Penguins prove to be the better bird in 3-1 win
Pittsburgh Penguins (3) vs Anaheim Ducks (1)......
Saturday night saw two the battle of two birds of different feathers, both in fowl moods. Pittsburgh was mired in a three game slide that has seen them be overtaken for second in the conference by Ottawa. Meanwhile the defending champion Ducks have won three of their past four games but are a shadow of their former self.
The first period was like watching an egg hatch as there was no scoring or penalties through twenty minutes, the Pens holding a slight 7-6 shot advantage.
Anaheim gave the home faithful something to cheer about as Matt Moulson scored his 18th of the season at 8:02 as he deflected a Sheldon Souray slapper over the shoulder of Pens back up tender Joey MacDonald. Then Duck's defenseman Jake Gardiner took an ill-advised hooking penalty at 12:57 and Pittsburgh would make him pay thirty-six seconds later on the powerplay as Patrick Kane scored his 26th of the year as he grabbed the loose rebound in the crease and beat Tuukka Rask. Then the unthinkable happened, on Jake Gardiner's next shift during a scuffle in the Pens crease he apparently bumped into referee Dan O'Halloren and started discussing his last penalty, O'Halloren having heard enough ejected Gardiner for the game thus putting Pittsburgh on a five minute major powerplay. Pittsburgh would score two times with the extra man to go up 3-1 on goals by, Alexander Radulov (10th) at 15:54 and Dan Hamhuis (4th) at 16:12. Tuukka Rask was pulled after the third goal and Eddie Lack took over. The Pens held a 18-12 shot edge after 40 minutes.
The third was much like the first with no scoring and just three minor penalties handed out. Pittsburgh was content to sit back in their defensive shell and protect their two goal lead, only registering two shots on Lack, as he stopped both. Final shots in the game were 20-18 Pens.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Dan Hamhuis (Pit).......... had a goal and an assist on the night
2 - Joey MacDonald (Pit)..... stopped 17 of 18 shots on the night to get his seventh win in thirteen starts
3 - Sidney Crosby (Pit)......... the kid was alright tonight handing out two helpers.
Saturday night saw two the battle of two birds of different feathers, both in fowl moods. Pittsburgh was mired in a three game slide that has seen them be overtaken for second in the conference by Ottawa. Meanwhile the defending champion Ducks have won three of their past four games but are a shadow of their former self.
The first period was like watching an egg hatch as there was no scoring or penalties through twenty minutes, the Pens holding a slight 7-6 shot advantage.
Anaheim gave the home faithful something to cheer about as Matt Moulson scored his 18th of the season at 8:02 as he deflected a Sheldon Souray slapper over the shoulder of Pens back up tender Joey MacDonald. Then Duck's defenseman Jake Gardiner took an ill-advised hooking penalty at 12:57 and Pittsburgh would make him pay thirty-six seconds later on the powerplay as Patrick Kane scored his 26th of the year as he grabbed the loose rebound in the crease and beat Tuukka Rask. Then the unthinkable happened, on Jake Gardiner's next shift during a scuffle in the Pens crease he apparently bumped into referee Dan O'Halloren and started discussing his last penalty, O'Halloren having heard enough ejected Gardiner for the game thus putting Pittsburgh on a five minute major powerplay. Pittsburgh would score two times with the extra man to go up 3-1 on goals by, Alexander Radulov (10th) at 15:54 and Dan Hamhuis (4th) at 16:12. Tuukka Rask was pulled after the third goal and Eddie Lack took over. The Pens held a 18-12 shot edge after 40 minutes.
The third was much like the first with no scoring and just three minor penalties handed out. Pittsburgh was content to sit back in their defensive shell and protect their two goal lead, only registering two shots on Lack, as he stopped both. Final shots in the game were 20-18 Pens.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Dan Hamhuis (Pit).......... had a goal and an assist on the night
2 - Joey MacDonald (Pit)..... stopped 17 of 18 shots on the night to get his seventh win in thirteen starts
3 - Sidney Crosby (Pit)......... the kid was alright tonight handing out two helpers.
