Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Rivalry night in Brooklyn

By: MF,

Good evening Pittsburgh fans! I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving and had a chance to relax a little. The Pittsburgh Penguins were also able to get some rest after a tough couple of games. They are back in action tonight against the New York Islanders in Brooklyn.

The Penguins have been missing some key net-front players in recent games, but that will start to change tonight. Patric Hornqvist will be returning to the lineup after missing the last six games due to a concussion. As for Chris Kunitz, he did practice with the team yesterday and is making progress. He is on the Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury and has missed the last four games. Also, Derrick Pouliot has been recalled to Wilkes-Barre Scranton after a good conditioning stint in three games for the Baby Penguins.

The offensive power stars for the Penguins have been showing up. Sidney Crosby has three goals and one assist in his past three games. While Evgeni Malkin has six assists in his past five. A new guy who has been lighting the lamp recently is Jake Guentzel. He has three goals in his first four games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Guentzel has fought for his chances and made them count. It’s great to see a rookie getting rewarded for his hard work.

As for defense, some of the pairings have been changed on the backend. Matt Murray will be between the pipes tonight. The goalie schedule still doesn’t seem to have settled down. It’s tough for both goaltenders not having a solid schedule and not really knowing who is the number one goalie. Only time will tell how things go from here.

On a side note, Brian Dumoulin was a healthy scratch for the Penguins last game against the New Jersey Devils. Dumoulin will play tonight and hopefully, he has learned something from his time off. We will see tonight as he is paired with Trevor Daley.

These two teams are known for having been rivals for years now. Though that was very evident during the big brawl on February 11, 2011. That is one that I will not forget. There was a combined 65 penalties (15 fighting majors and 21 game misconducts). That resulted in a combined total of 346 penalty minutes. Pittsburgh had 163 penalty minutes, while the Islanders had 183. Hopefully, the Penguins let their scoring talk instead, they usual fair better that way. 

The Penguins will have to stay disciplined, play smart, limit turnovers and space, and keep putting pucks on net. Lets Go Pens! 

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Fehr

Defense
Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Daley
Cole-Schultz

Murray in the net! 

Play by Play
Pens 3 Islanders 5

3rd Period
0:00 - That will bring an end to this one as the Isles get the 5-3 win over the Pens. The Pens battled back to tie things up, but a late period goal by Lee gives the Isles the edge.

0:23 - Kulemin scores. Isles win the faceoff and Kulemin fires it into the empty net. 5-3 Isles

0:26 - Lee scores. Hickey rifles a shot from the point that is redirect by Lee in front to put the shot past Murray. 4-3 Isles

3:00 - Crosby fires a shot off the half boards that is fought off by Greiss. On a side note, Crosby's assist on Malkin's tying goal is his 100th NHL career point against the Isles.

3:46 - This game has turned into a whole other animal. Crowd is restless after their Isles gave up a 3-0 lead. Pens fans have also been on a roller coaster of emotions in just a single game.

6:52 - MALKIN SCORES TO TIE THE GAME UP! Crosby fights his way into the zone and sticks with it after being hit! He finds Malkin that goes across the ice to Dumoulin! Dumoulin goes back to Malkin, who guides the puck into a wide open net! 3-3 tie game

8:40 - Letang and Cizikas receive matching roughing minors, which means we will get some four-on-four hockey.

9:20 - SCHULTZ SCORES! Schultz stick handles around Chimera to give himself some time and space in front! He wrist over through traffic and over Greiss! 3-2 Isles

10:21 - Pens need to get more second, third, and fourth chances on shots. Greiss has been on his game tonight. The way to beat him is to get those dirty, second chance opportunities.

14:00 - The first line for the Pens gets some sustained offensive zone time. Probably the most all game long.

17:04 - Isles crash the net and the puck is loose in front. Murray with the help of Letang keep it out. Then a shot goes through Murray, who gets a piece of it, ending up on the goal line. Letang gets there to make the save. Unreal shift by Letang.

18:17 - Kessel gets in behind the Isles defense and has a one-on-one with Greiss. Greiss closes the five-hole to deny Kessel.

