Where...is...the puck?

Jeez, talk about a cloudy call.  If I had to compare this to anything else, I'd say this is comparable to a batter coming up to the plate with bases loaded, two outs, a full count in the bottom of the ninth with his team down by a run (before the MLB decided to use instant replay).  His hit rockets to the outfield.  It's high, it's deep it's...was it off the foul pole?  Did it hit the wall?  Is this a home run?  Umpires say no and on the next pitch he strikes out.  Tough break, rough game, what can you do?

All week Dominik and I from Lighthouse Hockey have been sharing pointers on the Pens and Islanders.  The one conclusive point Dominik and I made was that both teams decide to stop playing in the third.  Even the boys on Hockey Night on Long Island said the team has fallen into an awful habit of giving up on the game. Tonight, much to the Penguins' advantage, the Isles chose to let up on the attack.  They didn't record their first shot of the period until there was three minutes left ticking down on the clock.  The scariest part is, they nearly scored.

And to think; the third period was the trying period for both teams tonight but overtime proved to be the trying test for the referees. 

So we focus on the shootout. 

Heading into the Islanders' last chance following Sykora's shoot-out goal, Sabourin makes what appears to be the game-winning save off of the Islanders' Trent Hunter.  Here's where the questions that start this post come into play. 

Black and gold glasses not withstanding, I feel this puck literally planted itself inside Sabourin's pads down by the knee.  I think that was more than obvious to anyone watching.  At the same time it's absolutely impossible for the goal judges to make a definitive decision on this thing, regardless as to whether or not Sabu's leg was over the line or past it.

Now some would argue it doesn't matter.  Sidney Crosby was up next with the game on his stick, yada yada yada, game, set, match.  I can't believe that.  This was a tough break for the Islanders, no doubt.  But if I'm going to beat a team I want to know straight up that I beat them.  It'll be interesting to see the takes from different blogs on this one.

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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (7-4-2) vs NEW YORK ISLANDERS (4-5-1)

IN LONG ISLANDE @ 7:00 EST

RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM, for video try channelsurfing.net

OILERS BLOGS: LIGHTHOUSE HOCKEY, and if interested you can check in on my pre-game interview with HockeyNightOnLongIsland

NOTES

Get your SPG picks in for a chance to win a Penguins wall clock courtesy of Carrolls Cove.

Dany Sabourin gets the call tonight in place of Marc-Andre Fleury, who despite an otherwise winning record for the past two seasons hardly fairs well against the Islanders.

Whatever injury is nagging Sidney Crosby doesn't appear to be an issue tonight.  He skated with the team this morning and will play.

Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko have a homecoming of sorts tonight against the Islanders.  Here's to hoping they make it count.

Record: 4-8-1

Leading scorers: Trent Hunter (5G, 6A, 11 pts), Mark Streit (4G, 7A, 11 pts), Doug Weight (2G, 9A, 11 pts.)

Blogs: Lighthouse Hockey

Before the Islanders lost to the Thrashers Thursday night it actually looked like they were getting things rolling.  Considering the fragility of the Penguins lately, I suppose we should offer a small thank you to the Thrashers.  The last thing the Pens need is more fodder like that in their head as they shoot out to Long Island.

Earlier this week the Islanders dished a loss to the Rangers, something that will always get a congratulatory nod from Penguins fans everywhere.

In case you're wondering why Rick DiPietro isn't playing on your fantasy team or racking up stats this season, that's because he's *surprise* injured.  It's looking like another 2-3 weeks on his knee, based on the last I've read.  I'm sure Dominik at LightHouseHockey can provide further details on that.

And so the Penguins will face goaltender Joey MacDonald.  Who?  Right.  MacDonald has had a few stints with different teams around the league, including the Red Wings and Bruins.  So far this season he is 4-5-1, but maybe the Pens have a slight edge since he's never faced Pitt.

Or then again maybe not. 

Last season the Islanders and Penguins finished with an even 4-4 series.  Guys like Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko managed to bust through the Penguins' D and net a few goals in the process.  Look out for them tonight, only this time in the black and gold.

Earlier today Dunman posted up a fanpost about a comment he saw on the CBS boards regarding the Penguins' lackluster efforts during the third period this season.  One of the lines that stood out to me:

Additionally, weak statements such as "it was a learning experience", are only applicable when you actually learn something..... saying that repeatedly as you do it, is just making excuses.

That's 100% true.  How many times can the Penguins, particular Michel Therrien, turn around and say it's "a lesson learned?"

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This one I was actually a little torn over whether to add it to Tales of the Tape.  The feature covers brawls that result in a five minute major penalty for fighting, but the fight between Matt Cooke and Theo Peckham at 5:06 in the 3rd period last night resulted in only a major penalty for Peckham.  Finally, I decided since Cooke was involved, I should count it, though it really isn't pretty.

Cooke was going crazy with the hits, which led Peckham to ambush him and start swinging before Cooke even had a chance to drop his stick and gloves (didn't he ever see D2: The Mighty Ducks?).  Cooke tried to defend himself, but took some savage hits before the linesmen got in between the two, which actually didn't stop Peckham, who swung again and connected with Cooke's head.  I would consider this a win for Peckham, but his hand has to be hurting from repeatedly punching Cooke's helmet.

A notable thing here is that Cooke did not get a major penalty for the fight, instead getting 2 minutes for roughing.  Peckham, on the other hand, got penalties for fighting, instigating, and a misconduct.  I'm not quite sure on the details of that, but I have a feeling the ambush and the swing through the linesmen have something to do with it.  I know I don't like the guy now.

After a few losses in his last fights, Eric Godard is back for more.  5:48 in the 1st period, Godard was ready to go with Steve MacIntyre, and finally turned out the win.

