Five points in three games? Yeah, we'll take it.
In the final game of Pittsburgh three-game, season-opening road trip, Edmonton got the best of them in the shootout to hand the Pens their first shootout loss of the season. The 2-0-1 start isn't all that bad considering the team did it on the road - out West no less - and faced three games in four days.
A few notable highlights from the game:
- Brent Johnson gets his first start of the season and stopped 35 of 36 Edmonton shots. Shame he couldn't get the 'W' out of it, but a strong effort nonetheless
- The Pens played this game without Evgeni Malkin and it showed in the scoresheet. Minus Kris Letang's goal in the first period, Pittsburgh failed to generate another for the remainder of the game.
- Speaking of Letang's goal - that's now three straight games with a power-play goal. Time to bring that rhythm make home to Consol.
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Ryan Smyth? Chris Kunitz? Fine? Suspension? Your call.
- As good as the power-play has been, it's a real shame Pittsburgh couldn't capitalize on Smyth's five-minute major late in the game. Different outcome with Malkin out there.
- Too many dumb penalties in the first period. Good to see the team could make adjustments as the game wore on.
- It didn't count for much, but nice work by James Neal in the shootout. I'm telling ya - different production from that guy this season.
- Home opener Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.