Big Lead Sports Bar

3/07/2007

The Amazin' Pens

The Penguins just keep finding new ways to win...blown leads that give way to shootouts, fierce comebacks that lead to shootouts...the key is getting to the shootout, because that seems to be their comfort zone these days.
On Tuesday evening, the Team That May Be Relocated (come on, Vegas? Seriously?) erased a three-goal defecit en route to a 5-4 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins' 8th shootout win of the season. The Pens are 5-4 in overtime games, and 8-5 in overtime games extended into a shootout. That's 22 of 66 games this season that have gone beyond 60 minutes. If this were an old team, I'd be worried at all the extra effort in acquiring their 81 points. But given the fact that the Pens are the second-youngest team in the league, I'll take the wins and the "character building", thank you very much.
Tuesday's game was a roller-coaster, but ultimately the pros outweighed the cons:
-Sidney Crosby continues to make me believe he's really an alien from the planet Krypton named Kal-El as he scored his third shootout goal in the last four games.
-Jordan Staal, who scored a total of 28 goals in juniors last year, lit the lamp for the 26th time, including his NHL-leading 7th of the shorthanded variety.
-Erik Christensen scored AGAIN in the shootout. They're becoming as automatic as extra points with this guy.
-Gary Roberts added a goal and his usual grit, making Ray Shero's initial deadline move look like a great one with each passing game.
-Jocelyn Thibault came out of the bullpen and did a solid job in goal, including a perfect shootout. *CORRECTION: Thibault actually did give up a goal, which I completely forgot in the euphoria of another shootout win. My apologies to Dean McAmmond, who scored the goal, and the Mondesi readers, who I grossly mislead with my sudden Thibault Mania. Thanks to Wes for pointing this out.
If you plan on watching, the Pens' next shootout victory will be Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils. 7:30 start time, with the shootout scheduled for 10:30.

3 comments:

The Duke from Dukes Court said...

Why did i turn this game off in the 2nd period?

Unknown said...

so thibault giving up one goal in the shootout is perfect?? come on, mondesi! i think the sun is getting to you down there in the dominican.

mondesishouse said...

Thanks for catching that. I've harshly reprimanded myself in the post.