Crosby dodges injury bullet, Pens top Lightning 2-1
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 14, 2010 8:40 PM EDT
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A season can turn in the course of a shift, and for PIttsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby that nearly happened Sunday. Crosby skated the puck into the zone and was checked by "pest" Steve Downie who proceeded to roll up on Crosby's legs in a purposely move. It looked bad for Sid, who hobbled to the bench, but he didn't miss much time and ended up skating more than any other player in the game.
With that bullet dodged, the Pens caught their breath and eventually made a couple plays to beat Antero Niittymaki and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vincent Lecavalier scored the game's only goal through the first 40 minutes, but in the third the Pens dug down and got tallies from Pascal Dupuis and Sergei Gonchar on the PP to take the lead and then hold on for the final whistle.
- Star forward Evgeni Malkin didn't return to the game for the third period after being hit by a puck. His status and prognosis remains unknown at this time. Sans Geno, Crosby played an incredible 10:20 of the third period.
- Marc-Andre Fleury put a sharp performance together, stopping 21 of 22 shots. Fleury played very well, looked on his angles and was there on several quick cross-ice one-times. Tampa looked to beat MAF by getting him moving, but they were unable to beat him there.
- The Pens focus on shooting the puck continues; they outgunned Tampa 39-22, and also out-attempted them 69-35. Lately Pittsburgh has been out-shooting and attempting their opponents about a 2-to-1 margin, and today was more of the same.
- Another trend, this one disturbing, has been the lack of blocked shots. The Pens had only 7 on the night, and only 4 by their defense (none of whom got any more than 1). Is that because it's tough to block shots when you're always in the offensive zone or something that needs to be addressed?
- Jay McKee and Tyler Kennedy got back in the lineup (at the expense of healthy scratches in Alex Goligoski and Maxime Talbot) and both looked good in their return. McKee blocked a shot, had a hit, a takeaway in 14:34 of work. Kennedy got some chances to play with Crosby and added some jump in 10:56 of playing time.
- If you have been paying a little bit of attention, this isn't exactly news, but it still bares repeating. Steven Stamkos has arrived. To me, he was Tampa's best forward all over the ice, he led them in shots and shots attempted and laid a big time hit on Matt Cooke that probably did win him a few fans around the league.
- Special teams play shifted the balance of the game, Tampa took two penalties early in the third, including some 5-on-3 time for Pittsburgh. Gonchar converted on the eventual game winner. Tampa went 0 for 3 on the night with the man advantage in the game. That turns the tide.
A successful day, pending the availability of Malkin. The Pens have two more games on the road, but since they don't play until Wednesday they're actually going back home. New Jersey, who's had Pittsburgh's number all season looms large. It's about as big as regular season games will be.
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We didn't show up for 40 minutes
but we showed up when we needed too. Luckily, you can get away with that when you’re a top team. Hopefully, on the other hand, the Pens realize that they didn’t play all that well in the 40 minutes and get their act in gear for NJ (oh boy).
The unsung hero of this game has to be MAF. He was awesome when the Pens needed him to be awesome.
So glad Sid wasn’t seriously hurt…he’ll definitely feel that tomorrow. Hope Downie at least gets fined. I also really hope Geno is ok; he really looked hobbled after taking that shot off the foot/leg (I had the Tampa feed so I had to find the injury on my own).
871
Steve Downie made an obvious attempt to hurt him.
http://www.pensburgh.com/2010/3/14/1372965/steve-downies-cheap-shot-on-sidney
This is the kind of crap that ruins careers. You get some scrub like Downie trying to do…something…to one of the stars of the game. Looking at it you’d think Sid tore or strained something but man, he got away lucky on that one.
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I hate Steve Downie right now. So, so glad Crosby could stay in the game! The win is great—the Pens so needed it—but it’s not a good day when both Crosby and Malkin get hurt. I’m glad they have the next few days to recuperate.
Next on the agenda: whipping Devil ass and making Brodeur shed actual tears behind his mask! Please, please, please, please, please…
"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
Cocktails With the Penguins, where Pens fans toast victories and drown defeats.
I have to lol at this article that came outs today in the Post Gazette.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10073/1042664-61.stm
He was doing better this year (I’ll give him that), but that’s a big was now.
871
by PensFan8725 on Mar 14, 2010 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Good, complete game for the Pens
This is how you win on the road. Good goaltending, solid D, kill penalties, score a few goals.
Obviously we hope Malkin will be ok, but if Jordan “Dr” Staal says he “will be fine”, then I guess there’s nothing to worry about (fingers crossed).
by PensAreYourDaddy on Mar 14, 2010 11:29 PM EDT reply actions
can we really take dr. staal’s opinion, though? boy doesn’t miss games for anything. =)
by katielynn906 on Mar 14, 2010 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Good point, maybe Staalsy’s idea of what keeps someone out of a game is a bit different from other players.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Mar 14, 2010 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
@PensAreYourDaddy
Well let’s hope that dr.Staal knows what he’s talking about. Still, as much as i love the kid, i think its time Letang made a concious effort to work on his accuracy…
I agree. Tanger has been one of my favorite guys since I saw him play in a preseason game against the Wings back in ‘07. I think there is so much unrealized potential in him; I just hope we get to see it before he is gone. I’ve mentioned before that I wish there was some way to get Larry Murphy to come in and work with him on getting that wicked shot of his on goal more often.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Mar 14, 2010 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Felt compelled to post that I’m glad Crosby didn’t get hurt on that Downie leg lock.
