Penguins beat Oilers 5-4 but don't make it look easy
by FrankD on Nov 6, 2008 10:02 PM EST
in Game Recaps
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You know, when your team gets a 5-0 lead after two periods of play, you should at least feel moderately comfortable with that effort, right? I mean, you should have confidence that nothing could possibly go wrong to cause a team to lose a 5-0 lead.
Well, thankfully the Penguins didn't drop the lead, but they did let the Oilers come close to stealing this one out right from under their noses. It's a shame too because Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan both combined for a tremendous night of goals, but those will now be overlooked in light of the near collapse.
And what - what attributed to this? Mistakes and poor play. When Pitt was on a 5-on-3 power play in the third period, Sheldon Souray busted out of the box and put away a short-handed goal to bring the Oilers within one. At that very moment you have to admit your stomach was churning, your insides were decaying and your brow began to sweat. I for one glance at the clock and allowed for Operation Countdown to begin.
We've all played that game before. And frankly you can play from home. All you have to do is have a team, preferably the one you root for on a regular basis, and have them drop a tremendous lead. From there you watch the clock, counting down every second till the final horn and hope for the win. It's an exciting game, with first place walking away with what they should have received with a surmountable lead anyway - the win.
It's a good thing the Pens were able to jump out to such a lead because this had the makings of a spoiler. Then again, if the Penguins didn't have the lead and actually had to come back and earn it then maybe they would have played the rest of the game with a little heart.
I know one thing. I don't want to be the fly on the wall in the Pens' locker room after this game. Therrien is probably going on a tangent, and if I'm stuck to the wall eavesdropping I run a good chance of being hit by a flying object.
The good: The first period
The bad: The second period
The ugly: The third period
Next game: Saturday against the Islanders at 7:00.
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The pens are killing me with this third period poop-out business. You’re right… the boys better watch out… Therrien’s going to do some ass kicking, and he only needs the beginnings of words to do it.
I’d almost rather see them fall apart in the first and rally to victory, rather than watch them let it all slip away in the third. Now I can almost relate to what New York Mets fans have felt with end of the season collapses over the past two years
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Do you expect Coach MT to finish out the year if this 3rd period stuff continues?? Washington, the Rangers, and now Edmonton (though they did squeek out this one). I’m going to have to buy stock in Rolaids if this continues. What a choke, excuse me, joke. There’s no offensive zone, neutral zone, or defensive zone trap of any kind going on here. What gives??
It should be interesting what, if anything, happens in the way of changes. Not saying there needs to be one, perhaps just a change in mentality could do it. Novel concept, but, try playing 3 periods of hockey would be a good start. It’s like they get to the third period and forget how to forecheck and backcheck and it’s driving me crazy. My neighbors are getting pissed because I scream too loud. However, I remain, and always will be, a Penguins fan.
I think the Pens will continue to use the absence of Gonch and Whit as an excuse. But that will only work up until they return. I can’t see them getting rid of Therrien though, but do agree that they are just letting teams waltz into the zone unchallenged. Lay a hit, push them off the puck – SOMETHING, just let them know they can’t come into your zone and run a circus around you. That was the most painful part about last night, aside from the really bad breaks they got with Souray’s goal and Horcoff’s “I’m gonna make Fleury look silly” goal.
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felt pretty good when I heard the update at the end of 2 periods, MAF was throwing a shutout for my fantasy squad….and then I woke up this morning to a 5-4 score….WHAA?
Yeah, tell me about it. The first goal response was, “Eh, ok. There goes the shutout.” The second goal was, “What the…” Third goal, “Oh please God no…” Fourth goal was a nonverbal. I merely starting creating a noose out of my throw rug. Luckily goal number five never happened. Who knows where I’d be right now?
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Back in your off-day padded room.
The real problem is simple – no Gonchar and Whitney. You heard they were out, right? Well, if you didn’t, they are out. And in their honor, the defense also does not play in the 3rd period.
Let's go Pens!
I get it. It’s like some sense of rebellion. “Well, if THEY’RE not going to play than neither are we.”
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