19:28 - SHEARY SCORES! Crosby outskates and pushes Hamonic off the puck to fling the pass to Hornqvist driving center! Greiss makes the save on Hornqvist, but Sheary follows up to put the rebound into the net! 3-1 Isles

20:00 - We are back for the third period! The Pens need to stay out of the box and give themselves a chance to get back in this one! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - Horn sounds to end the second period of play. The Isles extend their lead to 3-0 over the Pens.

1:31 - Letang rips a shot from the blue line that is gloved up by Greiss.

2:39 - Cizikas scores. The Isles get numbers going to the net and make some nice passes. Cizikas gets behind the Pens defense and is alone at the side of the net. He finds the bouncing puck and puts it past Murray. 3-0 Isles

3:35 - Zero shots on that power play for the Pens as Lee is set free. At least they were able to get some offensive zone time after killing off some penalties.

5:35 - Pens are now on the right side of the penalty calling as they are getting a power play. Isles will be shorthanded as Lee sits for hooking. This has been a period of penalties.

7:29 - Penalty time is up for Cole. The Pens hang on after that in large part due to Murray.

9:29 - This is getting ridiculous as the penalties keep coming for the Pens. Cole now takes a sit in the box for delay of game. Isles right back onto the power play.

9:59 - That will be it for both penalties. Murray with some huge saves as the Isles throwing everything on net. Time for the Pens to push back.

11:05 - Tavares fires the puck on what looks to be a wide open net. Murray makes a falling back save, while throwing up the glove to caught the puck.

12:00 - Now the Isles will get a 5-on-3 power play. Cullen is called for a faceoff infraction, playing the puck with his hand.

12:02 - Not a good time for the Pens to take a penalty. Too many men on the ice for the Pens and Isles head onto the power play.

14:37 - Isles are playing with much more confidence. The Pens need to push back and get some sustained offensive pressure going.

17:50 - Mayfield scores. Mayfield fires a hard shot from the blue line. Murray makes the first save, but the rebound goes off either Schultz or Chimera. Then as Murray tries to kick out the loose puck, but it is directed into the net. 2-0 Isles

18:28 - Lee makes a backwards pass between his legs to Cizikas who is coming down the wing. Murray dives back as he is a out of position to block Lee. Dumoulin gets his stick out to disrupt Cizikas as his backhands hits the goal post!

20:00 - Second period time! The Pens need to get their game back on track and finish their chances on net! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - That will be it for the first period. The Isles have the 1-0 lead over the Pens.

0:12 - Boychuk scores. Boychuk rips a slapper from the half boards through traffic and right pass the blocker of Murray. 1-0 Isles

0:25 - Isles are able to kill off the Pens power play chance.

1:25 - Greiss robs Kessel right in front. Great pass by Crosby to find Kessel driving down center all alone.

2:25 - Back onto the power play for the Pens as Nelson is called for tripping.

3:06 - Tavares with a chance in front and he is denied. Isles with some good looks in front of Murray.

3:59 - Prince cuts to center and fires a shot on net. Murray makes the initial save, but the puck is loose in the blue paint. Rust tries to jam the puck back between the pads of Murray. The puck emerges in front and Murray dives out to cover it up.

5:47 - Penalty time is up for Hickey. The Pens only had one shot on net during their power play. Kessel had the best chance at the side of the net, but put it wide.

7:47 - First line for the Pens crashes the net and they end up drawing a penalty. Hickey will head to the box for interference on Sheary.

8:21 - Penalty box is empty now and the Pens penalty kill is successful.

10:21 - The first power play of the game will be rewarded to the Isles as Sheary takes a seat for high sticking.

10:29 - Crosby gets a leading pass and has the edge on Boychuk. Crosby goes down to one knee, but he puts it high over the glove side of Greiss.

13:09 - Hornqvist showing a little bit of rust after missing some games, which is to be expected.

13:47 - Guentzel with some solid work behind the net to get the puck out to Malkin at the side. Greiss kicks the puck out of harms way.

15:20 - De Haan drags the puck to the center of the offensive zone. He whiffs on his first shot attempt, but his second shot gets through and Murray holds for the whistle.

18:25 - Prince makes his way into the slot area and snaps a shot that rings off the goal post. Murray needs to give that post some love.

19:17 - Tavares with a turnover in the slot area. Sheary's shot is kicked away by Greiss.

20:00 - Puck drop in Brooklyn! The Pens need to come out and establish their game early! Take it to those Isles! Lets Go Pens! 

No comments:

Post a Comment