Revolution No. 9: Pens Smoke Jackets 7-2

Thank you Pens fans abroad for making this feel like a home game!

-Wow.

-Don’t get me wrong, the Pens played a great game, but the Jackets played a horrible one. On the other hand, for the Pens to beat a team 7-2 without Geno AND Staal, that tells you how well they’re playing as a team right now.

-Flower was solid tonight, but I’m sure he’ll tell you that this was the easiest win he’s had all season.

-I usually talk about individual players that stick out to me during the game, but tonight every single Pen played well.

-Martin really opened the flood gates. It was like "Okay, a fluky goal. Then the 4th liners? Okay, we’ll take it. Martin—AGAIN?! This could get ugly." And it did.

-Sidney Crosby. I mean, please (sound familiar?). Teams need to have a church service before each game begging the Lord to compel Crosby to go easy on their team.
Alright, Alright I’ll admit that I was a little upset he didn’t get the hat trick. Never shave the stache, Sid!

-The Buzz line…wow. Those guys are playing fantastic, Dan Bylsma hockey right now. And how about Conner giving up the body to go down and block a shot in a 5-1 game? That’s a guy who wants to stay in the NHL right there.

-Max Talbot didn’t have any points, but he played a fantastic game tonight.

-How about the fourth line? That’s the second straight game where they’ve gotten consistent shifts throughout the game. They’ve earned every single one of those shifts, I have to tell you.

-All the D pairings continue to impress me. Doesn’t look like there’s a weak spot right now.

-Seems like Asham is still in DB’s dog house; I barely noticed him out there. Honestly, I have no clue why he would be.

-I would bet a lot of money that the insane number of Pens fans in the arena got the Pens going tonight. +1 to everyone who made the trek!

-What an FSN fail: The Pens Blog gave out Charlie (the gay tpb staffer) cut outs for fans going to the Pens game tonight. In the third, Steigy noticed them and said that they were Errey faces with mustaches on them! LMAO.
They were laughing about it after the game too.

-Fantastic, fantastic game tonight, boys. Keep it going for NJ on Monday. Nine in a row!

Thanks for the recap, Frank. I was planning on watching the game (which I recorded totally old school on my solid RCA VCR), but I accidentally heard the score on the way home. I may still watch it, but here’s a question (for whoever): the Pens power play kind of kicked butt tonight, going 3 for 4. Was that due to our PP or the CBJ PK? And did Geno’s absence from the PP have anything to do with its success (please don’t hate me for asking … I’m really just curious!)?

Godard played a very respectable game tonight. Slashing or not he worked to get open to nearly score a goal (and get an important assist). Plus, he was working hard the whole night, fighting for the puck and creating offense. When all four lines are threatening to score, the opponents don’t get a break — and they didn’t get a break tonight.

I’m sure that some of Godard’s 10 minutes were a response to the inflated score, but some of that time had to be the coach rewarding good performance.

I won 2 free tickets from Ohio Health for this game. It was an awesome atmosphere. It almost felt like a Pens’ home game. Seriously heard boos when the Jackets’ starting lineup was introduced and Mason was getting taunted pretty damn loudly before he got yanked. I heard several “MVP” chants when Sid did something spectacular. Pens fans got the wave going. The “Let’s Go Pens” chant was way louder than the Jackets’ one all night. I’ve been a Pens fan for 13 years but I went to college at Ohio State and became a fan of the Jackets too. It must be beyond frustrating for them when the Pens (or Red Wings) come to town and basically take over their barn. If I was in marketing for the Jackets, I’d be pulling my hair out. That seriously felt like home ice advantage for the Pens tonight.

i cannot believe i missed a two goal performance from my boy paul martin.
why am i a workaholic?

So sad I missed a Pens game yet again. I can’t catch a break!
Awesome score, Pens.
Great recap, Frank.
Good thoughts on the game, Allie.

The Clark goal wasn’t all that soft. It hit Letang’s leg on its way in. Perhaps Fleury should’ve been in a better position to cover that part of the net. But I can’ imagine it’s tough when you expect the puck to go one way, you’re already sliding the way you think it’s going, and then all of a sudden it’s going a different direction.

Also, the penalty kill streak ended last game. Unless you were talking about the road penalty streak. The Blue Jacket announcers were talking about that a lot.

All in all, it was a great game to watch. I was hoping that the Pens would press hard in the third, get the tricks for Sid and Martin, and get one more for the double digits, but I won’t complain.

You know it’s a good game when 2 of our top 3 forwards aren’t playing and we still score 7!

Also, PensAreYourDaddy, you were almost behind the net that the Pens shot on twice, weren’t you? I saw the Knitting Ladys sign on one of the replays. Those look like pretty killer seats! A great view for 4 of those goals.

and say Sid gets top 3 player of the week… again. ;)

If Sid keeps this up, they will just call it the top 3 players other than Sid and stop giving Sid it.

with a jab at the Jackets fans:

All of which delighted the capacity crowd of 19,143, a healthy percentage of whom were sporting Penguins colors. Blue Jackets supporters were sprinkled into the mix — several dozen, at least — but they had little reason to make their presence known. Or stand up. Or do much of anything except wince.

The Pens haven’t allowed more than 2 goals in each of their last seven games.
You give yourself a great chance to win if you’re only allowing two goals or less per game. Especially if you’ve got some bum named Sid on your team.

I don’t think we can say thing bad about this game, I really don’t.
I know I wanted Sid to get antother hat trick, Martin get one too and MAF have
 a shut out but I’m just being greedy.

Those boys rocked last night and deserve every bit of praise they recieve.

And all the Pens fans in attendence—including seeing PAYD & Knitting Lady on
my TV. He should have some great pics.

Let’s just keep this coming…..

I was at the game. it was amazing the number of Penguin Fans that were there. Dominating performance. I can’t remember the last time the Pens had 3 goals on the power play.

Love the Beatles reference Frank, I geuss the kids around here didn’t get it.

Now I know this might get me strung up but the fact is Sid’s got 5 goals this week and only 1 hat trick. If he got a hat trick last night that would have been his seond of the week not his third. The goals against Calgary are from last week. There are only 7 days in a week not 8 (jk). And even if you go by the NHL week which is usaually monday through sunday it still works out the same. Just sayin’ ;)

I am trying to remind myself that games like this don’t say any more about the Penguins or the overall season, all by themselves, than, say, the Boston Bruins Massacre. Still enjoyed the hell out of it, though. I can’t believe how Penguins fans took over Columbus’ house. I’m glad the guys all put on a good show for them.

This time last year (maybe early this season, too), the team might have played down to Columbus. Last night, they took advantage of the Jackets’ weaknesses like a pride of lions on a wounded zebra. Hope this keeps up against the Devils tomorrow night.

I guess that firing Ken Hitchcok, didn’t help the Blue Jackets. Total destruction by the Pens, they played a great game in spite of the weakness of the opposition. Very systematic. What else can you say about Sid.He is steadily going to another level.