Pens v Preds (L 3-4 SO)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And Happy Anniversary to the Bylsmas!

FIRST PERIOD

• The Pens were in their powder blues (for like the 200^th time this season) for the last game before the long Olympic break.
• The 1^st pretty uneventful for the majority of the period.
• Siddo put a big hit on Sullivan behind Flower.
• Jones was nailed for highsticking. It took less than 30 seconds for Siddo to score goal #42 (which, incidentally, ties him with A-hOle™ for the most in the league). He was at the top of the circle on the near side and fired a wicked one-timer that beat Ellis on the short side. [Pens 1, Preds 0]




• Steigy and Errey discussed Orpik's numerous scoring chances in recent games. It has been 112 games since we've seen him score a goal...
• As the period ended, Geno crosschecked Hamhuis, who then punched Geno and vice versa. A scrum broke out, and when it was over, Geno was given 4 penalty minutes while Hamhuis received just 2. Both would serve their time at the start of the second.

SECOND PERIOD

• Since Geno got the extra 2, the Predators had the power play. In a weird coincidence, it took just over 30 seconds for Erat to score a goal that was almost an exact carbon copy of Siddo's goal. The lone difference was that Sid scored with a slap shot while Erat scored with a wrister. [Pens 1, Preds 1]




• Later, TK was tripped up, and a delayed penalty was called. Meanwhile, Gronk got the puck and drove the net. He made a shot, and Cooker was right there to push it all the way into the net. [Pens 2, Preds 1]




• On the very next play, just seconds later as the Cooke goal was being announced, #22 Tootoo scored to tie it 2-2. [Pens 2, Preds 2]




• Erat and Kuni exchanged "pleasantries" after a whistle, which somehow lead to Kuni being assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Preds didn't score on their advantage.
• We were told that the Pens hosted an injured Iraq War vet this weekend at a practice. He was given a tour of the locker rooms and The Saint himself gave the American hero a stick.
• Flower made an UNREAL post-to-post save to ROB the Preds of a sure thing following a 2-on-1.




• Siddo was called for a super lame slash (It was so weak that woodstock yelled, "That's a pansy call!" Haha!) On the ensuing penalty kill, Gronk was called for tripping after his (Gronk's) stick took a guy down as he (Gronk) was falling. This gave the Preds a 1:08 5-on-3. Adams answered the call. He blocked a big shot from Weber with his foot without even flinching and was able to regroup and clear the puck. Due in large part to Adams, the Preds didn't score while Sid and/or Jordan were in the box.




• Gronk fired a shot that hit the post.
• A delayed penalty to Bouillon for interference went on for more than a minute. It was the longest one I've seen in ages, and the Pens passed the puck more than 20 times but were unable to find the back of the net. They didn't score on the 5-on-4, either.
• Near the end of the period, Siddo blocked a shot with his leg.

THIRD PERIOD

• Sid was shown wincing as he made his way to the bench, evidently suffering the after effects of the aforementioned shot block. He would play the remainder of the game a little less Crosby-like. (Hopefully, it is just a bruise that will heal up in time for his Olympic debut.)
• Adams destroyed Hamhuis into the boards with a monster hit.
• Orpik and Letang switched places for a faceoff, which Siddo won to Letang, who passed the puck to Brooksie for a Gonchar-esque one-timer to score his first goal in 112 games!! [Pens 3, Preds 2] The crowd responded with chants of "USA! USA! USA!"
• Duper was called for holding, and as his penalty ended, Suter was called for roughing, but neither team scored on their respective advantages.
• Weber fired a big blast from the point to tie the game. [Pens 3, Preds 3]




• Orpik was given a penalty, but the Preds didn't score.
• Kuni hit Sid with a shot. Sid got the puck a few seconds later and started a rush, but the Pens were called offsides. He was so frustrated that he broke his stick on the boards.
• Geno took a foolish interference penalty at the 1:55 mark in a tied game, but luckily his teammates bailed him out and killed it off.

OVERTIME

• The Pens got a power play, but the extra 5 minutes weren't enough to determine a winner.

SHOOTOUT

• Letang - blocked
• O'Reilly - scored
• Siddo - blocked
• Erat - scored to win the game

For some reason, the Boys just can't seal the deal. The biggest issue is that they're not playing a full 60 minutes of hockey. But NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE OLYMPICS!!! :) Hopefully the break will reinvigorate the ones who are off, and hopefully it will bring some more hardware to the ones who are not.

GO TEAM CANADA HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!

GO TEAM USA EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget - Team USA women's hockey club has their first match today at 3pm Eastern on, ironically, the USA Network!! They're currently destroying Team China 9-0 with 10 minutes to go in the third.

GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!