The Game in Review
The second period was not any more thrilling than the first. There were no goals in the period, despite their being several opportunities for both sides on the penalty kill. The Pens got the first power play of the game when Olli Jokinen was called for holding at 5:15. The Pens were unable to make anything of it. Just following the Preds kill, they went on the power play when Steve Downie was called for hooking. The Pens were able to successfully kill the penalty, their 13th straight successful kill. The kill would make it fourteen straight late in the period when they were successfully able to kill off a bench penalty for too many men on the ice. The score remained one-nil the Penguins after two periods.
The third period would have a few more fireworks than the rest of the game did, including two more Penguins goals. At the 2:03 mark, Evgeni Malkin would redirect a pass from Sidney Crosby past Pekka Rinne for his 3rd tally of the season. The Malkin goal, on the powerplay, was assisted by Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury and gave the Pens a two to nothing lead. Pascal Dupuis would jump on the goal wagon just over three minutes later when he would score a power play goal of his own. His 3rd goal of the season would become his 400th career point. Steve Downie and Sidney Crosby assisted on the Dupuis power play tally. The Pens would get called for too many men on the ice once again late in the period, but they would successfully kill it to end the game. Their 16th consecutive kill would secure the shutout for Fleury, his first of the season and 29th of his career.
My 3 Stars
Marc-Andre Fleury: The Flower's best game by far. He stopped all twenty-five shots he faced. He was simply phenomenal tonight. The night off did him some good and I feel it's important he builds off this game. His first shutout of the season would become his 29th of his career. Congrats to the Flower.
Pascal Dupuis: It was a milestone night for Super Duper as well. His power play goal in the 3rd period would become his 400th career point. He added a hit, a block and two shots in 17:29. He was phenomenal on the penalty kill and really played a solid all-around game.
Making the Grade
Olli Maatta (B+): Thought Maatta was really good tonight. He had the assist on Crosby's goal and was outstanding in the defensive zone. He had three blocks in his 19:08 of ice time and had 2:07 of short handed ice time. He has been solid the last two games and is really developing into the Pens best two-way defenseman.
Rob Scuderi (B-): I thought the Piece was alright tonight, not horrible but not great either. He was very good on the PK and 2:15 of his 14:20 came on the penalty kill. He had a block and a takeaway to add his numbers.
Paul Martin (B): He was better as the game went on, but he still just screams a guy going through the motions waiting for the trade to me. He led the team in ice time at 25:20.
Pascal Dupuis (B+): See above.
Christian Ehrhoff (C+): I have been really disappointed in his play thus far this year. I was hoping for the Ehrhoff of Vancouver and the one we saw in the preseason, but so far we have gotten Buffalo Ehrhoff. He had one shot in his 24:16.
Nick Spaling (B-): Wasn't overly impressed with him tonight but he did have two hits and two takeaways in his 14:54.
Chris Kunitz (B-): A +1 overall in his 17:50 with one shot, but wasn't much of a factor tonight.
Brandon Sutter (B): Flat Stanley has regressed a little in the last few games. He was 69% from the faceoff circle and was good on the PK. Overall, not what he was in the first two games of the year, but their still getting quality play out of him.
Blake Comeau (B): Only 13:39 for the guy recently elevated to the second line. He only had 2 shots on the night, but he did have four hits.
Steve Downie (B): An assist as well as two hits and two blocks in his 13:03 tonight. Much better than his performance in Detroit and he is chipping in offensively which is big.
Craig Adams (C+): Not much of an offensive force, well ever, but his defense is very solid and it was tonight. He had two hits tonight and 1:11 of his 10:45 came while on the penalty kill.
Zach Sill (C-): Had two hits, but had a horrible giveaway in his own zone that almost cost the Pens. He played 8:10 tonight, more than the last few but still ridiculously low in my opinion.
Simon Despres (C+): He was pretty solid defensively tonight but didn't do much overall. Had two hits and a block in his 10:51.
Marcel Goc (C+): He had three shots and was very good in his two minutes of penalty kill time. However, he was only 38% from the faceoff circle which is incredibly bad for him.
Kris Letang (B): Tanger was better than he's been tonight. Had four shots, but from really weird places. Passed up a few shots that would have made more sense. He was good defensively tonight, an area where he struggled the last few games. Overall, +1 with four shots and three blocks in 22:56.
Evgeni Malkin (B+): A really good performance from Geno in my opinion. Had the power play tally in the third period and had two takeaways in the game. He was very good while playing center tonight, especially in the faceoff circle where he was 60%.
Patric Hornqvist (B): Had the assist on Crosby's first goal. Worked the net well and was a pretty solid performance for him in his first game back against his old team.
Sidney Crosby (A+): See above.
My Final thoughts
The special teams were really good tonight. The penalty kill continues to succeed and has killed off sixteen straight penalties. The power play got back on track tonight, converting two of three. The best part of that, was they were putting pucks on the net again which they weren't during the two previous games. They got back to the basics tonight and didn't try to do too much. That, usually, is when the Pens have the most success.
The big guys showed up again tonight whihttp://bigdavespenspregame.weebly.com/blog/the-curious-case-of-scott-harringtonch was good. The Pens really need Crosby, Malkin and Letang to play well if they are going to succeed. Crosby and Letang were off against both Detroit and Philly and we saw the results. Tonight, they were all good and the Pens controlled the game and frankly dominated. The Pens will go as far as these three guys take them, that means two things: 1. Crosby and Letang keeping things simple and not trying to do too much and 2. Malkin actually playing and not loafing around.
I always find it funny that after nights like tonight the Fleury haters don't have a thing to say. There are so many out there in Pens Nation that want to see him gone, and frankly I can't help but laugh. There are nights when Fleury is terrible, but everyone has those nights. What most complain about is he doesn't take over the game like the elites, and that he doesn't hold leads. I have said it before and I'll say it again, when the five guys in front of you hang you out to dry, you won't succeed. That happened in the playoffs in '12 and '13 and that happens in the games when the Pens get up a few goals and then let the opponent get back into it. You can see tonight that Fleury is a dominant goaltender, and when his team plays in front of him he can be dominant. So for the Fleury haters out there, blame the guys in front of him before you flat out put it on the Flower.
That is it for this edition of the View From Where I Sat. I thank you all for sitting down and reading this and your continued support on here, Twitter and Facebook. We broke the 250 follower mark tonight, and that means the absolute world to me. Please continue to share the blog, twitter and facebook page with your friends and followers and help the name grow. And keep being the best fans in hockey!
Be on the lookout tomorrow for the latest edition of "Big Dave's Week in Review." I will take a look at the week that was and take a look at the week ahead that features the Devils and Stanley Cup Champion Kings. That will be available either late tonight or this time tomorrow.
Also, be sure to check out my latest piece about the Pens usage of Scott Harrington and what current Penguin defensemen he is being tied to at the moment. You can read that here: http://bigdavespenspregame.weebly.com/blog/the-curious-case-of-scott-harrington
Thanks again for reading and everyone enjoy their Sunday!