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Pens-Canucks Recap: No Rest for the Weary, Pens Win 3-0!

The Pens were looking to stay perfect on their Western Canada road trip by going up against the Vancouver Canucks. Did fatigue play a factor due to last night's game in Edmonton? Would Matt Murray bounce back after a few shaky performances? Only time would tell...

By Garrett Behanna
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

After a crazy shootout win over the Oilers last night, the Pens were back at it tonight in the second game of a back-to-back facing the Canucks. Without further ado, let's get to the recap!

Pregame

Before the game, it was announced that Carl Hagelin would be scratched due to injury, leaving the Penguins to go with the 11 forward/7 defenseman approach. Cameron Gaunce was inserted into the lineup as a result.

1st Period

An early Vancouver goal by Michael Chaput was reviewed, but waived off from a coach's challenge because of goaltender interference on Matt Murray. The Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary line had a nice scoring chance at the end of the period, both teams were inches away from a goal, but they would head into the locker room still tied at 0.

Here are your first period stats...

2nd Period

The Pens were put on the power play after Sidney Crosby was hooked by Sven Baerteschi. However, they could not convert with the extra man and the game continued on. Ryan Miller absolutely robbed Conor Sheary on a delayed penalty sequence for the Pens. Luca Sbisa was sent to the box for the Pens second power play of the night, but again the Pens could not convert with the man advantage.

Ian Cole got the Pens on the board with his 5th goal of the season to put the Pens up 1-0 at the 16:24 mark of the period.

Cole, however, was penalized for roughing as the period was coming to a close and the Canucks took 1:54 of PP time into the third period.

Here are your second period stats...

3rd Period

58 seconds into the period, the Canucks had a second goal waived off because of a high stick and the Pens kept the lead.

Here is Murray making a tremendous save on Henrik!

The Pens were given another penalty due to a boarding call on Nikita Tryamkin. The Pens failed yet again to convert on the power play and pressed on with the one-goal lead.

Jake Guentzel gave the Penguins a 2-goal lead with his 10th of the year thanks to a wonderful pass by Conor Sheary.

Finally, Sheary would not be denied as he got the empty-netter for the 3-0 lead!

The Sheary goal would prove to be the final tally as the Pens would go on to beat Vancouver by a score of 3-0.

Final Thoughts

  • Ryan Miller was NUTS. If not for the stellar performance of the Vancouver netminder, the Penguins could have easily scored six or seven goals.
  • The 59-87-43 line was all over the ice tonight. Sheary was denied a few times by Miller, especially on a nice breakaway from a pass by Guentzel. Sheary, Sid, and Guentzel combined for 21 shots!
  • Matt Murray looked like his old self again with a solid shutout victory. This may be the confidence booster he needed to get back on track. He has shutout the Canucks TWICE this season.
  • Hopefully, the Hagelin injury is not too severe and HCMS can provide an update sooner rather than later.
  • All in all, it was a good win for the Pens, who thoroughly outplayed Vancouver, with the exception of Ryan Miller's performance. It was a well-earned two points and the Pens will now head to Calgary for a game on Monday night!

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