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The Penguins, hockey and more, by the PG's Seth Rorabaugh. |
PREGAME
-Greeting from cold, windy Pittsburgh:

-Fall has arrived in a big way today with lots of wind, cloudy skies and temperatures in the 40s. So naturally, it was a good day to have college students stand outside for several hours waiting for tickets. The Student Rush Line:



(Shorts dude?)
-T-shirts are being given out:

-The front of the line is paying tribute to Marc-Andre Fleury's famous rebuttal to Carey Price:

-From the team's official Twitter page, Jordan Staal and James Neal handed out some pizza:

-We don't know either:

-The old and new barns:

-The ice:

-The rink:

-It's very faint with the lights dimmed, but there is a big red blotch of wine on the ice inside the zone the Penguins defend twice:

-Arcade Fire's Wake Up greets fans entering the barn:
-Due to a camera malfunction (i.e. We forgot to charge the battery), our pregame photos will be delayed.
-Back up. Fans walking in off Centre Avenue:

-Wearing a Sidney Crosby Team Canada jersey to a game against the Canadiens? Hmmm...:

-The Brooks Orpik Team USA jersey nullify it:


-This is somewhat tragic. A Brian Strait autographed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton jersey:

-Andre Markov, Carey Price and Travis Moen:

-These two brave, hearty souls came from Bavaria presumably unaware of our cold weather:

-Patrick Roy:

-Ulf Samuelsson:

-Cardboard cutout Zambonis are being given away:

-Dear lord. Matt Murley:

-And Dominic Moore?!?

-Normally, a Josef Melichar jersey would be the jersey of the night:

-But we have to give the honors to this Kevin Dineen Whalers jersey:

-Warm ups:



-The Penguins' starters are Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal, Paul Martin, Zbynek Michalek and Marc-Andre Fleury.
-Dustin Jeffrey is back in the lineup.
-Their scratches are Kris Letang, Steve MacIntyre and Evgeni Malkin.
-Root Sports provides your lines and defensive pairings:


-The Canadiens' starters are Erik Cole, Lars Eller, Tomas Plekanec, Rafael Diaz, Hal Gill and Carey Price.
-Their scratches are Aaron Palushaj and Jaroslav Spacek.
-Jimerson handles the anthems:

FIRST PERIOD
19:36: From the right half wall, Dupuis snaps off a wrister. Price gloves it.
18:52: Off a faceoff win in the right circle by Richard Park, Deryk Engelland taps a pass to Niskanen at the top of the slot. Niskanen fires a one-timer. Price eats it up.
17:54: Off a faceoff win by Andreas Engqvist in the right circle, Yannick Weber cranks a one-timer on net. Fleury traps it against his chest and freezes play.
17:07: Lars Eller moves up the right wing by Michalek, zooms behind the net and bakchands a pass to the slot. Moen is there and chops it on net. Fleury kicks it out.
15:47: Arron Asham jumps on a loose puck int the crease but is hooked up by Diaz before he can shoot. That's two minutes for hooking. Paul Martin, Steve Sullivan, Mark Letestu, Neal and Kuntiz take the ice.
14:27: Off a turnover by Kunitz in the offensive zone on the left wing, Mathieu Darche takes a pass and is off to the races off the right wing. He moves in on net and snaps off a wrister low to the right leg of Fleury. Fleury leans down and traps it to the ice with his blocker. Big save. Kunitz owes Fleury a beer.
13:47: The Diaz minor expires. Not the Penguins' best effort.
13:34: Niskanen snaps off a fantastic pass from his own zone to Cooke at the Canadiens' blue line. Cooke gets behind the defense and fires a slapper from above the left circle wide to the far side. Great pass by Niskanen to create that.
13:27: During a stoppage, a brief video tribute is played for Gill who his playing in his 1,000th career game. Gill stands and offers a brief wave then "claps" his stick against the boards. A nice gesture by the Penguins.
12:58: After Adams wins a one-on-one battle in the right wing corner, he distributes the puck to Joe Vitale in the right circle. Vitale snaps it off. Price kicks it out.
12:24: From the right of the cage, Cooke tosses the puck into the crease. Jeffrey crashes in but can't punch it by a stretched out Price.
11:06: Sullivan wins a race to the puck behind the net against Gill. He turns and whip ti to Park in the left circle. It hits off the stick of Pelknaec. and skitr ight o Neal. Neal grisp and rips it at the cage. It hits off the backside of Josh Gorges and clunks off the right post, off the hip of Price and into the cage. James Neal's hot october continues. Great play by Sullivan to even create that opportunity. Sullivan and Park get assists. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Penguins 1-0.
7:56: Martin chucks a wrister from the right point at the cage. It hits a body in front and hops wide.
7:21: Neal works his way off the right half wall and whips a wrister from the above the right circle wide to the right of the cage.
5:22: P.K. Subban air mails a slapper from the red line. Fleury traps it and freezes play.
3:38: Vitale wins a race behind the net for a loose puck and tries to jam it in on a backhanded wraparound from the right of the cage. The puck gets kicked out to the slot where Cooke snaps it off. The net gets dislodged by Price. That's two minutes for delay of game. Andrei Kostitsyn will serve the penalty. Letestu, Neal, Kunitz, Sullivan and Martin take the ice.
3:07: Wow. What a save! Neals naps off a wrister from above the left circle. It hits Kunitz in front. Kunitz taps the puck to Sullivan to the right of the crease. As Sullivan tries to settle it, that allows Price enough time to dive ot his left and make an amazing save robbing Sullivan of a goal. Wow!
2:18: Martin fires a slapper from the left point. It hops up out of play. Neal is right in the crease. Subban takes exception and punches Neal in the shoulder. Neal skates away. Boos rain down on Subban.
1:38: The Price minor is killed. The Penguins had a few chances.
0:23: Subban controls the puck in the defensive zone. That's greeted with a showering of boos.
0:00: End of period. Penguins 1, Canadiens 0.
FIRST INTERMISSION

