Saturday, February 3, 2018

Back on the road

By: MF, 

The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in action tonight as they take on the New Jersey Devils on the road. Coming off a 7-4 win over the Washington Capitals last night, the Penguins completed their perfect four-game homestead where they outscored their opponents by a 21-10 margin. They look to continue their push for the playoffs with a victory tonight.

In addition, Sidney Crosby extended his scoring streak to 11 games, but he is still looking for his 400th career goal. He has been on fire and tonight could be the night. Crosby hasn't been the only one playing well as Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin have been on a tear. As a matter of fact, the whole team is doing well with each line putting in work and producing results.

Unfortunately, tonight the Penguins will be without the services of Patric Hornqvist as he suffered a lower-body injury during last night's game. His presence will be missed, especially on the power play. He is a critical part of the lineup and always disrupts the goalie, which allows for the Penguins to capitalize on many plays. As a result of this injury, the Penguins have called up Zach Aston-Resse from Wilkes/Barre Scranton to slot into the open position in the lineup.

Tonight, the Penguins need to get to their game and play a consistent 60-minute game. As the end of the season draws closer to the end, consistency will be key for them. Lets Go Pens!

Forwards
Simon - Crosby - Rust
Hagelin - Malkin - Kuhnhackl
Guentzel - Sheahan - Kessel
Aston-Reese - Rowney - Reaves

Defense
Dumoulin - Letang
Maatta - Schultz
Cole - Oleksiak

DeSmith in the net!

Play - by - Play
Pens 1 Devils 3

3rd Period
0:00 - This game is over. The Pens fall 3-1 to the Devils and that snaps their four-game winning streak. Also, Crosby's scoring streak comes to an end.

1:41 - Empty net for the Pens.

2:55 - Hall gets around Schultz and has a breakaway chance. DeSmith shuts him down with a pad save.

4:00 - DeSmith with some fantastic saves back-to-back. He has made quite a few highlight reel saves tonight. He showed up to play. The Pens need to step up their game for him.  

7:06 - Sullivan challenges the call. The call stands. Still 3-1 Devils.

7:06 - It looks to #400 for Crosby, but the referees rule it a no goal. During the play, Rust's stick is lifted by Lovejoy as he goes to the front of the net. Rust's stick ends up hitting Kinkaid and he goes down in the blue paint. Crosby ends up getting the loose puck and fires a bad angle shot that goes off Kinkaid's helmet into the net.

10:09 - Zajac scores his second of the night. Damon Severson fires from the point and Zajac reaches up to redirect the puck past DeSmith. 3-1 Devils

11:57 - Devils on their heels a bit. Pens need to tie this one up quick.

13:44 - MALKIN SCORES! What a clinic on passing by the Pens. Hagelin goes to Kessel, who finds Cole, and he puts the puck right on Malkin's stick as he drives down the center. Malkin dekes Kinkaid and backhands one past him. 2-1 Devils

14:53 - Schultz slaps a shot off the glass. Much more jump and energy in the gameplay of the Pens.

19:02 - Not a bad start to the period for the Pens as their first line gets some offensive zone time. Letang got a shot off that flew high over the net.

20:00 - The guys are back for the third period. Hopefully, they found some energy in the locker room to start this third period with. Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - The horn sounds to end a dominating second period by the Devils. They hold the 2-0 lead.

2:10 - A little pushback by the Pens as the period is coming to an end. Guentzel goes across the ice to a wide-open Crosby. He misses the wide open net.

5:07 - Devils are just dominating this period. The Pens haven't had any sustained pressure in the offensive zone. It doesn't even seem like they are playing.

6:00 - Miles Wood gets a step on Dumoulin. Dumoulin decides to hit Wood as he drives to the net. Both players go flying into DeSmith. Everyone looks to be alright.

8:16 - Devils crashing the net and pressuring the Pens every shift. The Pens have to find their energy, something to spark them to push back.

9:30 - Another successful penalty kill for the Pens.

10:33 - Crazy sequence in front of DeSmith. He comes up with two huge saves and Hagelin clears the loose puck. Hearts are racing after that close call.

11:30 - Not the time to be taking a penalty. Guentzel will head to the sin bin for interference. Big penalty kill for the Pens.

11:42 - Guentzel lets go of a hard shot that goes wide.

15:05 - Oleksiak backhands a pass over to Sheahan in the slot. His shot is gloved up by Kinkaid. That was the best scoring chance in a while for the Pens.

16:55 - Blake Coleman scores. Another Pens turnover in the defensive zone. Coleman makes his way to the net and fires a shot that finds a small hole between the blocker and body of DeSmith. 2-0 Devils

17:06 - Pens playing way too much in their own zone. They look asleep right now. All Devils.

19:30 - Travis Zajac scores. DeSmith pokes away the loose puck in front, but Zajac gets the puck. He stickhandles to the front and puts one five-hole. 1-0 Devils

20:00 - The second period is underway! The Pens need to ramp up their energy level and put more pucks on net. Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - That does it for the first period and things are 0-0.

0:44 - Maatta is hit hard into the boards by Ben Lovejoy. He gets up and looks to be alright.

2:45 - Kinkaid fights up a rising shot by Crosby.

3:52 - Letang is set free and the penalty kill is over. DeSmith was great and made two awesome saves to keep things 0-0.

5:52 - Taylor Hall gets behind Letang and drives the net. DeSmith steps up and shuts down Hall. However, Letang ends up taking a slashing penalty.

6:34 - Cole and Stefan Noesen hug it out for a bit after the play and then start to throw some punches. They both fall to the ice and will head to the box.

8:12 - Crosby backhands a pass to Rust driving towards the net. He tries to put the puck right under the crossbar. Kinkaid flashes the glove to deny him.

10:15 - DeSmith makes a solid save even with some traffic in front. He has looked good to start this game.

12:32 - A successful penalty kill for the Pens.

14:32 - Now the Devils will get a power play chance as Oleksiak is ticketed for interference.

16:26 - That does it for the power play. Aston-Reese had a great chance in front on his first shift, but Keith Kinkaid denies him.

18:26 - Early power play chance for the Pens as Miles Wood takes a seat for hooking.

20:00 - The Pens are back on the road tonight to take on the New Jersey Devils. It's game time! Lets Go Pens! 

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