Looking at the replay, thats the kind of shit that ruins careers. . .definitely no place for a player like that in the NHL, imo.
I may get a bit of flak here for this, but I have somewhat of the same attitude towards Cooke, no place in the NHL for that kind of player. However, Downie pretty much deliberately tried to take out one of hockey’s greatest players.
It will be interesting to see what Campbell does with Downie’s leglock and Ovie’s boarding. Both should prolly get some sort of suspension, although i’d lobby for Downie to be kicked out (which would never happen)
Was wondering though, why is Talbot getting healthy scratched all the time? And does anybody know the severity of Malkin’s injury?
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
Talbot’s season has been marred by injury and he never really got his game rolling this season, with the Pens forward situation who else do you sit, TK has not been good lately (he has been scratched aswel), Adams maybe but he is the pens only righthanded faceoff man.
There is a knack to flying: it's learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
by Sid the captain on Mar 15, 2010 4:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t think Ocho’s boarding was all that bad
There is a difference between what Cooke did to Savard and what Downie did to Crosby. Both of them have their redeeming qualities, it would be nice to see them play with more balance.
Ovechkin’s hit was not that violent, but was unnecessary and very dangerous. I was really disgusted with the way Boudreau described it as a “small push”… how can he defend him so blindly… no attempt to be tolerant to the injured opposing player
You have to see it for yourself...
Definitely, I mean I am a huge fan of Ovie. . .I’ve followed him since he got into the league. However, a play like that kinda sums up the “dirty” player talk that he gets.
I would never fault him for playing so hard, and playing aggresively; but, he definitely needs to learn a bit of responsability for his hitting. I absolutely, dont think he meant to hurt Campbell, at all. But, when Ovie is in that situation, i think he needs to take some responsability to not put himself in a situation like that. Campbell could have bounced right off the boards, gotten right off the ice, and been ok. He could have ended up with a horrible concussion. Hate that he was suspended, but its appropriate (i think he shouldve gotten 4)
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
when Ovie is in that situation, i think he needs to take some responsability to not put himself in a situation like that.
And Campbell bears no responsibility to keep himself out of a vulnerable position? He knew Ocho was there. He knew the hit was coming. I definitely see this a case of shared culpability. I feel the 2 minute minor was sufficient.
Wait, what's so different between Downie's and Cooke's hits?
Both were delibiberate, both done with the intent to injure. I’m telling you, you would not be so forgiving if Crosby were out for the rest of the season.
As I’ve said before on this blog, the BS that is put up with amongst players should be handled by the leadership of the teams. Guys like Cooke and Downie wouldn’t exist if the Crosby’s of the world would step up and tell management that they won’t stand for this type of player. It amazes me that brothers in the same union (the NHLPA) would treat eachother like this.
I hate to say it, but this will continue until players enforce this themselves. That means, when Savard gets knocked unconcious that the Pens players, to a man, tell Cooke, “that’s enough” or, as you see, the crap keeps happening. Sort of poetic justice that the Pens have a guy that’s a head hunter and they have a similar thing happen to them.
Sorry, kind of testy but if your best player were out for the season, you’d probably be screaming as we are in Boston.
For the record, I’m glad that Sid’s okay. I wish him well and the Pens (except effing Cooke) well.
Which B's team is this?
Guys like Cooke and Downie wouldn’t exist if the Crosby’s of the world would step up and tell management that they won’t stand for this type of player.
Ahem: “At some point, there’s got to be a clear indication from the league (what’s legal and what’s not) because we’ve seen this so many times now,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “You don’t like to see anyone, your own teammate or an opposing player, lay on the ice like that.”
871
How do you know Cooke didn’t receive a dressing-down in the locker room after that game? Not everything happens in public, nor should everything happen in public.
What Downie did was pretty terrible, there’s even an article on the Flyers page Broad Street Hockey calling somebody out for a shot on Sid. Pretty telling haha. I am so happy we traded away Downie, if a Flyer did this we’d never hear the end of it.
by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Mar 15, 2010 10:44 AM EDT reply actions
one thing I didn’t get is why nobody held Downie accountable for the cheap shot?
You have to see it for yourself...
Colin Campbell is an idiot.
He failed to get Cooke on intent-to-injure, gave Ovechkin only 2 games, and did nothing to send a message to Downie.
In this situation, he could have made a statement. Give Ovie 2-4 games, cause he deserved it, he didnt mean to injure, but he did. He should get suspended. Give Downie double digits, make it clear that vigilante retribution is not tolerated. But he didn’t so people are calling for his head
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
Agree -- Steve Downie should be targeted by the Penguins
What he did was the most blatantly obvious intent to injure I’ve seen in a long time - years. How the NHL could sit on their hands and do nothing and why the Penguins did nothing is beyond me.-and apparently also lucky—and didn’t get injured is no reason not to discipline Downie. The NHL needs to judge the ACTION; not the outcome.
Just b/c Crosby is in amazing condition
Another blackmark for NHL….
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