The final score will say 6-1 Penguins, but that was kind of sneaky score with three goals in the final ten minutes. The Isles might have gotten blown out again, but surely they didn't lie down and roll over, unlike their last game when they lost 9-0 and only got 12 shots on goal.
- In what may be a first (at least for this season) every single Penguin skater had at least a +/- rating of +1. 13 out of the 18 Penguin skaters had at least a point. Everyone was in on the action.
- Welcome back Philippe Boucher. 1 goal, 1 assist, +3, 4 blocked shots and 3 hits. He was good tonight and showed no signs of rust. But this was the 2009 Islanders, not the 1982 Islanders, so who knows.
- Tyler Kennedy's up to 15 goals on the season and made a dirty little shake with his shoulders to juke the goalie and change his angle. Mark my words, if TK is healthy next year he's atleast a 20 goal scorer.
- Art Ross update: Evgeni Malkin 2 assists, Alex Ovechkin 0 goals, 0 assists. The gap is four points, with both players having one game a piece left. Ovechkin owns the tie-braker by way of more goals on the season, but if he scores 4+ more points than Geno on Saturday, surely he deserves it. Engravers get your tools out, Malkin's name is ready to go on the hardware.
- The Penguins PK was solid, killing off two extended 5 on 3's (thanks to some questionable calls). Boucher, who I praised above, did take 2 penalties while his team was already on the PK, so maybe his rust showed in that regard.
- Feel bad for the Islanders fans who have to go through this...As Penguins fans we dealt with 2003-04 season that was brutal but netted Malkin. I probably shouldn't say this since NYI is a division rival, but I hope that they get John Tavares and he helps invigorate the franchise (and get a new barn built) much like the Sidney Crosby influence did for Pittsburgh.
- Speaking of Sid, he got a goal and an assist, now up to 103 points on the season. If he didn't miss five games for injuries he's got to be right in the thick of the Art Ross race this season.
- Mathieu Garon looked a little shaky and the Isles rang several shots off posts. But, for a guy who's had three starts in the better part of three months, I don't think he fared too bad. He got the Pens the win, that's all he was asked for.
Now the Pens sit in a three way tie for fifth place with Philly and Carolina, with Philly having two games left to the others one. Carolina holds and edge over Pittsburgh in terms of wins too, so they're in the drivers seat. So we'll see how it shakes out, the Pens are probably in the best hopes for seed #5, but are guaranteed no worse than #6.