Penguins dodge the Rangers
The Penguins top line of Sidney Crosby(3 assists), Jerome Iginla(1 goal, 2 assists) and Patrick Marleau(2 goals) registered eight points as Pittsburgh dispatched the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
Patrick Marleau scored back-to-back powerplay goals in the first period a little over seven minutes apart, his third and fourth goals of the year. Shots were 9-8 New York after twenty minutes.
Rookie Curtis McKenzie scored his first WCHL goal at 5:44 of the second period to cut the Pens lead in half. Just over five minutes later Jerome Iginla(2nd) got that one back as he redirected a slap pass from "Sid the Kid" over the shoulder of Hendrik Lundqvist. The Rangers fired eleven shots at Marc-Andre Fleury in the second but only the rookie's shot found mesh.
The third period was played as if the teams already knew the game was over as the shot total for both teams was four shots apiece.
The night got worse for the Rangers as they were told after the game that Andres Lee, who left part way through the second period will miss atleast three weeks with what the team is calling an upper body injury (believed to be a concussion as told by a source close to the Rangers).
Fleury made 23 saves for his eighth win of the season for Pittsburgh.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Patrick Marleau (Pit)........ 2 goals, 4 shots
2 - Sidney Crosby (Pit)......... 3 assists, +1, 2 shots
3 - Jarome Iginla (Pit).......... 1 goal, 2 assists, 2 shots
Both teams are back at it on Monday as the Pens host Steven Stamkos and the Calgary Flames who split a recent home-and-home series with Anaheim, winning the last one 3-2 at home in Cowtown, while the Rangers visit the American Capital to take on captain Chris Phillips and the rest of the Capitals. The Rangers will have to do without Andres Lee for a while as he nurses his concussion, the Rangers have a slew of rookies looking for their chance to show GM Don they can stick with the big club. We'll have to wait and see who they bring up.
Reporting For The WCHL Network......
Peter Puck