After exchanging a few blows, Godard pulled a little jab number on MacIntyre for some quick shots to the face.  If you recognize the move, it's because the exact same move was used against Godard by San Jose's Jody Shelley in his last fight.  Whether or not that's where Godard got the move is irrelevant.  I think it's neat.

After trading a few more shots, Godard got the upper hand and continued to pound on MacIntyre with his right fist until finally he connected with a shot that cost MacIntyre his balance as well as, in my opinion, the fight.  Definitely a good brawl.

Check back in a couple hours for the second fight of the game!  But until then...

You know, when your team gets a 5-0 lead after two periods of play, you should at least feel moderately comfortable with that effort, right?  I mean, you should have confidence that nothing could possibly go wrong to cause a team to lose a 5-0 lead.

Well, thankfully the Penguins didn't drop the lead, but they did let the Oilers come close to stealing this one out right from under their noses.  It's a shame too because Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan both combined for a tremendous night of goals, but those will now be overlooked in light of the near collapse.

And what - what attributed to this?  Mistakes and poor play.  When Pitt was on a 5-on-3 power play in the third period, Sheldon Souray busted out of the box and put away a short-handed goal to bring the Oilers within one.  At that very moment you have to admit your stomach was churning, your insides were decaying and your brow began to sweat.  I for one glance at the clock and allowed for Operation Countdown to begin.

We've all played that game before.  And frankly you can play from home.  All you have to do is have a team, preferably the one you root for on a regular basis, and have them drop a tremendous lead.  From there you watch the clock, counting down every second till the final horn and hope for the win.  It's an exciting game, with first place walking away with what they should have received with a surmountable lead anyway - the win. 

It's a good thing the Pens were able to jump out to such a lead because this had the makings of a spoiler.  Then again, if the Penguins didn't have the lead and actually had to come back and earn it then maybe they would have played the rest of the game with a little heart. 

I know one thing.  I don't want to be the fly on the wall in the Pens' locker room after this game.  Therrien is probably going on a tangent, and if I'm stuck to the wall eavesdropping I run a good chance of being hit by a flying object.

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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (6-4-2) vs EDMONTON OILERS (6-5-1)

IN PITTSBURGH @ 7:00 EST

RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM, for video try channelsurfing.net

Watch online here as well (thanks Dayna)

OILERS BLOGS: COVERED IN OIL, BATTLE OF ALBERTA, OILERS NATION

NOTES

Get your SPG picks in for a chance to win a Penguins wall clock courtesy of Carrolls Cove.

Dupuis is back on the ice tonight, but Ruslan Fedotenko is still out with a... *spins the wheel of disclosed injuries*...broken face.

Fleury in net.

The Penguins are 6-1-0 in seven of the last nine meetings with the Oilers on home ice.  The other two, from back in the day, are on the record as ties (remember those?).

Record: 6-5-1

Leading scorers: Alex Hemsky (3G, 9A, 12pts), Sheldon Souray (3G, 6A, 9 pts)

Blogs: COVERED IN OIL, BATTLE OF ALBERTA, OILERS NATION

For a Pens fan looking in on the action, I was actually hoping for an OT and shootout in last night's game between the Oilers and Blue Jackets.  I'm not so concerned about the Oilers getting the point.  On the contrary, I'd rather see the game go on as long as it can before the Oilers have to pack it up and shoot out to the hotel in Pittsburgh.

But that didn't happen.  With 1:09 left in regulation Columbus fired one past Edmonton's Dwayne Roloson to seal the game.  5-4 final.

Dwayne Roloson definitely got tested last night.  Columbus managed to put 38 shots on net, scoring on five of those chances.  It's likely, however, that with the back-to-back games scheduled that the Pens will see Mathieu Garon in net.  Garon is 3-3 on the season and may very well have been on reserve last night with the intent to get a start against Pitt tonight.  Then again, he has also dropped his last three starts.  Let's hope a night off didn't provide the rest he needs for a win.

Ethan Moreau, the Oilers' captain, racked up 19 minutes in penalties Saturday against the Hurricanes and still managed to score what proved to be the game-winner.

Speaking of Hurricanes, former Cane Erik Cole is on the Oilers now.  You may remember him from the unfortunate hit that Brooks Orpik delivered two seasons ago that nearly broke his neck and kept him off the ice for months.  They've thrown down once before, so it wouldn't be far fetched to think they might do it again.

Zack Stortini is the team's tough guy with 29 PIM over six games, although he's been a scratch for the past three games.  Will the Oilers toss him on the ice tomorrow for a Stortini/Godard fight?  Hard to say.  There's not much bad blood between these two teams, aside from the aforementioned personal quarrel between Cole and Orpik.  It'll be interesting to see how tomorrow's game plan works out.

Dunman posted this up yesterday afternoon to give us all a lil place to meet up and talk hockey.  So I figured I'd move it back up to the top of the page to see what's on everyone's mind now that Pascal Dupuis is due back Thursday , Sid responded to Semin and the All-Star ballots are out.  Jump into the convo and join us on your lunch break or anytime during the day.  (Might I also suggest minimizing the window at work). ...Frank...

With the Penguins' victory over the Blues now almost three full days past and the next game against Edmonton still two days away, you may be experiencing a bit of withdrawal.  I know I'm desperately trying to get my hands to quit shaking and Frank's already been placed in a padded cell.

 So, oh great Pensburgh community, what's on your mind?  Since there's no game to comment on, let's talk about something else.  What teams are impressing you thus far this season?  What teams are letting you down?  What kind of adjustments would you make to the Penguins lines?  How long did you have to wait in line to vote?  Is Frank rigging the SPG results (he totally is)?

This thread is open for anything - just keep it clean and keep it relatively polite.