Penguins bounce Leafs 5-2 thanks to strong special teams effort

by FrankD on Oct 10, 2009 11:10 PM EDT in Game Recaps

For all the times Mike Yeo was on the receiving end of the blame last season, let me be the first to say Way to go Yeo.

The special teams definitely carried the Pens tonight, as the power play went 3-for-5 and the PK held Toronto scoreless on only two attempts. Let's chalk it up for the Pens' discipline as well. Matt Cooke showed control and drew a penalty for once (rather than taking one) when Colton Orr tried to mix it up with him early on. This opportunity ultimately led to a Sergei Gonchar rocket from the point to put the Pens ahead 2-0. Cooke's assist on that one won't show up on the score sheet.

Pittsburgh took control of the tempo early on, closing out the first period with 14 shots. Toronto hardly challenged Fleury with the two shots on goal and the Pens would fly from here.

Dunman has his work cut out for him tomorrow. Three fights on the record for Truculent Toronto. Colton Orr walked around like a man on a mission, while Eric Godard, Mike Rupp and Craig Adams dropped the mitts for Pittsburgh. Good to see Adams mixing it up again for the second time in the last two games. I think losing Bissonnette to Phoenix really took on an all new role for Adams.

Big performances tonight from Evgeni Malkin (three assists), Sidney Crosby (two goals) and Sergei Gonchar (one goal, one assist). Thanks to the team's collective effort, the Pens snapped their three game winless streak against the Leafs.

Senators on tap next, Monday night at 7:30.

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Hell of an awesome game on the Penguins’ part! I was a bit afraid that the Leafs would simply out-desperate them at first, but I underestimated just how much the Pens wanted to get that Leafs monkey off their backs. Roll on Ottawa!

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

"Don't beat yourself!"--Darrell Waltrip

by GreenEyedLilo on Oct 11, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Nice Win!

Every win is two big points, early on or later in the year. Good to see the Penguins get the Leaf Monkey off their backs. Sorry to see the Leafs are trying to become philly West. It’s a failed formula in the “City of Brotherly Love”, already well on the way to being the same in South Ontario.

by Dutch71 on Oct 11, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions