Big Lead Sports Bar

2/01/2011

Jeffrey Leads Pens Past Rangers at MSG


Dustin Jeffrey scored once in the second period and again in the shootout to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 victory against the New York Rangers at MSG on Tuesday night, their fifth consecutive win in that building.


Jeffrey's SO goal was the only successful attempt by either side in a seemingly never-ending seven-round shooutout, as Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lunqvist would stop 13 of the 14 combined shots taken. The two All-Star goalies played to a draw through 60 minutes, with Lundqvist tossing two shutout periods (1st and 3rd) around a sloppy 2nd in which he allowed three goals, to Jeffrey, Mike Rupp, and Chris Kunitz. As you could guess, scoring was at a premium tonight with the Pens sans 87 and 71, so the three-goal-in-9-minute mini-explosion was a welcome development. 

The two teams exchanged pleasantries throughout the game, as Brandon Prust and Deryk Engelland threw down in a second period that later saw Jordan Staal score a 10 minute match penalty for punching Prust in the face. The Rangers would convert on the ensuing power play, as Ryan Callahan re-directed a Michael Del Zotto wrister past MAF with just 13 seconds left in the period to tie the game at three. It would stay deadlocked through the entire scoreless third period.

The Pens (32-15-4) have little time to reflect on this one, as they'll be back at the CEC on Wednesday night for an appointment with the New York Islanders (16-27-7) at 7 p.m. The Pens edged the Isles by a 1-0 final on January 25 behind 29 saves from Fleury and a lone goal from Craig Adams.

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4 comments:

BurressWithButterflywings said...

That was a huge win for the Pens. Especially playing short against a good team.

Prust spun around like a top after Staal hit him, some great acting. Funny how his elbow to Staal's jaw wasn't caught by the men in stripes though.

okel dokel said...

@Burress

Agreed. The 5 minute major, games misconduct and suspension for Staal was uncalled for. Did he deserve a penalty? Yes!

However, even Keith Jones and Mike Milbury thought it was harsh.

This is all a reaction to the hit by Ben Eager on Colby Armstrong a few weeks back.

Two totally different hits.

The NHL is one league where the refs "opinion" matters way too much.

BurressWithButterflywings said...

That is twice this year we have seen acting by our opponent lead to a key player getting a match penalty. The first was Tanger getting tossed for a shoudler to shoulder hit.

Staal should have gotten a double minor and Prust 2 minutes. The guys charged Kennedy and blindsided him while he was in a vulnerable position, then throws an elbow and nothing happens to him. Boyle, #22 for the Rags, also dropped his gloves but nothing was called.

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