Pittsburgh Penguins

This sums it up. Daniel Alfredsson says it's "probably not" feasible for the #sens to beat the #pens three straight games.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 23, 2013 In a subsequent question, Daniel Alfredsson made it clear the #sens wouldn't quit. "We're going to go out and play one hell of a game."— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 23, 2013 A shocking quote to say the least, especially from a captain. Many are arguing that that could be Daniel Alfredsson's way of firing up the Senators. Who knows. What I do know is the Sens, usually dominant in the third period, looked defeated and ready to pack it in. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This series isn't over. The beginning of the game is all the proof you need. It's funny now seeing the recaps talk about how the Pens cruised through the game which wasn't the case from the start. In fact, after Milan Michalek netted his shorty, the first of the game, the pangs of dread struck. Was it going to be one of those games? we thought. Some panicked, but most settled for that discomfort that we experienced following Alfredsson's shorthanded goal in Game 3. That lasted through the first period. Then in the opening minutes of the second period, Chris Kunitz pulled a Tyler Kennedy, cherry-picking on the blue line, and finished a breakaway through Craig Anderson's five hole. Suddenly, he no longer looked like Jaroslav Halak in 2010. From then on, the Pens' offense took over and the pesky Sens were nowhere to be seen. Jussi Jokinen and Beau Bennett got their first taste of the Sens, replacing Tanner Glass and the injured Brenden Morrow. I wasn't overwhelmed by their presence but they weren't underwhelming either. Bennett made some great passes and had a few smart plays on the breakout. Jokinen was a wizard in the faceoff dot as we expected, though from the looks of Sidney Crosby's numbers, it looks like Kyle Turris has finally been solved which solves a lot of the faceoff issues. Speaking of Crosby, what a game from him. He was a -2 at the end of the first, but that hardly described what he was doing on the ice. Easily the Pens' most hungry player from the start, Crosby was being himself and creating a lot of chances for himself but couldn't finish. He had a glorious opportunity, an open shot with plenty of space to tuck it in, only Chris Phillips made a great toe save. Luckily Crosby had the last laugh. Not sure what more you can say about Crosby's surgical skill. Kennedy should be credited with two assists on that goal, forcing Erik Condra to turnover the puck in the neutral zone and sending Crosby on his way to another spot on ESPN's Top Plays. James Neal looked especially on point, solidified by his three-point night. I remember thinking after the Game 3 loss that if the Sens had to win a game, it would be that one because of the two-day break before the next game. I'm beginning to think it benefited Neal even more. Whatever nagging injuries that carried over from the Islanders series seem much better. It was nice to see our power play sniper get one on the power play. My favorite move of the game had to be Bylsma putting Paul Martin on the top power play unit. Who would've thought that a stay-at-home defenseman would be just what the ailing power play needed? Martin brings a calmness to the back line, something that has been desperately needed with the Pens giving up two short handed goals in as many games. When you aren't thinking about preventing goals, that usually means you can focus on scoring them. This game felt like a mental battle more than anything else. Kunitz's goal was all it took for the floodgates to open and for the Pens to turn Anderson into an ordinary being. At this point, the only team that can beat the Pens is themselves. It's not even close. Prove Alfredsson right. Finish them. Go Pens.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have just made AHL history with a Game 7 victory over the Providence Bruins. A week ago the Pens were down 0-3 and looked to be ready to head home for the summer. But while other teams are referred to as "Pesky" due to their uncanny ability to cause havoc, WBS is lovingly referred to as the "Cardiac Pens" for their heart attack inducing close calls and comebacks. They bounced back, due in large part to the stellar goaltending by Brad Thiessen. Even if the Pens don't manage to win the Calder Cup this year, Thiessen has my vote for playoff MVP just for the miraculous comeback they made to steal Round 2. In the entire history of the AHL (which was founded back to 1936), only 4 teams, the 1960 Rochester Americans; the 1989 Adirondack Red Wings; the 2011 Hamilton Bulldogs; and now the 2013 WBS Penguins, have ever come back from a 3 game deficit to force a Game 7. Of those, only the