Game Photos: 11/25/2011 Pens vs Sens

by PensAreYourDaddy on Nov 26, 2011 4:19 AM EST

It was a pleasure to get to see Sid back on the ice again Friday night vs the Ottawa Senators. I'm sure at some point we'll get back to where seeing Sid play is just business as usual (and for the hundreds of fans who leave games early, maybe they've already reached that point) but for now it's just incredible being able to enjoy having our captain out there after going so long without him. Check out our photos from the game after the jump.

Fleury would be starting in net for the Pens.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

The game marked another return to Pittsburgh for former Penguin defenseman Sergei Gonchar.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

The Michaleks, Zbynek and Milan.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Anthem Town:

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Ottawa didn't take long jumping out to a 1-0 lead and the Pens took even less time to even the score. Chris Kunitz was the beneficiary of a great feed by Crosby and he put it in the back of the net.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Two seconds later Arron Asham squared off with Zenon Konopka in what turned out to be a pretty good scrap.

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Less than 90 seconds later, Tyler Kennedy put the Pens up 2-1.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

A few minutes later Steve Sullivan corralled the rebound from this Evgeni Malkin slapper and, with the help of a good bounce off an Ottawa stick, he put it past Senators' starting netminder Craig Anderson. 3-1 Pens.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

The pressure on the Ottawa goaltender didn't ease up.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Before the game had even reached the ten minute mark, Geno danced around the zone and buried this wrister for a 4-1 Pens lead.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

That would mark the end of Anderson's night as he was replaced by back-up Alex Auld.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

2nd period.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

The Pens picked up where they left off. Pascal Dupuis beat Auld for the 5-1 lead.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Z looked forward to once again carrying bragging rights into the next family reunion.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Penguins equipment manager Dana Heinze was honored before the game for overseeing his 1500th professional hockey game.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

3rd period.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Ottawa had scored late in the second to cut the lead to 5-2. Pittsburgh responded in the third when Jordan Staal took advantage of Sergei Gonchar's slashing call, scoring on the subsequent 4-on-4 and reinstating the Pens 4-goal lead.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Ottawa struck again in the final minutes to cut the lead to 6-3. Hundreds of Pens fans decided they had seen enough of the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Letang, Neal, Staal and the rest, choosing instead to head for the exits.
Now, understandably many of these fans are parents whose young children will be expected at school early the next day, or they themselves will have jobs to report to, requiring them to leave early to beat the traffic.
Wait, what? This was a Friday game, you say? Kids did not have to be in school early the next day and most of the adults would be enjoying a day off on Saturday? Hmmm, this is perplexing. Surely there must be a logical explanation for people to spend hundreds of dollars taking their family to the game to see some of the sport's biggest stars, only to sacrifice some of that excitement in exchange for saving a few minutes on the road.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Anyway, the Pens held on to win, beating Ottawa for the second straight year on Black Friday. Brent Johnson congratulates Fleury on the win. Perhaps Johnny will get the call Saturday night in Montreal. If so, it will be his 300th NHL game.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Evgeni Malkin was named 1st star of the game with the game winning goal and one assist on the night.

From 2011-11-25 Pens vs Sens

Well, it's been fun watching the Pens this week. We'll take a little break before heading down to Raleigh for a rematch with the Hurricanes Saturday, December 3.

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Comments

Fun pictures. I love seeing the game through your eyes. Thanks, as always, for sharing

by SuMac on Nov 26, 2011 8:29 AM EST reply actions

I was at a football game, and there were a lot of people leaving early so the crowd started chanting “Beat the rush! Beat the rush!”

Look at Lemieux! Oh my goodness! What a goal! What a move! Lemieux, Whooa Baby!

by The Malk-Man on Nov 26, 2011 12:48 PM EST reply actions

Great pictures

Pens should be blowing out teams like the Sens and an important win when facing a road game the next night. Hopefully the momentum carries over.

UW Alumni 09

by SouthpawsLaundry on Nov 26, 2011 2:35 PM EST reply actions

Good to see Heinze be recognized

Used to be my equipment guy growing up in Johnstown. Got all my hockey equipment from him (and still occasionally do, old Pens stuff now).

http://twitter.com/tmaluchnik

by TJM5054 on Nov 26, 2011 2:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Very cool. I was a little surprised they didn’t do a brief on-ice recognition. On the other hand, when we got to the game well before warm-ups the security guy down at the bench told us all the equipment guys were in the back throwing a little party for him, which probably made him happier than if Shero had done some pregame presentation for him before all the fans like they did for Stewie a couple of years ago. Heinze didn’t even look all that comfortable when they made the announcement during the game. Seems like a pretty humble guy.

.Twitter

by PensAreYourDaddy on Nov 26, 2011 7:39 PM EST up reply actions