Pens Chase Flyers Off Runway

Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 16, 03:28 AM | Hype this story!
1 2 3 Tot.
0 1 0 1
 
Tot. 1 2 3
7 2 3 2

Summary
With a 2nd nationally televised game in as many weeks, Pittsburgh wanted to make sure they inched closer to evening out the season series against the Flyers.  The series started the day at a 4-1 edge for Philadelphia, with 3 games remaining.  With wins, the Penguins could even the season series at .500.  On this day they would have to do it without Sidney Crosby, as he will be out another week with soreness in his injured ankle…however they did have their trade-deadline acquisition in Marian Hossa and their comedy and energy leader in Max Talbot back for action.

From the drop of the puck the Penguins looked like a team on the prowl, a team with something to prove, and a team hungry to earn points to regain the top spot in the Eastern Conference.  With their 7-1 pummeling of the Flyers, they now sit just 1 point behind New Jersey, who they still have remaining games against.  

On a day when NBC surely started the morning upset that Sidney Crosby was not playing, they got more than they could have bargained for, with Evegni Malkin and Petr Sykora netting 4 points each for the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The two got scoring started in the 1st period and showed that once again, without their team captain they came ready to play.  The line combinations looked pretty good, though I still can’t wait to see Marian Hossa play alongside Sidney as opposed to Staal.   The three deadline pickups added flare to the lineup, Hossa and Dupuis looked downright amazing out there, while Hal Gill continued his steady play on defense and the penalty kill, and even scored a late goal to add to his contributions.

The game was out of hand pretty quickly and Philadelphia goaltender, Biron, was chased from the net in the 2nd period.  However backup Niittymaki didn’t fare much better against the potent offensive attack sustained by the Penguins on this afternoon.

Fleury looked steady in net, allowing only 1 goal and while it wasn’t much of a chance, he can’t be fully blamed for that play.  If he can continue his steady play and Conklin can do the same, the net-minding problems that people predict for the Pens may not be an issue in the playoffs after all.


On a side note, can anyone still believe that Petr Sykora hasn’t had a hat trick in his career?  
 
Three Stars
# Player Team Pos. Stats
1 Malkin Pit C 2 Goals, 2 Assists
2 Sykora Pit W 2 Goals, 2 Assists
3 Dupuis Pit W 3 Assists
 
Stat Line
  Shots Faceoffs Power Plays
  1 2 3 OT Total Won Lost Converted Total
Pittsburgh 4 16 16 - 36 30 35 0 5
Philadelphia 6 9 10 - 25 35 30 0 3
 
Scoring Summary
Per. Time Team Goal Assist Assist
1 04:33
08:38		 Pit
Pit		 Evgeni Malkin
Petr Sykora		 Sykora
Dupuis		 -
Malkin
2 04:15
12:43
14:54
15:25		 Pit
Phi
Pit
Pit		 Tyler Kennedy
Mike Knuble
Evgeni Malkin
Marian Hossa		 Tablot
Thoresen
Sykora
Gonchar		 Gill
–
Malone
Dupuis
3 09:00
15:38		 Pit
Pit		 Petr Sykora
Hal Gill		 Malkin
Dupuis		 Malone
Hossa
 
Penalty Summary
Per. Time Team Player Penalty
1 00:52
04:42
10:39
10:39
19:17		 Pit
Pit
Pit
Phi
Pit		 Bench Minor
Whitney
Malone
Cote
Sykora		 Too Many Men – 2 min
Roughing – 2 min
Fighting – 5 min
Fighting – 5 min
High Sticking – 2 min

2		 02:52
11:44		 Phi
Phi		 Thoresen
Coburn		 Roughing – 2 min
Interference – 2 min
3 02:52
11:44
11:44
11:44
17:13		 Phi
Phi
Phi
Pit
Phi		 Thoresen
Richards
Richards
Minard
Hartnell		 Tripping – 2 min
Charging – 2 min
Misconduct – 10 min
Misconduct – 10 min
Roughing – 2 min

Comments

  1. Tim

    Mar 16, 02:38 PM

    Wow that is a crazy stat on Sykora I had no idea. I can’t imagine how many times he’s come close. I just watched the highlights, and they looked dominant the entire time. They looked really happy playing together. Glad to see Hoss get a goal. I think he will been a force in the playoffs. I am really happy with this win.

  2. DaBich

    Mar 17, 03:30 AM

    The main star last night that I really followed was Dupuis. That man was friggin everywhere! Speed, physicality, he just…played a very dominant game. Hossa who?

  3. Ashley Gallant

    Mar 17, 05:04 AM

    Dabich – Hossa backchecked like crazy last night, and he’ll get even better once he starts to settle in with the team. However, I agree that Dupuis is amazing. We thought of him as a throw in player – an afterthought – in the trade, but what a player he is!

  4. Ashley Gallant

    Mar 17, 05:10 AM

    I just found this quote that I thought I’d share:

    “He may be the best player in the league right now, and you have to respect that fact.’‘

    - Flyers coach John Stevens on Evgeni Malkin.

  5. Matt Bodenschatz

    Mar 17, 06:49 AM

    Tim, I’m with you. I think Hossa’s determination is to win a Cup, and the “playoff choker” tag will be eliminated.

    Dabich, Dupuis has been spectacular to say the least, but when Hossa actually gets acquainted with the team and feels comfortable with his knee — plus has the best center in the world feeding him the pick — he’ll be pretty spectacular.

    Ashley, that quote from Stevens is pretty telling — generally Flyers personnel aren’t too complementary of Penguins players, even when they are good.

  6. Heath Condiotte

    Mar 17, 07:25 AM

    Stevens and Therrien had a bit of an extended conversation before leaving the ice post-game. I’m curious what was discussed. It didn’t look heated.

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