Amerks, Bulldogs, and Pens have managed to pull off a game 7 victory to win the series after trailing 3 games to none. But the Pens set a record of their own, being the first team in AHL history to come back after trailing 3-0 and win Game 7 on the road. As I mentioned in my post a few days ago, this historic achievement is not limited to just the AHL. Even amongst the major league sports, only 4 teams have ever come back after trailing 3-0 to win the series in Game 7. In the NHL this was accomplished by the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, the 1975 New York Islanders, and the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers. Outside of the NHL, the MLB's 2004 Boston Red Sox were the only other major league team to accomplish this feat. So WBS' victory was quite impressive and they join a small group of teams that were able to reach this milestone. A Breakdown of the Series The series opened with Game 1 in Providence, with the Pens falling in a 8-5 bloodbath that saw starting goaltender Jeff Zatkoff only making 19 Saves on 27 Shots (.704 Save%). Game 2 in Providence the Pens took a beating, after taking an early 1 goal lead they let up 4 Goals in the first, Zatkoff only making 9 Saves on 13 Shots (.692 Save%) before Zatkoff was replaced. His 12 Goals in just 4 periods of play gave him a 9.07 GAA and a .700 Save% for the series. This is quite shocking for Zatkoff, who finished the season with the AHL's best GAA and combined with Thiessen walked away with the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for AHL's Best Goaltending Duo. However, considering that the Bruins goaltender Niklas Svedberg won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award for the AHL's Best Goaltender, the entire series saw some uncharacteristic high scores. Svedberg managed to let in 21 Goals during the series, making 170 Saves on 191 Shots, for a 3.13 GAA and a .890 Save%. Thiessen came in for the start of the 2nd period of Game 2, and despite some excellent offensive chances and a 2nd period goal they were unable to bounce back, but Thiessen managed to keep the Bruins scoreless for the remainder of the game. Game 3 saw the Pens head home to WBS, with both teams playing well and the game going back and forth, but unfortunately the managed to lose it 2-1 in OT. However, now that Thiessen and the defense had the Bruins figured out, they were able to finish of their home stand on their way to a historical comeback, winning Game 4 3-1 and Game 5 4-0. With the series on the line, the Bruins fought back hard in Game 6, but Thiessen was still in top form and the Pens managed to win 2-1 in OT. Most amazingly, the Pens pulled this off despite being massively out shot 47-18. So both teams came into Game 7 with a must win attitude, the Pens looking to make history and the Bruins looking to avoid the infamous distinction of being one of the teams that allowed such a comeback. Despite some excellent chances and near misses, Thiessen was up the the task, and the Pens managed to take the lead with 4 goals in the 2nd, ending Svedberg's season in a manner reminiscent of the final flight of the Hindenber

Don't treat it like a chore. Treat it like a mission.The Rangers are down 3-0 to the Bruins because they can't do anything right and the Bruins are using black magic and craft beer to curry favor with the hockey gods. LA/SJS series is tied. Detroit is embarrassing Chicago little by little. We need to be part of this dance, this dance that feels real for the first time in years.NBC is gonna show the anthem. And we have Jussi and BeauBeau in for this shit--Vitale, Morrow, and Glass are out. And Cory Conacher is out for Ottawa. No idea why. Don't care.That's just housekeeping so you remember what the circumstances are regardless of this game's outcome. Remember the news trickling in regardless of what kind of sobbing you're going to be doing later. Gonch interfered with someone like first shift. Settle in for another PP. Sens look composed. MacLean's face is seriously some kind of Enigma of Kaspar Hauser nightmare. Sens fans might be booing Letang? They definitely cheer him when Pens finally get a cycle going and Letang clears it out himself. So like. Then this shit happens where Alfredsson springs Michalek and Letang and Malkin totally didn't give a shit on the breakaway. Amazing pass by the captain--but also like. Apparent apathy on the play by Letang and Gene. Out of control celebration. Just electricccc Probably the worst thing that could have happened. It's possible that Scotiabank Place is trying to chant Fleury. They've got the crowd into it now. We're doomed.Bit of a flurry by Malkin's line shortly thereafter. Colin Greening got a huge erection and took another interference penalty on Letang. Senators could probably build a strategy to win this