pens to run away with it in the 3rd- with a lot of credit due to Marc-Andre Fleury’s inspired performance.
It was precisely what was needed after disappointing loss.
FIRST PERIOD
In the battle of below average former Stanley Cup winners, both Fleury and Niemi were tested early in the first. There were a couple of saves Niemi really had no business making, particularly on the Pens first PP. There was one save Niemi had all business making, but the Stars goaltending situation is worse than a Powerman 5000 album.
Simple shot. No clue how he doesn’t make that save. 1-0 Pens
That lead lasted about as long as your first three pumps following a two year dry spell. Fleury steered a simple shot to the corner that Korpikoski got to first. He hit Stephen Johns with a pass. MAF came out to cut down the angle, but Johns found Eaves then Shore’s feet instead for the trickler. 1-1
Lawrence County lizard people celebrating thinking it was Johns’ goal. Yuck.
SECOND PERIOD
Should come as no surprise that two teams with the skill level that these two have hosted a track meet at the Paint Can. What should come as a surprise was that both Fleury and Niemi traded off making primo saves throughout the period.
But midway through the period, the Pens would snap their 5 game powerplay goalless streak on what was their first 5v3 of the season after Seguin went off for tripping and the shittier Benn threw the puck over the glass.
Textbook. Lots of movement off the puck. Probing shots. Cheeky by Hornqvist to corral the puck instead of just trying to redirect it. 2-1 Pens
Imagine once again that you broke your 2 year dry spell. Your 3 pumps lasted like 2.5 minutes. (S)He throws you another bone in the morning. I’m not going to assume how you identify. This time, you get 5 pumps in and instead of making it 2.5 minutes, you make some progress and up it to 3.5.
With Fehr in the box for interference, the Stars PP took a page out of George Bush’s book and went DJ Lethal. Really nice puck movement and puck retrieval. Traffic in front. Inhuman(e) shot from Seguin too. 2-2
At 2-2 after two against the Stars on the second of a back to back, anyone would’ve been satisfied heading into the third.
Sidney Crosby is not anyone. Sidney Crosby is goddamn David Blaine if David Blaine and Criss Angel mated and made it 3-2 Pens with 22 seconds left.
Like, what kind of sick sadistic fuck thinks to do that? What a goal.
THIRD PERIOD
It would’ve been really easy for the Pens to just sit back in a shell and defend the last 20 miles. Instead, they kept their collective foot on the gas and took the game to the Stars. And when the Stars turned it back around on the Peng, Fleury looked like Fleury of a year ago.
Fleury’s saves gave them a chance to seal the deal. And seal the deal is exactly what Sheary did on a titillating dish from 87. 4-2
Fehr would make it 5-2 on an empty netter and Bonino would get in on the action to make it 6-2 before time expired of a great takeaway by Scott Wilson.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Sidney Crosby is a fucking animal.
- Phil! now with 16 assists on the season.
- Probably the first game since Murray has come back that there can’t really be any complaints about Fleury’s performance. Maybe GMJR subtly calling him out had something to do with it.
- The Stars would be a really good team with a goalie like Ben Bishop. Just sayin.
No rest for the wicked as the Pens homestand continues Saturday night against the Wangs.
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