For the second consecutive game the Penguins were the first to strike and the last to cheer. In two straight games the Penguins have jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead to only watch the hopes of victory slip from the confines of a hockey glove by giving up three consecutive unanswered goals. I for one could not be more disappointed.
I mean - who do you blame? Is it the coaching? Is it the players...defensive or offensive? Is it REALLY Fleury's fault, but no matter how hard a fan looks they won't point a finger? I'm just gonna go out there and say it's a collective effort by everyone, because when you really break it down that's what it is.
You can't blame just one aspect of a team. You hear that cliche term (and boy do I hate cliches) "The team that sticks together wins together". Yeah well someone forgot to tell the Pens that the team that fails together loses together as well.
I will say this though: Congratulations to Tyler Kennedy on his first NHL goal. The 21 year old, just called up four games ago, notched his first career red light goal roughly two minutes in to the second. So hey, all things considered; congrats.
But I'll also say this: WHY oh WHY do our best players spend the most time in the box? Malkin and Crosby each tallied up minutes in the box like it was a contest. Granted, there wasn't much that Crosby could do to avoid his (an inadvertent high-sticking call that cut DiPietro's right eye), but we need those guys ON the ice, not IN the box. Malkin acts like there's nothing wrong with a little tripping every once in a while. There is - our second best scorer spends two minutes in the bin. DiPietro by the way is listed day-to-day.
I am beside myself in sheer frustration. It's one thing to watch your team lose a game, even if they once held only a ONE goal lead. But, to watch your team take charge so early in a contest and ultimately fall apart with three consecutive gifts, there's just not much more to say then, "Hey, better luck next time".
Next time is tomorrow night, as the Penguins wrap up their four game road trip in New Jersey and the new Prudential Center.
Oh yeah, and as if Carey Price getting his first career win against the Penguins this year wasn't enough, Al Arbour also gets his 1500th career NHL coaching start and 740th career coaching win in the same night. Huzzah.
Penguins Goals
1st Period
Malone from Malkin-Crosby
2nd Period
Kennedy from Roberts-Talbot
3rd Period
NONE
Fleury 36 - 39
Dipietro 16 - 18
Dubielewicz 7 - 7
