Welcome to the latest edition of the "View From Where I Sat." Here you will find my thoughts on the game that was versus the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
The Game in Review
The second would get off to as good a start as the first. The Devils would score on a breakaway short handed to give them the lead. That goal came from Jacob Josefson, assisted by Stephen Gionta. Just three minutes later, Tuomo Ruutu would make it a two-goal lead for the bad guys, assisted by Giointa and defenseman Andy Greene. It is usually at this point you have to question what they are doing out there, but not on this night. The Pens began an onslaught of offense from that point on and would completely take control of the game for good. First, Evgeni Malkin would fire home a power play goal from Patric Hornqvist and Kris Letang at the 8:56 mark. Four minutes later, Hornqvist would tie it on his fifth goal of the year from Simon Despres. The Pens would kill a penalty late in the period and Brandon Sutter would find Craig Adams streaking up the middle of the ice after emerging from the box. Adams would score the breakaway goal at 17:35, his first of the season. Just over a minute later, Sidney Crosby would get his first of the night and sixth of the season to give the Pens a 5 to 3 lead heading to the intermission. Despres and Chris Kunitz had the assists on the Crosby goal.
The Pens would hold the pedal down heading into the third period and would add three more before the final horn sounded. Pascal Dupuis would score on the power play at 5:29. With that tally, he now has three straight games with a goal. Steve Downie and Olli Maatta would assist that goal. Several minutes later, Steve Downie would get in on the score train and get his first as a Penguin. Comeau and Sutter assisted on the Downie goal. Sid would add one more with a few minutes left to secure the final score of 8 to 3 in favor of the Black and Gold. Elvis left the building.
My 3 Stars of the Game
1. Simon Despres: Everyone knows I am not a huge fan of this guy but I can stick my foot in my mouth on this night. Despres was incredibly good. He had two assists, two shots, two blocks, three hits and was a +3. All of this in just 13:43. Impressive, very impressive. I think night's like tonight are why I get so frustrated with him. He has the talent and he can play very well, but it just doesn't show up on a nightly basis. But for tonight, he was incredible. I hope it becomes more consistent.
2. Sidney Crosby: Was torn with these last two but Sid deserves a nod as well. He had two goals which is big, but he was 70% in the faceoff circle, played 20:54 and had over eight minutes of power play time. He was also a +2. Just a solid performance by the Captain in a big game.
3. Steve Downie: I really like this guy and he is starting to show flashes of that Downie we saw in Tampa a few years back. He had a goal and assist tonight. He also put up four shots and blocked a shot in 13:18. I would like to see him get more minutes, but I really like him with Sutter and should mesh well with him and Bennett starting very soon. That could become one of the best third lines in hockey if Downie keeps playing this well.
Making the Grade
Olli Maatta (B+): He was going to be my third star but I switched. Maatta was great. He played very well in light of everything going on and acted as if it's not happening at all. The Pens are really going to miss him being out for about a month. Anyway, in this game he had an assist, a hit, a shot and two blocks. He played 2:51 of his 19:46 on the power play and had 3:03 on the kill as well.
Rob Scuderi (B+): Another solid game by the Piece and he was even getting love from the staff, media and wait for it....Twitter. Yes, even Twitter was giving Scuds props. He really did play well and has most of the season. On this night he was a +2, had a block and hit in 15:12. He was once again his stellar self on the penalty kill as well.
Paul Martin (B-): Just again, not blown away by his play. In light of the Maatta news, he may not get moved and if that's the case, he needs to get right. He just looks off to me.
Pascal Dupuis (A-): Another really good night from Duper. Put up a goal and assist and now has goals in three straight. Impressive performance by him tonight and he only played in 14:04.
Christian Ehrhoff (B-): Like Martin, just not seeing a lot from him. I want to see him shoot more and be more offensive with that outstanding shot he has. Just isn't doing it. He's been good defensively and you can't complain about that, but his offensive side has left much to be desired in my opinion.
Nick Spaling (C): He was pretty invisible tonight. Didn't see much out of him, just another body.
Chris Kunitz (B): Had an assist and was a +2 in 19:56. Typical Chris Kunitz game. Not much more to say than that.
Brandon Sutter (B): Got two assists tonight but was a -1 and only 46% from the faceoffs. Glad to see him put up a few points, but I don't want to see it as a result of poor defense. Now, he wasn't poor on defense per-say, but he wasn't up to his normal level. That being said, the two points were good to get.
Blake Comeau (A-): Another great night for Comeau. He is really versatile and is very similar to Pascal Dupuis. He's good in the defensive zone and can score. Tonight, he did a bit of both. He put up a goal and an assist and was physical. He's been on a good streak here lately and that's big for the Pens.
Steve Downie: See above:
Craig Adams (B+): You can't ask for a better night if Craig Adams chips in a goal, and a beaut to boot! He looked like Sid on that breakaway out of the box. He played a very good game. The goal was a bonus.
Zach Sill (C): Like Spaling, didn't see much of him. He had two hits, but again only 8:12 of ice time.
Simon Despres (A): See above.
Marcel Goc (B-): Typical Goc game. Didn't do much to draw any attention to him, but he had 3 shots, was 70% in the circle and was good on the penalty kill.
Kris Letang (B): A good game by Letang, especially in the physical department. He was credited with six shots and led the tea in ice time with 26:31. He added the assist as well. A solid night when they distributed his bobblehead.
Evgeni Malkin (B): Thought Geno was good tonight. He got the goal, had 3 shots and was 47% in the circle. He looked interested in playing all night which is good and was just solid overall. Nothing spectacular from the big Russian, but good/consistent.
Patric Hornqvist (A-): Hornqvist was very good tonight and it almost gets overshadowed by the rest. He had a goal and an assist in 19:00 minutes. He was a +2, had 2 shots and 3 hits. He did his thing, disrupting things by the net and providing a screen for his guys. Can't ask for more from Horny than what we got tonight. Played his role to perfection.
Sidney Crosby (A): See above.