I have a confession to make. When Kris Letang turned the puck over (again) in the final minute of the second period, leading to a goal by Zach Werensky Four seconds before the horn sounded to give CBJ a 3-1 lead, I turned off the TV in disgust.
I didn’t bother turning it back on to watch the third period. I also didn’t bother checking the final score until just before bedtime. You can imagine my surprise when I did that.
Penguins win! In overtime to boot! On a goal by Letang, of all prople.
While I was away, so to speak, Bryan Rust took a short feed from Erik Karlsson and got the puck past the CBJ goalie Jet Greaves just 13 seconds into the third period to cut the Jackets’ lead to one. Perhaps just as important, if not more so, to give the black and gold a much-needed dose of adrenaline and forward momentum.
Next on the list of ‘Guins heroes, Sidney Crosby. Sir Sidney, who had given us too short a lead earlier in the match, made an absolutely brilliant move at 8:28 to level the score at 3. Sid astutely allowed a pass from the main man Tommy Novak to carom off the sideboards before using the rubber in a race to the CBJ net. Crosby arrived at Greaves’ door at about the same time as the puck, grabbed the cookie with one hand on his stick and, in one fluid motion, beat the stunned netminder blocker.
I mean, what a goal!
Only Sid.
From there, the Pens pushed the game to overtime. Let’s face it: with an 0-5 record in games beyond regular rules, extra stanzas haven’t exactly been our domain so far. However, 59 seconds before a dreaded firefight, Evgeni Malkin rushed into the Jackets’ zone and pinned the puck against the sideboards, drawing the attention of two defensemen. Rookie Luca Pinelli Pryed the puck loose, but Letang promptly pounced on the loose change and fed Novak, who in turn returned it to No. 58 after a quick give-and-go. Tangier fired past Greaves for the game winner.
Puckpourri
I’m not gonna lie. Letang’s disturbing tendency to turn over pucks in the final minute of menstruation had caught my attention prior to last night. It’s as if Tangier is determined to give the puck away in crucial situations. Like a schlub as I notice, And Muse and his staff should certainly do the same. I dare suggest that they are Karlsson and… Parker Wotherspoonby far our best defensive tandem, at such critical moments?
The first 40 minutes were not a nice match to watch from Pens’ perspective. We only managed fifteen shots on target and there was little sustained attacking pressure. Not to call out guys, but there are way too many (ahem, Ville Koivunen And Joona Koppanen) that simply do not produce.
To that end, in a rather baffling move, Muse made him a rookie Tristan Broz a healthy scratch just two nights after his big league debut, as he once again engaged his fellow rookie Ben Kindel. While I understand they are both natural centers, they have both also played wing. Is it wrong to suggest they both could and should be in the lineup? Maybe on the same page?
Anyway, to say we need it urgently Rickard Rakell And Justin Brazeau back is the Cap’n Clear understatement of the century. Until then, I’m afraid it’s a steady diet of hard scrabble (and sometimes hard to watch) hockey.
Muse did indeed break from his strict rotation to give Tristan Jarry a well-deserved second consecutive start in net. Tristan stopped 26 of 29 shots and was stiff when he had to be.
Speaking of which, Jarry’s name has been popping up in trade rumors, especially with the Oilers. One iteration, posted on Stuart Skinnerveteran depth forward Mattias Janmark and draft picks in return.
If that’s true, I don’t want to be part of that deal. Hopefully, Kyle Dubas neither.
The win pushed the Pens (12-6-5) into the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card slot. With just six points separating the first-place Devils and basement-dwelling CBJ, the Metro is packed tighter than a can of sardines.
Tonight’s foe, the floundering Maple Leafs, are fresh off a 4-2 drubbing at the hands of the Capitals in DC. This is a great opportunity to avenge our ugly up front loss to Toronto on November 3.
Jet Greaves is one of my favorite hockey names. Former Flames and Blackhawks defenseman Old miles is another.
One final thought. While I may be guilty of setting expectations too high, Koivunen is my biggest disappointment yet. Is it too early to suggest that the early reports claiming he didn’t have the speed to keep pace in the NHL are true?
I certainly hope not.
Oh, and nice to see Novak pick up those two assists.
#Penguins #stun #CBJ