A player gained, a player lost, and a game won. That has been the theme for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past week.
The Penguins rebounded from back to back losses to win in a shootout against the New York Rangers, Friday night. Jussi Jokinen, acquired at the trade deadline for a conditional pick from Carolina, scored the Penguins’ lone goal in regulation, then scored the lone goal in the shootout to give the Penguins their 29th win of the season.
After playing the first two periods scoreless, Jokinen gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead with a goal 30 seconds into the final frame. The Penguins cycled the puck down low and Chris Kunitz found Jokinen in the left wing circle. Jokinen’s shot beat Lundqvist on the glove side.
Unfortunately, the Penguins also lost James Neal midway through the third period with what looked like a head injury. Neal was elbowed in the head by Michael Del Zotto while Pittsburgh was on the power play. He lay on the ice for a few minutes and was tended to by trainer, Chris Stewart.
Neal did not return and coach Dan Bylsma offered no updates to his condition after the game.
It seems to be a theme over the last week that the Penguins lose a player while another player makes his debut. The Penguins lost Paul Martin last Thursday against Winnipeg during Douglas Murray’s debut, then lost Sidney Crosby the following game during Jarome Iginla’s debut.
The hit on Neal triggered a clash between the two teams that almost erupted into an all-out brawl. It didn’t help that Brian Boyle’s cross check of Chris Kunitz into the boards led to the power play before Neal’s injury. Pascal Dupuis hit Michael Del Zotto well after an icing whistle which drew a crowd. Then, Rick Nash hit Matt Cooke with his stick from the bench leading to a verbal confrontation.
Pascal Dupuis was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty leading to New York’s second power play of the game. After a shot went wide, Derick Brassard threw the puck on net from behind the goal line and Marc-Andre Fleury made a save while sliding into the cage. The play was reviewed for several minutes before it was determined the puck never clearly crossed the goal line.
The no-goal call didn’t seem to matter as the Rangers scored on the ensuing face-off. Derek Stepan won a clean face-off against Brandon Sutter and got the puck back to Rick Nash who fired a shot that went five-hole on Fleury.
After going scoreless in overtime, Jokinen scored the lone goal in the shootout to give the Penguins a much needed win. A win they needed to get after being destroyed by the Rangers two nights ago in New York.
The biggest factor in the turnaround was Marc-Andre Fleury.
Fleury stopped 34 of 35 shots including some key saves in the third period when the Penguins were outshot 14-4. Midway through the third period, Fleury made a diving glove save off a shot from Derek Stepan who elevated a shot off a cross-ice pass from Ryan Callahan. Later in the period, Fleury stonewalled Brian Boyle who attempted to go five-hole off the rush.
- Jussi Jokinen was 13 of 15 in the face off circle.
- Marc-Andre Fleury has yet to allow a goal in three shootouts this season.
- Henrik Lundqvist played in his 500th career game.
Three Stars
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Jussi Jokinen
- Henrik Lundqvist
Photos courtesy of NHL.com
