By Brian Metzer
The Penguins allowed a goal just 1:19 into the game, but then took full control and knocked the Senators off 6-3. Though the Sens tightened things up a bit as the game wound down, the Penguins were never really in danger of having this one slip away. Twelve different Penguins picked up points, Sidney Crosby notched 3-assists, Tyler Kennedy picked up 3-points (1G-2A) and Evgeni Malkin finished with 2-points (1G-1A). Marc Andre Fleury also got in on the act picking up an assist.
Though the game was full of positives, Nick Foligno of the Senators sparked a bit of controversy post game when he commented on his confrontation with Crosby in front of the Penguins net. Foligno had just made contact with Marc Andre Fleury, fell over over the Penguins’ goaltender and was “greeted” by the Penguins captain. Crosby threw and elbow that made contact with Foligno’s head, they two knocked each other around for a bit, before Chris Kunitz interceded and a melee broke out. Crosby and Foligno ended up with coincidental roughing penalties.
“He preached about it all summer, then goes and does that,” Foligno said.
The situation had at least one Canadian broadcaster, Shawn Lavigne of TSN Radio 1050 asking the question via Facebook, should Crosby earn a suspension?
Somehow I don’t think that it will come to that, as it really didn’t look like much at the time, but you never know how things are going to be reviewed.What do you guys think?
Back to the game… we saw Dan Bylsma employ a line this evening that doesn’t often get a chance to hit the ice together. Crosby joined Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal for a shift and they were wheeling and dealing like few others can. I had a chance to asked Malkin about it post game and the Penguins were good enough to post it along with a follow-up question on PensTV post game. Here is the footage for your review.
I thought the exchange with Geno went pretty well. He answered my questions thoughtfully and I enjoyed his feedback. After that great bit of give and take with Geno Machino, I decided that things were going far too well and gave most of my peers and Marc Andre Fleury a good laugh when I referred to the Penguins’ previous opponent as Colorado and not St. Louis. I caught myself and tried to correct, but the moment was again captured by PensTV…here it is for your enjoyment.
The Penguins played a great game, but weren’t perfect. They need to get away from making cutesie passes on the power play and near the blue line when they are leading a game. The skill players had a stretch of time during the second period in which they were clearly feeling the fact that they were scoring goals in bunches and started trying to “dipsee, do” a little too much. It tends to happens in games like tonight’s, but it is something that they need to avoid.
That aside, there wasn’t much to frown upon. The Penguins will get back to action tomorrow night against the Montreal Canadiens…I will be joining Todd Lewis on XM Radio’s Hockey Unfiltered program to preview the game, talk Crosby’s return and all things Atlantic Division.
More later.