-The Penguins jumped out with a very nice effort that period. They won the majority of puck battles and got to most loose pucks first. The Canadiens seemed a bit sluggish by comparision.
-Jeffrey and Orpik were hardly noticeable. In Orpik's case, that's probably best.
-Orpik had 5:48 of ice time on seven shifts and one blocked shot.
-Jeffrey had 3:26 of ice time on five shifts and two shots.
-Niskanen continues to stand out. He's just a force in all three zones. Tonight, he has had a hand in a few offensive chances.
-The Penguins have a 16-8 lead in shots.
-Dupuis, Kunitz, Jeffrey, Neal, Sullivan and Subban each lead the game with two shots.
-Subban leads the game with 8:17 of ice time.
-Martin leads the Penguins with 7:35.
-The Penguins have a 13-11 edge in faceoffs (54 percent).
-Plekanec is 5 for 7 (71 percent).
-Letestu and Staal are each 4 for 7 (57 percent).
-No one has more than one blocked shot.
SECOND PERIOD
18:42: Neal corrals a loose puck int he defensive zone, circles aroudn and deals a pass up ice to Sullivan. Sullivan hustles into the offensive zcone, cuts towards the net and attacks the cage. His forehand shot is turned away by Prices' left leg. Tough save.
18:00: Cooke has a chance in the slot but can't beat Price.
17:52: Alexei Emelin and Deryk Engelland race for a puck in front of the broadcaster's benc. Emelin doesn't win that confrontation and goes down hard.
17:22: Engelland collects a puck at the right point and just whips it at the cage. It hits off the stick of Vitale and deflects by the glove hand of Price. Really slick re-direct. Niskanen gets the only assist. We're not sure abou that scoring. That might change. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Penguins 2-0.
17:05: "Caarrrrrr.....eeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyy.......Caarrrrrr.....eeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyy......."
16:06: Martin is called for cross checking Mike Cammalleri in front of the cage. Michalek, Orpik, Park and Adams take the ice.
14:55: Plekanec pumps a slapper at the cage from the left point. Engelland blocks it and clears the rebound down ice.
14:11: Subban chucks a wrister the cage form the point. Niskanen blocks it and whips it down ice for a clear.
14:06: The Martin minor is killed.
13:21: Off a faceoff win in the right circle, Gorges chucks a wrister from the right point. It misses the net. Lovejoy is called for holding th stick of Moen. Michalek, Martin, Dupuis and Staal take the ice.
12:19: Adams forces a turnover by Price behind the cage. Cooke jumps all over the puck to the left of the cage along the goal line. He taps a pass to the slot. Adams is there but punches the feed wide.
12:02: Cammalleri kneels down and fires one of his patented one-timers from along the goal line on the right wing.
11:43: Emelin tosses a wrister on net from the left point. Fleury eats it up.
10:34: Gorges take a pass in the left circle and snaps off a wrister. Fleury challenges and fights it off.
11:21: The Penguins kill of Lovejoy's minor.
9:44: Eller crashes into the cage with the help of Orpik. The net is knocked off its moorings.
8:03: After a turnover by Niskanen in his own zone, Darche chops a half slapper on net from the blue line. Fleury hangs on despite having Gionta crash in and fall over him..
7:51: Eller steals a puck in front of the Canadien's bench and tries to turn up ice. He gets slammed to the ice by Lovejoy for his troubles.
6:34: Attendance is announced as 18,402. It is the team's 214th consecutive sellout.
6:06: Michalek is called for hooking Pacioretty. Adams, Orpik, Matin and Staal take the ice.
4:37: Subban cracks a one-timer off the right half wall. Fleury fights it off with his stick.
4:08: Engelland clears a loose puck from the left wing corner of the Penguins' zone and essentially kills off the rest of the penalty.
3:52: Adams has a chance in the slot. It hits a body in front. Cooke tries to clean up the rebound but is washed out on a big hit by Subban. Adams races after the rebound but his hooked up by David Desharnais. No call.
3:23: Off a turnover by Lovejoy, Kostitsyin golfs a slapper from the top of the left circle. Fleury kicks it out.
1:41: Gionta is called for boarding Michalek. If you get boarded by that guy, you shouldn't be in the NHL. Kunitz, Letestu, Martin, Sullivan and Neal take the ice.
1:31: The Canadiens trie to clear the puck from the right wing corner but Martin is at the blue line nad hops up to keep the puck in the zone.
0:45: Martin chucks a wrister on net from thetop of the slot. Price eats it up.
0:01: Martin takes a pass at the right point, moves in and snaps off a wrister. It hits the skate of Gill and deflects away.
0:00: End of period. Penguins 2, Canadiens 0.
SECOND INTERMISSION