game around taking stupid penalties.There's some kind of inhuman roar when the puck drops for that PP faceoff. Letang and Malkin have been denied PP privileges--or so we like to think but really they just needed a rest. First unit comes out with Nisky and Paul Martin. Sens still killing it--but they aren't getting any scoring chances so it's an improvement.Anderson is a brick fucking wall. Looks like an MVP. Crosby has the best look at the net of all time and appears to miss the net. Malkin and Letang are allowed back on the ice. Anderson is dialed in, robotic, unconscious, and nothing else will get past him unless the Pens do something.Crosby gets a 2 on 1 and a rebound chance to boot. LOL NOAnderson is unconsciously fucking good right now. Nothing is getting past him.Pens are indeed the better team unless you count the most apathetic performance ever on a shorty.Finally they caught Anderson sleeping. No one even noticed. James Neal off the motherfucking faceoff. No one saw it. It was in and out like the worst sex of your life. But we'll take it, gingerbeard prince. We'll fucking take it. Just give us a son. Everything might be okay butSomething happens. Turris: Look at this fucking photo. Turris is a pig in shit who has just flopped into a field of clover, sullying it forever. look at that faceLetang needs a nap or something. Or unicorn rehab. Too many rainbows. Next shift Pens get an unbelievable cycle going but nothing doing. Gotta build off of that--but of course the period ends. Luckily, Malkin had just turned the puck over, so we don't have to suffer through the consequences. Second period begins. Someone hit Karlsson and he acted like he was dead. Senators got lazy playing their own game and Kunitz got a serious breakaway. Mike Lange has been adamant all night that Anderson has been showing five hole and that's where Kunitz put it. my god Well this helps, doesn't it? Next shift, Pens get a little sloppy and get the dirty goal they've always wanted. Iggy city picking up trash around a suddenly rattled Anderson: No idea what the Senators said to each other at intermission. "Who wants to go to CPK? These guys suck." 3-2 quite suddenly. Arena is morgue-like. Teams trading chances or so

The passage of time can be a funny thing. 2010 can somehow seem like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at the same time. Let’s harken back to April 22nd, 2010. It was in the midst of the final hurrah for the Mellon, Civic, err, the Igloo. The Pens were defending Cup champions. And they were playing the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs. This isn’t a post hinting or assuming history will repeat, because that would be a useless venture. Ottawa only has six of the same players from then (Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Chris Neil, Chris Phillips, Zach Smith and Jason Spezza). Nine Penguins who played remain (Craig Adams, Matt Cooke, Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis, Mark Eaton, Chris Kunitz, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Brooks Orpik). Both teams have different goalies. Sergei Gonchar has changed sides. It’s worlds apart from what was then to what was now, and that’s not the point. One thing that never changes is how you feel and the emotional swings of a playoff series. if you’re feeling bad about the Pens double OT loss, let’s harken back to that 2010 series, when it was arguably even more of a roller coaster than we’ve seen to this point. Back in 2010’s Game 5, with the Pens up 3 games to 1, they lost a third period lead. And then they lost the game in triple over-time. With tough-guy Matt Carkner (currently of New York Islanders) scoring the game winning goal. All of this was at home too, and the Pens had to go to Ottawa for a game 6, drained of energy and the momentum in the Sens corner to feed off of that elimination saving win from the most unlikely of sources. It can’t get much tougher than that. Unless by the middle of the second period of Game 6 the score is 3-0 Senators, as it was that night. The Pens would battle back, badly out-shooting Ottawa that night (43-31 overall) and clawed back in time to tie the game in the 3rd period. Pascal Dupuis won it half-way through the first overtime to end the series. The last series Pittsburgh would win until defeating Carkner and NYI a few days ago. Funny how hockey has a way to be circular like that. The moral of this trip down memory lane? Nothing comes easily this time of year. Everything is an adventure. Try to enjoy the ride. Nothing is ever as linear or as smooth as it seems, and even the series that your team ends up winning, often times has so many twists and turns within a game (let alone the whole series) that it's important for me to remind myself it's about the journey just as much as it is the destination.

