How did it happen? The answer to that is rather simple.
It looks like a small bottle of champagne, but it tastes like heaven. When I drink one before a game, it emits powers that manage to not only promote the play of Evgeni Malkin, but apparently any other Russian National on the Penguins as evident by Gonchar's play tonight. As long as I keep drinking and edge closer to alcoholism, the Penguins will continue winning and edge closer to the cup. It's a risk I'm willing to take...
At least, that's my theory.
Overall a very solid game tonight. I wouldn't say Fleury looked superb, but he definitely managed to make some otherwise superior saves. His one Achilles heal, however, is his inability to redirect the shots to the corner. Rebounds just sit at the mouth of the crease, and if it weren't for the heads up play of his defenders it could've been an entirely different game.
Speaking of: Kris Letang's first game of the season tonight. He didn't break any records or achieve much, but he did stick to his man all game, at some points boxing out the crease. The one Islanders goal that managed to tie the score at two may have been his fault. He bit early on the faceoff and opened up the bottom of the net. Brooks Orpik had to come across the crease to stick it to Vasicek but was unable to get there in time. Over commitment has been a problem with Letang in the past, and was the one thing many coaches said he had to work on before his re-entry into the NHL.
Tyler Kennedy, initially sent back down to Wilkes Barre-Scranton, made an appearance on the roster tonight in place of the scratched Mark Recchi. He also remained silent on the night, despite having a golden opportunity to seal an empty netter towards the end of the game. Rather than take an otherwise sure-shot, Kennedy passed it into traffic and caused my heart rate to beat further out of rhythm until the final seconds of the game.
My ""Hero of The Night Award" goes to Georges Laraque. The man makes his presence known and no one is going to get in his way lest they choose to be run over. Scoring isn't exactly his forte, but seeing a guy like him step up tonight is exactly what the rest of the offense needs to use as an example. The deeper the scoring goes in the lines, the more games the team will win.
The Penguins also played a very disciplined game, keeping the Islanders scoreless on only two powerplay attempts. Orpik has to know when to keep his mouth shut and his hands down, as he single handedly killed a powerplay before a second could tick off the clock by mouthing off and following an Islander to the box. I suppose this is something to expect when you run a team of youngsters.
At last the Pens have broken their four game skid, in turn also sending the Islanders on course for two straight losses. An even bigger game awaits the team Saturday when the Rangers come to town.
Penguins Goals
1st Period
Gonchar from Malkin-Fleury
2nd Period
Sykora from Malkin-Gonchar
Laraque from Crosby
3rd Period
None
Fleury - 26-28
DiPietro - 24-27