(You can notice the wine bloch a little better there.)
-More of the same that period. The Penguins were a step faster than the Canadiens in most situations. They were after loose puck first most of the time. They initated contact. The Canadiens look hesitant tonight.
-Engelland stepped up in a few situations that period. He had a hand on the Vitale goal. And he was very physical in the neutral and defensive zone.
-Cooke and Adams have been creating a few thigns offensively. They could easily have a goal tonight.
-Scott Gomez left the game in the first period due to a "lower body" injury.
-The penguins have a 24-21 lead in shots.
-Dupuis, Kunitz, Cooke, Sullivan, Plekanec, Darche and Subban each lead the game with three shots.
-Martin leads the game with 18:13 of ice time.
-Suban leads the Canadiens with 16:44.
-The Penguins control faceoffs, 27-17 (61 percent).
-Letestu is 7 for 10 (70 pecent).
-Desharnais and Plekanec are each 6 for 14 (43 percent).
-Gill and Engelland each led the game with two blocked shots.
-Fire Ray Shero.
-EN acquaintance Ron Michalak spotted a very rare James Neal Stars/Zbynek Michalek Coyotes jersey combo:

THIRD PERIOD
20:00: The Penguins have 19 seconds of a power play on fresh ice. Letestu, Staal, Kunitz, Niskanen and Martin take the ice.
19:41: The Gionta minor is killed.
18:44: Neal whips a wrrister on net from the right circle. It hits a body in front and bounces away.
18:17: Michalek has a wrister from the right point blocked by Gill's right skate.
16:56: Orpik drives a one-timer from the right point but his sticks snaps during the follow-through. Dupuis re-directs the puck out of play.
16:15: Jeffrey snaps off a loose puck from the left circle. It's hits a cluster of bodies in front and bounces behind the net.
15:40: From the right circle, Sullivan taps a nifty backhands pass to Orpik at the left point. Orpik booms a slapper which is off the mark. Sullivan is there for the rebound but Pacioretty makes a wonderful defensive play on teh back check to knock it away.
14:40: Niskanen slides a pass from the right point down along the boards. Engelland throws in on net from along the goal line. Price makes the inital save. A rebound flutters up into the air. Asham is there and swats it out of mid-air in to the cage. Officials review the goal for a potential high stick. Asham's stick appeared to be as high as the crossbar. Officials rule it a good goal. It's Asham's first of the season and in his 700th career game against his former team. Engelland and Niskanen get assists. Penguins 3-0.
14:23: "Carrrr....eeeeeyyyy......Carrrr....eeeeeyyyy......"
12:52: More boos Subban.
12:23: Dupuis circles around the cage and tosses a shot on net from the goal line on the right wing. Price holds i out.
10:32: Asham battles for a puck down low in the right wing corner and is tripped by Kostitsyn. That's two minutes. Kunitz, Martin, Letestu, Sullivan and Neal take the ice.
9:07: Out of the right wing corner, Cooke feeds a pass to Letestu in the right circle. Letestu swats a shot on net. Subban is there to poke check it away.
8:58: Michalek strikes a one-timer from above the left circle. It hits a body in front and deflects to the near corner.
8:25: As Asham's minor is killed, Cammalleri gets behind the Penguins defense and has the makings of a breakaway. Michalek catches up to him and hooks him to the ice. That's two minutes. Kind of surprising that wasn't a penalty shot. Staal, Adams, Orpik and Martin take the ice.
7:34: Plekanec snaps off a wrister from the right wing along the goal line. Fleury holds it out.
6:47: Subban corrals a clearing attempt at the left point and chops a slapper. Dupuis is there and blocks it wide.
6:19: Staal steals a pass in the defensive zone, carries it ot the neutral ozn and zips a sass up to Michalek leaving the penalty box. Michalek streaks up the right wing, moves in on a breakaway and rips a writer. Price gets it with his glove.
