Communication Breakdown: Bruins Notch Five-Goal Third, Pens Lose 7-4

Bruins Blog: Stanley Cup of Chowder

What the hell just happened?

I mean seriously.  What did we just watch?

The Pens had a 4-2 lead going into the third period.  4-2.  It wasn't a blowout by any means, but it was a secure lead at the time.

Right?

...right?

No.  Of course it wasn't.  Put Brent Johnson in the net.  Put Marc-Andre Fleury in the net.  Stack 200 bricks between the pipes and the Pens still would've lost this game.  And to make matters worse, it's pretty obvious that Evgeni Malkin had a tough go in this game, which when combined with the nagging injury it can't possibly make the situation much better.  Between that awkward fall in the second, a collision with Shawn Thornton in the third and a launch into the boards following a missed hit on Zdeno Chara, it's safe to say Geno's body took a beating today. 

The Bruins just wrote the book on momentum swings.  All it took was 15 seconds for them to score two goals and tie the game, at which point the Pens looked like a disjointed group in desperate need of a rally point.  None came of course, as the Bruins eventually tagged on two more goals and the empty netter for good measure to win by the final of 7-4.

What I can't get out of my head is the idea that the Pens were this close to handing Tim Thomas his first loss of the season.  This close to winning a big game on home ice after a four-game road trip.  All they needed was 20 minutes of shutdown hockey to do it.  Needless to say, they failed.

In the grand scheme of things, it could've been much worse.  I mean, the Penguins could've been St. Louis.  But another game on the same night that doesn't impact the Penguins' position in the standings hardly poses as a point of salvation.  This team needs to hold it together late in the game.

Can't wait to see the post-game presser from Dan Bylsma Thursday morning.

Lightning on Friday.

Eternal Optimism Award of the Night goes to: SuMac (edited to fit)

We are capable. I refuse to allow my disappointment to condemn individuals when there was too much good. I like the style. Yup, I’m concerned that some aren’t playing it for 60 minutes and taking too much for granted. That won’t last. Part of Staal coming back, by the way, is re-working the line-up. That will help too. Anyway, I’m rambling. I’m with Alighieri above – the team still works and has issues to work out but this team is not useless