Hey folks...what are you doing tonight? Hopefully watching the Penguins take on the Devils! How about we watch it together? It is always great fun to go "Live from my Recliner" and get some good in game chat going with you guys.
Before the puck drops...I just wanted to give you some info on the blog.
Many of you have written in or commented about it...so I have been busy researching it for you. You will soon see past drafts graded and reviewed...also where those guys are now. I started with 1997...figured going back 10 years was a good number. Does that work for you guys?
Also, in case you are not aware, the blog has gone over the airwaves! The Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Buzzcast goes live twice weekly, with myself and co-host Alex May. We obviously go pretty heavy on the Penguins talk, but also cover the entire NHL universe, movies, books, media, and whatever else pops into our minds at the time.
You can email the show at
[email protected] with your comments, questions or concerns. We will also have a few other announcements in regard to the show coming soon...
With that...on to tonight's game!
There is a lot on the line tonight...a mere four points separates first and fourth in the Atlantic division. As Doc pointed out...if the Devils were to win this game in extra time, the Pens, Devils and Rags would all be tied for first.
The Penguins and Devils haven't gotten a ton going early in the first period. Actually, it is probably pretty cool in the Prudential Center, as both squads seem to have fanned on most of the shots they have taken.
Your Pittsburgh Penguins did get the first power play of the evening and let it fall away from them in fairly unimpressive fashion...I am not sure BGL actually got high sticked on the play. Too bad...would have been nice to score on a suspect call! Don't get me wrong, it wasn't that suspect...the stick was up in his face, just looked like the shaft caught him more than the blade.
Stay tuned...updates will appear below throughout the game.
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The Penguins are on the power play again and have been swarming the New Jersey net. Unfortunately, they cannot beat Marty Brodeur, in fact Erik Christensen rung a big wrister off of the post to the left of Marty.
The forward grouping of Staal, the Crusher and Taffe had a great power play shift...if they keep that up, they will score before the night is out.
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Doc and Edzo with a nod to great Penguins stop gap goalies of the past...pointing out that the Pens always have a knack of coming up with a fill in he gets on a roll and is red hot...
THE ANSWER Ty Conklin
Johan Hedberg
Ron Tugnutt
Patrick Lalime and his rookie run of 16 unbeaten!
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We talked about this on the Buzzcast a couple weeks back, but Crosby going down could be the best thing that ever happened to Jordan Staal. He has been amazing since the injury and is looking very good again tonight.
Jordo's line so far tonight: 4 shifts, 3 shots on goal, 3 for 3 in the circle...
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Ryan Malone and David Clarkson just went toe to toe...it wasn't the best fight that we have seen out of either player this year, but they seemed to be pretty agitated with each other.
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I like that Doc and Edzo are praising Geno tonight...he is starting to get more and more respect around the league. They have talked about him as one of the top players in the league all night...definitely deserved!
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Evgeni Malkin is now 0-6 in the circle tonight...I have said this before, but feel that it is necessary again...
It really amazes me how many star players come into the National Hockey League that cannot consistently win face-offs. It just seems that throughout juniors etc, they were so much better than everyone else, that the face-off didn't matter. Other players on the team could win those draws and get the puck to the big gun...they then could go end to end...give and go...whatever may be and score the goal.
Very reminiscent of NBA players who cannot hit free throws...it is a fundamental part of the game, but they grew up learning how to slam dunk instead of practicing at the line.
This generation of players watched all of the fancy moves and breakaways that Mario, Jagr, Lindros and company performed on a nightly basis...that was their focus, mastering that aspect...now they are going 0-6 during the first period...
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Not a bad period of hockey...these Atlantic Division match ups are physical throw downs. I love that these teams realize what is on the line every night and go at each other as they do. There are essentially 4 points on the line during every Atlantic Division match up and these guys are clawing for each and every one of them.
I just hope that the Penguins keep playing as hard as they are during Sidney's absence when he returns to the line-up. If they can do that, they will be a very tough team to play come the post season.
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The Penguins finally were able to beat Brodeur on the power play! Marty had been playing his heart out and not allowing many rebounds...when suddenly, he left a juicy one that Buggsy knocked past him!
Malone needs only an assist to complete the Howe!
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What is it with the kicking motion goals?? Taffe just booted one in that was immediately washed out.
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The Penguins need to capitalize on some of these chances...they will eventually dry up. They are outshooting the devils 20-7 at this point. Score it!
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Petr Sykora lamented the fact that he didn't pick up his 600th goal at home Saturday night...in fact, he said he had been pushing Malkin on the bench...saying that they needed one more goal so that he could achieve that milestone in Pittsburgh. But isn't it fitting that he goes to his old stomping ground and gets the big one on a goal against the team that drafted him!
He took a slick between the legs feed from Geno Malkin and fired a shot that deflected past Brodeur...
How about Buggsy shouting out a congrats to Syky on National TV for the 600th! Very cool! Malone really is (to quote Heath) earning every bit of that A!
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I love how Malkin uses all parts of his body to maintain control of the puck...he stick handles, kicks, taps with his glove...tosses the puck ahead and blows through defenders...he just amazes with what he can do...
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That Devils power play is an entirely different monster when Jamie Langenbrunner is out there...he scored the goal after picking a loose puck up in front of Ty Conklin and shoveling it past him. Conklin had been making some sickening saves and he almost stopped the last one as well...he just couldn't get himself in front of it.
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So far, aside from letting up a late goal, this has been a complete game for the Penguins. They are getting to the loose pucks, skating hard, keeping their feet moving and creating chances against a very good defensive team and hall of fame goaltender.
The only problems are stemming from the team taking too many penalties. Hopefully they can get that under control going into the third, as it will be hard enough to hold the Devils from tying this up without giving them a power play.
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This Penguins team has been absolutely tenacious on the puck tonight. New Jersey had a ton of chances to clear the puck during the last Penguins power play and couldn't get it out. The Penguins did everything in their power to keep it in the zone...kicked, threw their bodies and deflected the puck every which way but out!
That sort of tenacity resulted in Max Talbot getting the puck off of a Devils turn over deep in the zone and gliding along the goal line...finding Jordan Staal with a beautiful pass. Staal made no mistake and fired home a great one timed goal...
Petr Sykora could easily have a hat trick tonight...he is playing possessed and is shooting from every where. Marty has been one step ahead of him though.
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Well, things were shaping up to be pretty perfect for the Penguins...that is until the wheels started coming off during the third.
The Penguins had a flurry of running around in their own zone and weren't able to clear thee puck. The devils capitalized on that and Patty Elias scored a goal off of Letang's hip...THE ANSWER could do nothing but watch it deflect past him...
Then then less than two minutes later...the offensive dynamo that is David Clarkson, flipped an Oduya shot past THE ANSWER.
How quickly things chance...it is worth pointing out that it occurred almost immediately after the broadcast showed what the Eastern Standings would look like if the Penguins were to win.
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Note from the NHL's public relations email that comes out daily...
-- The Penguins and Devils play tonight at Prudential Center. The road team has won the last nine games between the Penguins and Devils: five in Pittsburgh, four in New Jersey. (The third game of the nine was a Devils shootout victory at Mellon Arena, but the eight other games were decided in regulation time.) That matches the NHL record for consecutive wins by the visiting team in an all-time series between two clubs. The road team won nine straight games in the Blues-Oilers series from December 1995 to December 1997.
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Amazing that this game looked to be in complete Penguin control...how fast things can change in this great game!
Overtime is upon us!
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What a great Atlantic Division game! These teams fought and clawed for every spec of open ice tonight, with momentum swinging several times during the game! The Penguins seemed to be the better team throughout the game, but New Jersey showed a ton of heart in coming back to tie and then win this one.
Doc called it when the broadcast began...a Devils win in extra time would create a three way tie atop the Atlantic Division and that is exactly what happened. This race has been and will be dog eat dog the rest of the way.
The Devils finally broke the road team's hold on this series by winning at home...
This is a prime example of the type of thing that can happen in the new NHL...the Penguins 3-1 lead would have been close to insurmountable prior to the lock out.
Penguins killer Zach Parise was amazing throughout this game and he, more than any other Devil, won this game for them tonight...
More later...
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