Nice win. Ugly game.
The Pittsburgh Penguins looked pretty stale on defense tonight, allowing the Thrashers to amass a 12 shot third period that came within inches of changing the tides of the game. If not for the crossbar behind Dany Sabourin, it's likely Jason Williams would've given the Thrashers a 3-2 third period lead and perhaps even the win.
Sidney Crosby dished an assist on the first goal by Miroslav Satan in the first period, later adding another helper on a shot that was redirected for the game winner by Petr Sykora. But it was the second period goal that Pensburgh users Dayna and Angela MC labeled "flashy" that will no doubt make an appearance on every hockey highlights package for months to come. Sliding down, nearly on his back, Crosby sent a Tyler Kennedy goal home for his seventh of the year.
Dany Sabourin played a phenomenal game in net. He stopped Ilya Kovalchuk point blank on a breakaway, followed it up later with two or three more similar saves on two other Thrashers that saved the Penguins power play from looking like a flashback fto the Flyers game earlier this month.
And who knows? Maybe there's some bad blood developing between these two teams. If Kovalchuk and Crosby don't already have some, there's a good chance some tension is brewing between Colby Armstrong and Eric Godard. If not for a mandatory line change it's likely the two would've dropped mitts. There's more a chance that Atlanta's Todd White and Kris Letang will have something rearing to go on December 18 when the teams meet again, but White will have to get his head screwed on right before that can happen.
The good: Crosby's three-point night
The bad: Not knowing whether to cheer or sob when the Pens' power play is on the ice.
The ugly: Kris Letang's hit on Todd White. Brought back memories of Dary Tucker on Sami Kapanen.
Next game: Saturday matinee, 2:00 against the Canucks