Penguins Top Capitals Thanks to an Unlikely Game-Winner

by FrankD on Mar 9, 2008 7:06 PM EDT in News

Pittsburgh did their best to once again keep the game too close for comfort today before finally pulling away in the last minute of the third in a 4-2 win. Perhaps it's NBC. Maybe they have a tendency of playing closer games that result in jaw-clenching finishes when playing on national television.

The game was absolutely out of control from the very beginning. Players were throwing their bodies at one another with reckless abandon to such a point where you had to actually step back to realize it wasn't a playoff game.

When the first ended with a scoreless tie, it almost looked like it was on pace to be a hard hitting, low scoring, closely matched game. But in the second period that all started to change.

Two from the Pens and two from the Caps left it tied at two heading into the third. Perhaps one of the most crucial aspect of the Caps' game was based on the fact that they were capable of converting on the power play. The Pens sure gave them enough of chances to do so, two separate occasions in which the Capitals were given 5-on-3 chances. The Penguins penalty kill was overworked and the power play was performing way below expectancy.

The third period was off to a similar start as the first. The hitting was board rattling and the goalies were all over the place keeping the puck out (particularly Washington's Huet). It all seemed like it was on its way to overtime when a young center from Sweden altered the outcome.

Nicklas Backstrom, center for the Capitals, attempted to clear the puck away from traffic in front of his own net. Misjudging his shot, the puck slipped right past Christobal Huet for the Pens' game-winning goal. Since Sidney Crosby was last to touch, it was awarded to him.

[EDIT 2am: VIDEO ADDED]

Crosby laughs at Backstrom's hilarious misfortune

And would you guess it - even Jordan Staal got on the board. Of course, it came as a "do-it-yourself" gift from an Evgeni Malkin pass to the open net, but hey, it still counts.

The Penguins walked away winners and now only have to secure three more wins to guarantee a playoff berth. But don't tell them that; they might just start to relax.

It's not every day you win a game thanks to the other team shooting it into their own net. It's time like these when you have to take a moment and show the proper respect.

Washington Capitals
ATTN: Nicklas Backstrom
The Verizon Center
601 F Street
Washington D.C, U.S.A
March 9, 2008
Dear Nicklas,
Hey man, how you holding up? Hope you're not drinking yourself into oblivion. After all, I mean - you guys should have beat Boston the night before, right?
Anyways, let me cut to the chase. What else is there really left to say but - thank you. You single-handedly altered the outcome of one of your must-win games to an easy-win for the Pens and a potential season-ending play on your own team. That is practically a hat trick on its own. I mean, every game is really REALLY starting to count now. Any one of these losses can bring the end to your team's season. Really stellar work.
I also wanted to remind you that although the point race among rookies (in which you are tied for second) is really heating up, I regret to inform you that the goal you shot past your own goaltender Christobal Huet will not register in your overall standings.
I know what you're thinking - it should. And frankly, I'd have to agree with you. But I also have a feeling that if the NHL counts your goal, then they will have to count everyone else's goals and then there will be chaos all over the league with players shooting into their own nets.
Oh and don't worry; it also doesn't take points away. Section 17C of the handbook says that if a player shoots a puck into his own net a point is NOT taken away from the overall total. So relax - you don't have to add that to your day's worth of accomplishments.
With that I will bid you farewell. I'll see you next season, where I also hope to see you score more goals on your own net. Until then, enjoy the lovely golf weather.
Sincerely,
FrankD and friends at Pensburgh
Pensburgh.com, 98771
Many different locations, U.S.A
PS - You should really consider buying your goalie something nice. He seemed pretty devastated.

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boy did we need this one...

Watched the game at home but couldn't post since I had company over. Loved the intensity. I'm beginning to really get a good hate on for Brooks Laich, Quentin Laing and John Erskine. Reminds me of the times when I would curse Halpern, Joe Reekie, Mark Tinordi, and Michal Pivonka. Different generation, but so far same results!