5:05: Desharnais is called for roughing Martin. He even drew a little blood. Neal, Jeffrey, Martin, Sullivan and Kunitz take the ice.
3:30: Plekanec has a chance in tight. No dice.
3:05: Two minutes later, and the Penguins don't accomplish a thing with the power play.
2:15: Diaz devies a slapper form the right point. Vitale blocks it with a thigh and staggers to the ice. As the play moves up ice, Vitale limps to the bench. Ouch.
1:36: There goes the shutout. That would have Been Fleury's 20th career gooseg. Eller makes a nice play to bump Kunitz off the puck on the right wing boards of the neutral zone. The puck up ends up on the right point. Gionta steps up and blasts a slapper by Fleury. Fleury chops the puck against the boards in frustration. What a shot. Weber and Darche get assists. Penguins 3-1.
1:23: Price is pulled for ane extra attacker.
0:17: Fleury kicks out a wrister by Plekanec from the right wing boards.
0:00: End of period. Mike Lange informs us of Elvis's whereabouts. That lame "PIIITTTSSSBURRGHHHH" song plays. Penguins 3, Canadiens 1.
POSTGAME

-There not much mystery to how this game turned out. One team came to play. The other didn't. The Penguins were aggressive, initiated contact and won most puck battles. The Canadiens looked like they were scrimmaging. This game was much more one-sided than the score indicated.
-The Penguins' blue line was very impressive tonight. All six defensemen came through in various areas. When Kris Letang returns Saturday, Dan Bylsma will not have an easy decision to make with which defenseman to scratch.
-Clearly the battle for the last spots in the lineup on defense are between Matt Niskanen, Deryk Engelland and Ben Lovjeoy. If we had to make the call, Lovejoy sits.
-The Penguins' penalty kill was very strong once again. The Canadiens just didn't look like a threat to score anytime they had a man advantage.
-The Penguins' power play... Ick. Still a work in progress. It went 0 for 5, but in all fairness, they didn't have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. Those are five pretty key components.
-Brooks Orpik was hardly noticeable and that's probably a good thing. His minutes were somewhat limited but he looked fairly comfortable in his season debut.
-Dustin Jeffrey was set up on a few chances in tight but was otherwise invisible for the bulk of the game. His time was somewhat limited too.
-Marc-Andre Fleury was strong but this was hardly his toughest test. He did enough to win.
-Mark Letestu came through with his strongest game of the season. He had a few chance in the offensive zone and was dominant in the faceoff circle. Jeffrey back and Crosby and Malkin presumably coming back soon, his job is on the line. He needed an effort like this to prove to the coaches he deserves playing time.
-James Neal. What more can be said. He's the hottest goal scorer in the NHL right now.
-Did anyone see Montreal's Erik Cole? He was invisible.
-The Penguins led in shots, 32-28.
-Tomas Plekanec led the game with five shots.
-Pascal Dupuis and Steve Sullivan led the Penguins with four.
-Lovejoy, Jordan Staal and Orpik were the only Penguins skaters who failed to record a shot on net.
-Paul Martin led teh game with 27:23 of ice time.
-P.K. Subban led the Canadiens with 26:10.
-The Penguins controlled faceoffs, 39-25 (61 percent).
-Letestu was 11 for 15 (73 percent).
-Staal was 13 for 21 (62 percent).
-Richard Park was 9 for 12 (75 percent).
-Plekanec was 10 for 22 (45 percent).
-Alexei Emelin and Hal Gill each led the game with three blocked shots.
-Fire Ray Shero.
-Engelland, Martin and Staal each led the Penguins with two.
-In honor of the red wine stain on the ice tonight:
-Highlights:

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