The Pens' overtime loss in Ottawa in Game 3 was the organization's first road OT playoff loss since Game 5 of the 2001 Eastern Semifinals against Buffalo. It was Saturday, May 5, 2001. It was a day game. We'll never forget it. Interestingly enough, the Pens won the first two games of that series, as well, before dropping the next three, the third coming on this stab in the back from ex-Pen (and one of our favorite Pens) Stu Barnes: There's not a lot of video evidence on the Internet of this series. Moreover, there is scant photographic evidence on the Internet of this series, as well. OR SO WE THOUGHT We've uncovered a game-by-game recap of this series as told by a Sabres fan on an Angelfire page. We hope 15 years from now, someone will be as happy to stumble upon our game recaps as we are to stumble across this Angelfire page. Here we go: GAME ONE -- PENS 3, SABRES 0 All we remembered from this game was Lemieux beating Hasek on some slapshot, and the site has the pic: GAME TWO -- PENS 3, SABRES 1 We remembered Andrew Ference had a bizarre goal in Buffalo, and it came in Game Two, according to this guy's recap. GAME THREE -- SABRES 4, PENS 1 GAME FOUR -- SABRES 5, PENS 2 Totally forgot about Marty Straka's penalty shot in this game. GAME FIVE -- SABRES 3, PENS 2 GAME SIX -- PENS 3, SABRES 2 Here's that deflating goal that Afinogenov scored coming out of the box: It's depressing that there is no video online of Lemieux's tying goal or Straka's OT goal. To this day, we can remember screaming at Robert Lang to take the hit that led him to pass it Kovalev, who one-touched it to Straka for this goal: GAME SEVEN -- PENS 3, SABRES 2 All you gotta know: These Angelfire pages can sometimes disappear without warning, so we have preserved all seven of these recaps and will put them in the bank. Go Pens

For a team with so much in the way of expectations, it was only a matter of time for the second guessing and “Monday morning quarterbacking” to reach a fever pitch. I just didn’t take it that it’d be before the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from contention. Let alone in the second round, a series they’re currently winning 2 games to 1. Or about a player with above a point per game average in the playoffs so far. But that’s where we are with Dejan Kovacevic’s article, entitled “Why did Pens even get Iginla?“ in today’s Trib. This isn’t against Kovacevic personally, who’s probably the brightest and most responsive (and responsible) commentator of the Penguins these days. He’s a terrific writer and has usually has wonderful insight and perspective. To me, he misses the mark here, but it’s more about the temperature in the water about how just about everyone, it seems, feels about head coach Dan Bylsma. Clearly, I don’t stand by all of Bylsma’s decisions- especially when it comes to playing Deryk Engelland over Simon Despres. Or the decision to dress Tanner Glass (and play him on the penalty kill) when it’s clear he’s not been a very effective option. I’ve never been one to be in lock-step with the coach every step of the way, but common sense doesn’t add up here to me. That said, the complaint is about misuse of Jarome Iginla? The guy with 10 points in 9 games? Below are a couple of rational responses to Kovacevic's biggest charges: When the Penguins went on the power play four times in regulation, Iginla alternated with James Neal on the first unit and was out of position. Rather than being on the left point, where he'd feasted on goaltenders for a decade-plus in Calgary, he stood idly at the left lip of the crease waiting for passes that never came. It’s fair to take umbrance that Iginla was on the left point for “a decade-plus in Calgary”, I’ve sent a few tweets and emails to get some reports from more knowledgeable Flames viewers, but as Ryan Lambert (@twolinepass) tweeted “i wouldnt say ‘regularly’” when I asked if Iginla was used on the point on power plays. The point being- hockey is a fluid sport. Sometimes Iginla uses his shot from the left faceoff circle, sometimes he plays closer to the net looking for gritty goals or rebounds. And that makes sense with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby usually operating from the wall, or point, or somewhere far from the net, spacing-wise you’d expect other players to be positioned closer to the net. Power play personnel has long been an issue, the Pens have too many skill players for the tradition first unit. When the Penguins went on the power play in the second overtime with a chance to bury the Senators in this Stanley Cup playoff series, Iginla sat on the bench. Iginla did sit that power play, but he also played the shift before the penalty and had 2 shifts in that short 2nd OT when the penalty was called. Chris Kunitz and James Neal were more fresh and with that perspective, just as good of options to play in that situation. Now, tell me again: Why did Ray Shero get this guy? I’m sure glad the Penguins got Iginla instead of Boston, and if the two teams meet up next round that feeling will be multiplied one hundred times over. I’m not going to go “Fire Joe Morgan” and pick apart Dejan’s every sentence, because he doesn’t deserve that. It’s a well-constructed and reasonable argument, just one I wouldn’t make to question why the Pens acquired Iginla just because he hasn’t seamlessly slid into the Pens. The feeling that Dan Bylsma can’t win, unless the team wins is the pervasive growing sentiment that I’m picking up on here. The pressure and expectations he’s under is incredible. I tweeted tha

There is no reason not to do this exact same celebration if you do something good at work.

