Another Injury After Pens Lose to Senators

by FrankD on Dec 17, 2011 2:18 AM EST in Game Recaps

I can't remember the last time I saw a second period like that. Actually, correction - I can't remember the last time I saw a single period like that, never mind the placement of it. The Penguins and Senators combined for eight goals in the 20 minute span on what amounted to a total of 23 shots. You don't have to be a math whiz to conclude the teams combined for one goal on just about every three shots. Insane.

Unfortunately, the Pens weren't the ones to benefit from the craziness of this game. Although they did manage to score three in the second, Ottawa's five gave the Sens a slight edge heading into the final 20 minutes - a lead they padded just enough to walk away with the win.

It was really hard to gauge any sort of rhythm for this game. After all, after the first period this game was a scoreless tie. What happened to have this finish 6-4?

Power plays for one thing. Three of those eight goals were scored with one of the teams on the man advantage. Pittsburgh finished the night 2-for-4 on the PP, with separate goals coming from Matt Niskanen and Evgeni Malkin.

Unfortunately Brent Johnson's 8-1-1 record against Ottawa had to come to its untimely end after he not only allowed five goals on 19 shots, but also got the hook after the second period. Marc-Andre Fleury came on in his place, stopping four of five.

Perhaps more depressing in light of all these recent injuries to hit the Pens is that you can most likely add another to the top of the pile. Paul Martin, the latest casualty in the injury game, left the third period after an awkward hit with Ottawa's Chris Phillips.

To quote the great Vince Lombardi, "What the hell's going on out here?"

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Insane

period.

Buried Treasure - #18 Pirates Prospect - Rudy Owens
Buried Treasure - Clint Hurdle on the Core Four
Shenanigans

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Dec 17, 2011 2:58 AM EST reply actions

Definately missing the play of Michalek, Letang, and Crosby… Team still looked defensively sloppy.

I may have lost faith in BJ too… I’m sorry but every time he’s in net now I just feel were in for a loss. With only 2 wins in his last 8 and a GAA of 3.23… ouch.. Leaving in 4 or more goals in 3 of the last 5 games. He just seems to be scrambling too much. I hope he turns it around though because we need him to be the solid back up he was last year. I’m definately thinking Thiesen is our #2 next year.

by STAALKINEAL on Dec 17, 2011 7:56 AM EST reply actions

Oh forgot Staal too. His help on the PK was sorely messed.

by STAALKINEAL on Dec 17, 2011 8:00 AM EST up reply actions

have to disagree. Johnson did not have much help last night…we are definitely missing Letang and Michalek big time and Martin did not play in the 3rd period. Hard to pin this loss on BJ, the whole team in general had a bad game….

"He doesn’t know whether to cry or wind his watch."..... Mike Lange

by Randy F on Dec 17, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

You disagree that this hasn’t been BJ’s worst year so far as a Penguin? He’s won 2 of his last 8 starts with his worst GAA with an average of 3+ goals a game as a Penguin. I know some of the goals are flukey but still he seems to be out of position most of the time and doesn’t seem to be confident anymore.

Also BJ didn’t play in the 3rd so losing Martin didn’t effect that part of the game. The fact he let in 5 Goals on 19 shots isn’t pretty. He didn’t have a good game against Carolina either, where they put up 5 goals and the Pens had all the D except Michalek.

The defense can’t be letting him out to dry on all of his games this season. It’s no time to panic but this is definately BJ’s worst start of his Penguin career. I’m just saying I hope things pick up for BJ.

by STAALKINEAL on Dec 17, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

You are right about BJ, bu the defense didn’t help him either. I say a combination of both. If BJ is on top of his game he probably saves at least one of those goals. Bad all around game in my opinion, strategy wise when you don’t have all your guns, should have played a slower paced game, more conservative, not open it up. I thought Kunitz did great work in the PP in front of the goalie. Also a couple of bad key plays that resulted in goals, a bad penalty taken by Duper (rare for him), and the egregious give away by TK.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Dec 17, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Injuries are starting to rack up

Letang, Michalek, Lovejoy, Strait, Bortuzzo now Martin
- Orpik, Nisky and Engelland only starters we got on D, thats rough to deal with.

Staal, Crosby
- Any time these guys are missing the team is taking a tremendous hit talent wise. Staal does so much for the team, PK, faceoffs, etc. Then of course Crosby and his elite talent.

Pens need some reinforcements soon, hopefully the Martin injury isn’t serious and that Letang, Michalek and Staal are back soon. As for Crosby, well as long as he is healthy come playoff time, I’ll be happy.

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Dec 17, 2011 11:02 AM EST reply actions

Any update on Letang?

Based on what I’ve read Staal and Michalek were game time decisions. Hopefully they’re back tonight. What about Letang? Frankly as much as Crosby being out is an incalculable loss, having such a decimated D corp is worse. Sid has been out so long these guys are used to playing without him. Hopefully Sid’s absence really is precautionary but I don’t even want to speculate.
As for BJ, stats wise he’s struggling majorly. 5 goals on 10 second period shots? Doesn’t get much worse than that. Didn’t see this game, but from the sounds of it, defensively everyone was bad. I think the goal with 5 ticks left in the 2nd was the killer, not just because it turned out to be the GWG.
Well see how much fortitude the Pens have, back at it vs. a pretty decent Buffalo team tonight. Need a win. Go Pens Go!

by Dutch71 on Dec 17, 2011 12:06 PM EST reply actions

A few thoughts

First the positive:
1) Tangradi played a good game. I thought he was earning his ice time and got a couple good scoring chances.

2) It’s nice to see the powerplay scoring a couple goals. Hopefully they can get back on track.

3) Despres has played great since getting the call up. At this point I think he might be able to stick, even when the D gets healthy.

The bad:
1) Orpik, Martin, Engelland and Niskanen played a terrible second period and it cost the Pens 2 points. It’s inexcusable to see that many mistakes happen in such a short amount of time.

2) Paul Martin went down with another injury. Hopefully it’s nothing serious and he can get back sooner rather than later.

"It's a great day for hockey" - Badger Bob

by StripesForLife on Dec 17, 2011 2:03 PM EST reply actions

Disagree with you on Tangradi. Non factor, and didn’t score when he had a chance. But I hope somebody out there in the NHL thinks like you, because he’ll go the Luca Caputi, Esposito way.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Dec 17, 2011 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

Was at the game

Martin has looked pretty bad this year to me. Seeing him in person, he looked absolutely terrible. An injury could be a good thing to give him some time to get his game back. At the very least it gets him out of the lineup which I’m also ok with.

Despres did look good to me. Very nervous with the puck on his stick which of course means that he is going to cough it up. Can see that he really doesnt want to make any mistakes with the big club. He didn’t seem to want to take a hard shot when he was getting the chance though. Just kinda soft tossing it at the net.

by b_man_zero on Dec 19, 2011 12:25 AM EST up reply actions