Do You Believe in Miracles? Yes!! Pens Get First Win
In what could have been looked at as hitting rock bottom, the Penguins found themselves without a shot on goal and losing 4-0 to the Atlanta Thrashers with 10:10 remaining in the first period. Coach Ed Olczyk called a timeout, and something happened. The team responded in a way that it hadn't during this season. It was like something switched on in the head of each player. They came out of that time out a different team, one who would not be beaten, at least on this night. A team that had pride and one that would not be pushed around in their own rink anymore. Team captain and owner Mario Lemieux was the first to get it going, scoring two goals in the period to make it 4-2, one of which was a vintage Mario Lemieux power play goal. Lemieux one timed a shot from the left face off circle into the cage like he has done some many times in the past.
This may also go down in history as the night the cosmonaut landed. Sergei Gonchar, lightning rod for a ton of criticism during the losing streak, had his best game as a Penguin. Notching 2 goals and an assist. Throughout many games in the young season, it looked as if he was skating in quicksand, this night he looked to have very strong legs, was firing the puck and looking an awful lot like the player Craig Patrick thought he was getting when he signed him to a $25 million contract this off season. Another free agent signing also had a big night. John LeClair scored two power play goals and did a pretty good impression of the guy who used to bang in 40 markers a season from the front of the net.
Rick Jackman was the other scorer for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and logged a ton of ice time at even strength and on the power play due to the loss of Dick Tarnstrom. Tarnstrom was knocked out for the evening and potentially longer, when his skate was caught in the ice as he was hit by an Atlanta player. It is being called a knee injury.
Sidney Crosby extended his lead in the rookie scoring race by picking up two assists in the game. Giving him 12 assists to go with his 2 goals. He was also used extensively on a line with Mario Lemieux for the first time this season. He might just stay there too. Mario talked frequently during the off season about playing with Sid the Kid, only to have Olczyk deny him the chance. Separating the 2 number one picks made sense at first, but as the losing continued, it was a necessary move. Sidney provides speed on a line with lemieux and Mark Recchi and puts himself in position to feed Mario for shots as he is entering the offensive zone late. If last night was any indication, you will see Lemieux and Crosby in many box scores together.
This game my end up just one of many wins this season, but it was by far the most fulfilling in a very long time. The energy in the Mellon Arena from the crowd of 14,009 was amazing. A room that was deflated so early in the game came to life as the penguins showed Pittsburgh and the NHL they could fly. The crowd counted off the final 10 seconds of the game as if it were the Stanley Cup finals. Pittsburgh was hungry for a win and they got it tonight in dramatic fashion. I had mentioned a Bill Cower quote in the past: "Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it." Well, let's hope that is what we have just seen happen.
Game Notes:
It seemed that Ed Olczyk abandoned the plan that called for 2 forwards to "cherry pick" in the neutral zone, waiting for break out passes, as the team employed an extra forward in the defensive zone throughout the evening.
Sebastian Caron got the start and played very well after an ugly 10 minute span in which he allowed 4 goals on 10 shots.
There were scouts from 10 different teams in attendance at Mellon Arena last night.
NHL Notes:
The Nashville Predators took their first loss of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night. They fell in OT as Columbus D man Adam Foote cashed in on a short handed rush 35 seconds into the extra period.
Todd Bertuzzi made his return to Denver last night. There was really nothing out of the ordinary, unless you count the repeated boos and jeers showered upon the ice each time the rugged winger took the ice in a 6-2 Avalanche victory.
The Edmonton Oilers may have overestimated their goaltenders: Ty Conklin and Jussi Markkanen. They have not been getting the job done, and neither has stepped up to claim the number one spot. They may be in the market for a goaltender, possibly Ollie Kolzig from the Washington Capitals.
This may also go down in history as the night the cosmonaut landed. Sergei Gonchar, lightning rod for a ton of criticism during the losing streak, had his best game as a Penguin. Notching 2 goals and an assist. Throughout many games in the young season, it looked as if he was skating in quicksand, this night he looked to have very strong legs, was firing the puck and looking an awful lot like the player Craig Patrick thought he was getting when he signed him to a $25 million contract this off season. Another free agent signing also had a big night. John LeClair scored two power play goals and did a pretty good impression of the guy who used to bang in 40 markers a season from the front of the net.
Rick Jackman was the other scorer for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and logged a ton of ice time at even strength and on the power play due to the loss of Dick Tarnstrom. Tarnstrom was knocked out for the evening and potentially longer, when his skate was caught in the ice as he was hit by an Atlanta player. It is being called a knee injury.
Sidney Crosby extended his lead in the rookie scoring race by picking up two assists in the game. Giving him 12 assists to go with his 2 goals. He was also used extensively on a line with Mario Lemieux for the first time this season. He might just stay there too. Mario talked frequently during the off season about playing with Sid the Kid, only to have Olczyk deny him the chance. Separating the 2 number one picks made sense at first, but as the losing continued, it was a necessary move. Sidney provides speed on a line with lemieux and Mark Recchi and puts himself in position to feed Mario for shots as he is entering the offensive zone late. If last night was any indication, you will see Lemieux and Crosby in many box scores together.
This game my end up just one of many wins this season, but it was by far the most fulfilling in a very long time. The energy in the Mellon Arena from the crowd of 14,009 was amazing. A room that was deflated so early in the game came to life as the penguins showed Pittsburgh and the NHL they could fly. The crowd counted off the final 10 seconds of the game as if it were the Stanley Cup finals. Pittsburgh was hungry for a win and they got it tonight in dramatic fashion. I had mentioned a Bill Cower quote in the past: "Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it." Well, let's hope that is what we have just seen happen.
Game Notes:
It seemed that Ed Olczyk abandoned the plan that called for 2 forwards to "cherry pick" in the neutral zone, waiting for break out passes, as the team employed an extra forward in the defensive zone throughout the evening.
Sebastian Caron got the start and played very well after an ugly 10 minute span in which he allowed 4 goals on 10 shots.
There were scouts from 10 different teams in attendance at Mellon Arena last night.
NHL Notes:
The Nashville Predators took their first loss of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night. They fell in OT as Columbus D man Adam Foote cashed in on a short handed rush 35 seconds into the extra period.
Todd Bertuzzi made his return to Denver last night. There was really nothing out of the ordinary, unless you count the repeated boos and jeers showered upon the ice each time the rugged winger took the ice in a 6-2 Avalanche victory.
The Edmonton Oilers may have overestimated their goaltenders: Ty Conklin and Jussi Markkanen. They have not been getting the job done, and neither has stepped up to claim the number one spot. They may be in the market for a goaltender, possibly Ollie Kolzig from the Washington Capitals.
posted by Bmetzer66 at 12:18 PM
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