It's a team game and one little slip can cost you the game. The Pittsburgh Penguins learned that the hard way. The below isn't really meant to dish out blame (everyone could have done something better) but just to illustrate how the breakdown happened. 0:08- Unreal play by Matt Cooke to bat the puck ahead and blow by Erik Karlsson, forcing Karlsson to slash at him, which breaks Karlsson’s stick. 0:20- Whistle blows, Karlsson is yelling at the referee for some reason, not understanding how HE gets the penalty when his stick broke..Maybe cuz he slashed another player and that’s why it broke? 0:55- What a face on Matt Cooke seeing his old buddy throw a fit and go into the penalty box. 1:12- Ok, power play is about to start. 1:27 left in the game and a two minute minor means Ottawa is short-handed for the duration of regulation. Faceoff in Ottawa end, Sidney Crosby to take it. Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz are the forwards, Kris Letang and Paul Martin are the defensemen. Not the true #1 PP unit (since there’s 2 natural defensemen instead of one), but given the situation that’s a good call. 1:20- Right off the bat, this is showing trouble. Crosby loses the draw cleanly to Kyle Turris, Sergei Gonchar controls the puck, makes a pass and another stretch pass is made to Turris who’s inside the Pens zone. 1:31- Malkin muscles the puck away from Turris, swings around the net and skates back to the Ottawa blue-line, where he dumps it in. Ottawa has three players on the blueline and Craig Anderson steadies the puck behind the net. 1:41- Turris skates the puck all the way into the Pens zone, but is stood up at the blueline and Malkin again comes away with it. 1:00 left to go in the game. 1:51- Senators are changing and so does Crosby. Malkin has left the puck behind the Pens net for Letang, who looks out, waiting, 50 seconds left in the game. 1:58- Kunitz gets a pass from Letang, skates up to the Ottawa blueline and somewhat gently chips it in. Somewhat troubling, he’s the only Penguin you see, Malkin is about 5 feet to the right, standing on the wall stationary. 2:05-Chris Phillips won the puck and passed it to Daniel Alfredsson who has wheeled up the zone. Again, you see no other Penguins in the shot other than Kunitz, which is troubling. 2:08- Alfredsson drops the puck for Gonchar and Kunitz stays with Alfie, which is great on his part. So long as the Pens can keep marking all the Sens, they should be just fine.. 2:10- Gonchar has entered the zone and at least 4 Penguins are looking at him and closing in on him as he chips it over for Milan Michalek. Kunitz has lost Alfredsson. In fact, no one has even noticed that the guy who just had the puck now has a clear path to the net. Big huge, red lights flashing danger. Even if you didn’t know what happens next, you probably know what is going to happen just based off this picture. 2:11- Paul Martin stays with Gonchar, who’s cleared out room for Michalek to operate. Malkin and Letang are playing in space. Kunitz is coasting. Sutter is ready to challenge Michalek but isn’t going to make it in time. No Penguin on the ice is 100% aware of Alfredsson. 2:11 (part 2)- Moment of the pass from Michalek. Letang and Malkin haven’t done anything and aren’t in a position to stop the puck from going by them, they’re in space. Kunitz hasn’t been a factor in the play since he let Alfie go right by him. Martin’s covering a guy that’s not going in a position to score and Sutter wasn’t able to get to Michalek in time to deflect or break up the pass. And Alfreddson is all alone. 2:12: Good luck, Tomas Vokoun! And that's how you blow a 1-0 lead with the power play in the last minute of the game. Definite culpability to all five skaters out there, but in order I think you have the best case to

Sometimes, you just get the feeling it's not going to go the way you want it to. For me it happened when Pascal Dupuis rang a shot clean off the far post in the first overtime. Even when the Penguins beat Craig Anderson, they couldn't score. And very rarely were they able to beat him in the first place. Game three between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators featured an entertaining, heavy-hitting, low-scoring affair that saw some great goaltending from Anderson and Tomas Vokoun, as well as a let down by the Pens. In the last minute of the game, with Pittsburgh up 1-0, the Sens were down a man but still pushing hard for a goal. The Pens got in a weird shell- they weren't playing offense but they weren't really in a good defensive mindset either. It's definitely unusual for a team down a man to pull their goalie and push so hard for a goal, but it's what happens in the final minute of a playoff game. Daniel Alfredsson snuck behind all the Pens and went to the net and made a beauty deflection from Milan Michalek and we were tied. Overtime saw more of the same, the Pens pushing but Anderson holding the fort. Ottawa counter-striking but Vokoun keeping it out. Rinse and repeat until 7:39 into the second OT when Penguin-killer Colin Greening collected a rebound and punched it home, ending a good, tough, intense game. Not too much more to say, the Pens were 30 seconds away from a commanding 3 games to 0 lead in the series....Then they were just one goal away. But they couldn't get it, and now we have a series. Some more thoughts: 50 shots on goal, ten of those from Evgeni Malkin. Not much more you can do. Malkin has been flashing everywhere in the offensive zone, beating defenders but not Anderson. Hopefully it's just a matter of time. Despite scoring the team's only goal, Tyler Kennedy only got 11:00 minutes of ice-time, by far the least on the team for every player (except Tanner Glass). Pens PP went 0 for 6. Tough one to take, the power play has to come through, including during an extended 5 on 3. They got some good zone time, passes, movement and even shots on goal, but again, you just have to tip your hat to Anderson, he answered the bell tonight. 29 blocked shots for the Pens tonight, led by Paul Martin (8), Brooks Orpik (6) and Kris Letang (4). Throw in that each of them played 35-37 minutes and you have to wonder what toll this game will have throughout the rest of the series. Luckily there's a two day break and hopefully all will have the chance to recharge, but any multiple-OT game is just going to be brutal on top defensemen. The hit Craig Adams threw on Jason Spezza was a thing of beauty. Clean, solid and textbook. Spezza, in his first game back since January, was really good playing 18:40, getting 4 shots on goal and winning 60% of his 25 faceoffs. Not much rust there. Here's something interesting: out of the 97 faceoffs that happened in the game, Sidney Crosby or Brandon Sutter combined for 79 of them. And they won 54% of them. Very clear to see who the coach is leaning on this time of year. And so, luckily, that's that. Time to turn the page and move on to the next one. It's a tough pill to swallow for the Pens, especially given that they more or less had it in the bag in regulation, but another lesson to learn. Games are 60:00 and a full 60:00 must be played.