Whitney still doesn't look right. For an offensive d-man, he is doing a horrible job handling the puck. Teams are pressuring him immediately on the PP and having success. He is much better on the rush, and a good weapon on the pinch, but I'm getting more nervous every time he handles the biscuit on the blueline.

Speaking of the PP, we may very well have to keep Sid and Geno on separate units. The PP seemed to work better when they were split up. It's just sickening to think about how scary we could be on the PP when Hossa and Roberts come back and we have two potential #1 units.

Dupuis looked better today. A good, all situations winger. And Kennedy is really becoming a player too. And can someone give me a reason why we shouldn't resign Orpik? He's clearly our best defensive dman. Giving up such high picks for Gill really looks like the worse of the two deadline deals. BTW anybody else realize that the Pens won't have a pick until the fourth round of the draft this year? Hope its as deep as they say! I'm betting Shero makes a move to get at least one pick back in the second or third.

by killer93 on Mar 9, 2008 8:12 PM EDT reply actions

Totally

agree with you on Whitney. That guy is just getting out-muscled, out-skated and overall just out-played in every aspect of the game. It hurts, because you see so much potential in the guy and he just can't get it together.

Personally, I think Sid should be part of PP2. You gotta give credit to a guy like Malkin who ran the team while Sid was down (thanks of course to Malone, Sykora too). But in any case, you have to give the guy something that is "his", ya know? Give him the first PP unit. Give him the reigns on it. He can handle it, he proved that. I just worry that we'll see him slowly drift from the points leader board now that Sid is back.

Dupuis really is a solid player. No doubt. Up until the replay I thought he scored the game-winner. Then I realized it was all thanks to Backstrom.

I don't see why they won't re-sign Orpik. My only concern is that they might not be able to afford him. That'd be the only reason though.

I'd hope they get a pick in the earlier part of the draft. That 1st Round Pick in the Espo trade is really what haunts me the most. I wish the team could've hung on to that.

I was also reading somewhere the other day that the Hossa/Dupuis deal may have been entirely that of Lemieux's doing. The rumor says that Crosby was talking about wanting a big-time scoring winger back in December and Lemieux pretty much told Shero what to do come deadline time.

Thoughts?

by FrankD on Mar 9, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll always take a win,

no matter who's goal it's on.

I heard the same thing about Lemieux really being the guy behind the Hossa deal. I thought it was kind of telling that the day before Shero said "nothing going on" and even in his presser after he said all day he had nothing in the works (except Gill), then he all of a sudden (read: Lemeiux said 'go') had a Hossa. They talked about it on TSN as well, but my brain is so overloaded I can't remember quite what they said, but it was something to do with ownership giving Shero a strong message.

I thought that Dupuis and Crosby were looking pretty good together today. I think a few practices between now and Wednesday could make a pretty big difference for them too. This was the first game that I thought Crosby was really looking better, more energy, better finish, so now he can really start working with Dupuis and bring that line together.

I'm mostly just happy that Staal got a point after being robbed by Huet, even if it was a give away. Maybe he's just storing up all his points for the playoffs? We can hope, right?

Whitney - ugh. Something is going on with him, but it's beyond me.

by Dayna on Mar 9, 2008 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

Dupuis and Crosby

May very well make for a powerful power play on their own.

first line Malkin-Syk-Malone?

Second - Crosby-Dupuis-Hossa?

Dupuis strikes me as a player who may very well be the spitting image of what Staal will be like in the next 3-5 years. He's a great penalty killer, not the fastest of skaters but a savvy puck handler to boot. And, like you said, he just has a really great chemistry so far with Sid. Hopefully it's already preordained with Hossa to make for an easier transition on PP2.

I sure hope Staal is waiting for the playoffs. He's had a very quiet year and has somewhat been on the receiving end of a lot of bad luck with post shots and crazy "you shouldn't be making those" saves. If he wakes up in the playoffs, along with a healthy Crosby and Hossa, combined with Malkin and the #1 PP unit - wow, look out.

by FrankD on Mar 9, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions