Sunday, December 6, 2015

Hunting some Ducks

By: MF,

Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins will do some hunting as they face the Anaheim Ducks. This will be the second of back-to-back games for the Penguins. They lost yesterday afternoon 5-3 to the Los Angeles Kings. It was a poor showing by the Penguins, especially during the second period. That is when the Kings surged ahead, and the Penguins were unable to dig themselves out of the hole.

The Penguins will have to come out a play a consistent 60-minute game, which is something I say almost every game. That is because they are very inconsistent. Each period a different team seems to emerge from the locker room and most of the time it is not for the better. They need to come out every shift and get shots on the net with traffic in front. It is time to get back to simple hockey, which will lead to wins and building of a solid foundation for the team in the long run.

It will not be an easy task for the Penguins, but this is the time to turn things around. They will have to stay focused and play smart as Kris Letang will be missing another game. Hopefully, the Penguins can turn things around even though Mike Johnston is at the helm. He has yet to prove that he can lead the Penguins to victory, let alone a successful playoff run.


Lets Go Pens!

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Kunitz - Crosby - Bennett
Perron - Malkin - Kessel
Dupuis - Bonino - Hornqvist
Plotnikov - Cullen - Fehr

Defense
Dumoulin - Lovejoy
Maatta - Warsofsky 
Scuderi - Cole

Fleury in the net!

Play by Play
Pens 1 Ducks 2

3rd Period
0:00 - The Ducks get the 2-1 win over the Pens. Something needs to change for the Pens and quick. Last two games have been lack luster to say the least.

1:20 - Late power play for the Pens as Bieksa sits for slashing. Net is still empty for the Pens.

1:46 - The Pens now have an empty net.

2:37 - Time is becoming the enemy of the Pens. Fleury still making unreal saves to keep the Pens in this.

5:19 - The puck is getting into the offensive zone more for the Pens, but they are being forced to the outside and not getting much on net.

8:05 - The second line of the Pens gets some time in the offensive zone, but can't step anything up as the Ducks do a good job of breaking up plays.

11:33 - Plotnikov puts the puck right in the slot area, but Fehr can't get a stick on it.

13:41 - Fleury with a huge glove save!

15:50 - The Ducks survive the Pens power play as the Pens have four quality chances that Gibson denied.

17:50 - Now the Pens will get their first power play of the game. Stoner to the box for hooking.

20:00 - Third period time! The Pens have to take control of the puck movement and hammer Gibson with shots! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Second period ends and the Ducks have taken the lead 2-1 over the Pens.

2:32 - 2 on 1 chance for the Pens. Bennett holds and decides to shoot, but his shot goes off the far goal post.

4:05 - Stewart Scores. Thompson gets a pass to Stewart, who directs a quick one-timer into the net. 2-1 Ducks

5:33 - The Pens are starting to push back and pin the Ducks in their own zone. They need to keep this up and pepper Gibson with shots.

9:12 - Fleury is once again doing the impossible to keep this game tied up.

11:10 - The Pens start to get a little surge going. The second line gets two quality chances, but Gibson makes the necessary saves.

13:27 - Cole fires a shot from the blue line that goes right off the crossbar!

15:00 - Shots are 12-6 in favor of the Ducks. The Pens need to get control of the puck.

19:15 - Perry Scores. The puck bounces around the slot area and Perry is able to get the shot off. Fleury gets a piece, but not enough. 1-1 tie game.

19:59 - Malkin and Kesler both received roughing minors at the end of the first. So we start with some 4 on 4 hockey.

20:00 - We are back for the second period! The Pens need to keep the puck down in the offensive zone and reduce the chances for the Ducks! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - First period ends and the Pens have the 1-0 lead over the Ducks!

1:08 - The Ducks with some good chances, but Fleury shutting them down. The Pens need to turn this around and get the puck down to the other end.

2:12 - Fleury makes an unreal save on a point blank shot from Perry!

4:42 - Up and down opening period, but the shots are only tied at four a piece. Not many whistles, but quite a few shot attempts.

7:29 - Gibson robs Malkin!

11:02 - Fleury makes two quick saves in front.

11:23 - Mark that down as a successful penalty kill for the Pens.

12:30 - Rakell gets a goal as he is left all alone. However, the Pens coaching staff challenges the goal, saying it was offsides at the start. The refs rule in favor of the Pens! NO GOAL!

13:23 - The Ducks will get the first power play of the game as Plotnikov is headed to the sin bin.

14:12 - Some back and forth plays, but not much going on. Like a chess match at this point. Shots are 2-1 in favor of the Pens.

16:58 - MAATTA SCORES! Crosby chips the puck to Maatta in the slot! Maatta blows one past Gibson! 1-0 Pens

20:00 - Game time in Anaheim! The Pens need to come out with speed and play a consistent 60-minute game! Lets Go Pens!  

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