By the end of the 0-0 first period it was almost posing as evidence to another low scoring affair. But hey, as long as Sabu was keeping the puck out, I was ok with a scoreless tie heading into the second.
But then, all hell broke loose. Malkin from Crosby and Malone gave the Pens a quick 1-0 lead within the first four minutes of the second. The Wild retaliated three minutes later to tie it at one. If there's one thing I love about the Penguins more this season than any other, it's that sense of anger and rage when they give up a goal. The favor hardly stands in the other team's court for long, often sending the Pens on an eating binge of goals. I say this because tonight was no different. 15 seconds after the Wild tied the score at 1, Malkin took a pass from Crosby-Malone (again) to net another Pens goal.
2-1 heading into the third.
After a Wild goal to tie the score at two, the powerplay stuck gold on a Sykora goal 10 minutes in to take the lead for good. Crosby would later score his fifth goal on the season, coming from a breakaway pass from Gonchar-Malkin.
Crosby makes it look easy
The offense was looking hot tonight, and frankly the defense was too. The forechecking in the first period alone was enough evidence to me that this was going to be a victory, regardless of the 0-0 first intermission. Sabourin looked solid in net and I'm hoping that Minnesota is the team that will later take the blame for awakening the sleeping demon that is Sidney Crosby.
Crosby's four points on the night sends him up the league's point leader board with 17. Malkin is only one behind him with 16. Combined, the two of them have the same amount of points as the top five on the Rangers' roster. (Jagr-Shanahan-Drury-Rosival-Dawes). I know it's not exactly saying much comparing to the Rangers, but I just couldn't resist.
26 minutes for high-sticking...
Big road win tonight and hopefully three more to come. Pens head in to Colorado Thursday night to take on the Avalanche. Preview will be up soon.
