Not a lot of people are going to look back on a November shootout win against the Devils and think it was important at all for anything other than two points. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not any more or less significant than any other win this season. Except it was.
Except it was.
The Pens had their genitalia grabbed in Minnesota Friday night. It would have been all too easy for them to forget about the Devils at home the next night. Let’s be honest, the effort hasn’t always been visible this season, and games against the Devils have historically been a shit show.
When the Devils went up 1-0 three minutes in, it had that feel. Then the second period happened.
Jake Guentzel got the Pens on the board when he jammed home a loose puck in front. Malkin made a nice reactionary move to keep the play alive, Jake The Snake was there to finish the job. Guentzel has a point in every game he’s played, and if he can stick around on the second line with Malkin, it keeps the ghost of Chris Kunitz in the bottom-six.
The Pens went up by one when Tom Kuhnhackl scored the nicest goal of his life. No more words, just a GIF…
Hope Kinklad’s kids don’t know how to use YouTube so he can keep at least keep some of his integrity.
Vern Fiddler on the roof tied it up like two seconds later with some one-handed jerk move. Not long after, the Devils took the lead on the power play.
The Pens were throwing everything at the Devils, but no go. Then with less than a minute left and the goalie pulled, Sidney Crosby put his fucking Captain pants on, and shit got done.
No idea how you leave the best player on the planet alone there, but Devils.
In the shootout, you knew when it came to Letang, he was going forehand/backhand, and sure enough, he drove everyone home happy with a slick finish.
Ball game.
Pens showed their sac in a game we’ve seen them bail on in the past. As far as things go in November, that’s really all you can ask for. The Devils suck but these are the games that build character, so we’re told. Beau Bennett didn’t score, so we were going to be okay either way.
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