Last night, the Mellon Arena, the Penguins go down by two goals in the second period.  Wait, back up. The Penguins go down by a goal in the opening minute of the game. Petr Sykora knotted it up at one with a backhand flip of a Crosby rebound.

The Canes got the next two. The Penguins had their chances, but failed to capitalize on the power plays they had. It’s a disturbing trend, but after watching and then watching again some of these power plays, the puck will start going in the net for the Pens. It’s a matter of time. Trevor Letowski and Justin Williams did the scoring for Carolina.

To quote the 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins highlight film, “Against the Odds,” something funny happened while Penguins fans made their way to the refridgerator. Free agent acquizition, Adam Hall, knocked in a Jarkko Ruutu shot at 17:54. Then, on a two man advantage, Petr Sykora knocked in another rebound with 5.1 seconds left in the second period.

The broadcasters, Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey, were explicit in mentioning the stat that Petr Sykora has scored the most career goals amongst active players to never have a hat trick. Would tonight be the night? This is what they kept asking.

The game ended in a 3-3 tie, with the game going to overtime and then a shoot out. I was surprised that Michel Therrien’s shootout line up did not feature Evgeni Malkin, but what do I know. The line up of Christensen, Sykora, and Crosby worked, as all three of them scored and Dany Sabourin, the backup goaltended made a nice glove save to close the deal with a Penguins victory.

Notes:

The Pens played a very strong game last night, but cannot afford to keep coming from behind. It will catch up with them.

The power play was effective in moving the puck, and they got some really good chances. Unfortunately, the puck couldn’t get behind Cam Ward. It will come, though, I swear it will.

Ryan Malone has a pulse! Ryan Malone, the “Mayor of Carson Street,” got his nose dirty in a fight. This guy suffers from a severe lack of guts. Somebody needs to sit him down and make him watch highlights of Cam Neely and young Gary Roberts, to find out what kind of player he needs to be. It wouldn’t work, Ryan likes the nightlife a little too much.

Mark Recchi is going to get himself in trouble arguing calls. He’s a respected veteran, but eventually, the refs will get tired of it and start giving him unsportsmanslike penalties. Mark has always been a little hot headed, maybe that’s why he has no hair.

Dany Sabourin played a great game, but will he be good enough to be the Pens constant back-up behind Fleury?

Pens vs. Caps

Tonight, Evgeni Malkin and the boys make their way into D.C. to face the Capitals. The Pens, throughout team history, have owned the Caps. In 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, and 2001, The Pens faced off against the Caps in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In those seven times, the Pens only lost the 1994 series. Twice, in 1992 and 95, the Penguins came back from being down 3 games to 1. The Capitals fans hate us. Ted Leonsis, owner of the Capitals, hates us. Penguins fans invade these games in D.C. and the Penguins swept the four game season series last year.

Prediction: Penguins explode. 6-1 victory. F the Caps!