This game has the potential to be the first important game of the series. Sid made game two look too easy to exist, and that makes us nervous and weird. A psychiatrist would have a field day with our ability to turn Good Things into anxiety, but that psychiatrist doesn't know shit about playoff hockey. Can we get PSAD (Post-Season Affective Disorder) added to the DSM? The point is that Ottawa is gross and we only recently found out that they're also French-ish so that's a shock to our sheltered American systems. Why are we even here. Oh, right. To win. Let's hope we don't have to burn anything down. The chances for both teams in the first two minute are terrifying and the play is fast and open. We are already confused and scared about what this game is trying to tell us. 5 minutes in Mattie and Sutter get a good chance at the net but Anderson says No. Mattie's hustle was unreal. We dream of a game wherein he has 0 PMS and scores at least once. We also dream of gin raining from the skies. Let's see how it goes for us. Ottawa gets a holding call because they aren't too interested in getting anywhere in this series. Iggy and Malkin try to be BFFS but just knock one another over. The Sens kill it with a minimal amount of trouble. We're not impress. It confuses us that Spezza is playing with Conacher because that doesn't seem like a 2-0 series going into Game 3 decision but idk maybe there is black magic involved. Vokoun is being the monster under your bed and in your closet and in your soul forever and ever. Anderson is keeping up. You wish that went in. I wish that went in. We all dream of brighter tomorrows. Zach Smith is a chode. Just a statement of fact. Malkin gets a rush that looks like Jesus Christ but the Sens can't stop being haters and trip him up. We are dying for a penalty shot, but we go into the 2nd with most of the power play left. Ktang celebrates the beginning of the second by getting a prolific pass to Sid, who is robbed by Anderson on his shot. Ottawa apologizes by getting a quick Too Much Man to give us the two man advantage. Malkin gets an amazing shot but Anderson, who is really standing on his head, says nope. NBC thinks it is a time to make a Charlie Sheen joke. No one is amused. They run it out to even strength. We are starting to get Agitated. Zach Smith decides to get cute with Malks and goes to the bench for roughing. A pane of glass has an existential crisis over the state of our special teams and simply explodes. We know the feeling. But we don't really have to worry about seeing it because Cowen clips himself with Sid's stick and that is obviously a reason for Sid to sit on the bench amirite. That is used up, but then of course there is another reason for us to be on the bench because adsfkjhasdkj. Karlsson gets an unsportsmanlike, though, which is pretty hilarious. 4-4 again. Someone remind me how many players are normally on the ice because I can't seem to recall. When we pretend for a few minutes like we're done with penalties, Koun really kills it with some huge saves. The Sens have too many solid chances. Death and dying. Finally, finally, finally Mattie Cooke makes it happen in front of the net, and TK is there to get it in. We'd have taken an ugly one, but it was surprisingly pretty. The flow of the game picks up a little for the remaining moments in the second. We're hoping the mojo makes the jump into the third The mojo doesn't really jump the gap, but Koun is on point so it's sort of okay. Koun makes a sick leg save on a shot that erryone thought was going in. Anderson keeps up his insanity too, and it's kind of fun to see the boys in both nets looking so solid. It adds an extra layer of horror and pain and gut wrenching nervousness, many of the emotions that make us love the