SB Nation Pittsburgh - Penguins Vs. Senators: Pittsburgh Wins In Gonchar's Returnhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2010-10-19T00:05:44-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15240402010-10-19T00:05:44-04:002010-10-19T00:05:44-04:00The Power Of The Power Play: Pittsburgh Penguins defeat Ottawa Senators 5-2
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 10.18.2010 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td class="highlight">2</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </span></td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="highlight">5</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p>Riding an early offensive flourish and a suddenly potent power play, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-2 on Monday night in front of 18,101 fans inside Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center. The Penguins (4-3) won their third straight game while the struggling Senators (1-4-1) remained at the foot of the Eastern Conference Standings. <span>Brent Johnson</span> tallied his fourth win in four starts for the Penguins, turning away 32 of 34 shots.</p>
<p>The hosts shot early and often, putting up 17 of their 29 total shots on the evening in the first period. While it isn't surprising to see the Penguins pepper the opposition, it is more peculiar to see it on the power play. Suddenly potent, the Penguins scored two power play goals to open the night's scoring.</p>
<p>The first came when <span>Mike Comrie</span> saw the impressive <span>Mark Letestu</span> drifting open into the slot. Comrie's pass was accurate and Letestu's wrist shot devastatingly effective, going over the glove hand of Brian Elliot and opening the scoring just before the midway point of the first period.</p>
<p>Another power play goal from <span>Sidney Crosby</span> and an airborne, diving swipe at a loose puck by <span>Evgeni Malkin</span> (for which words can't really do justice) put the Penguins up 3-0 after the first.</p>
<p>Ottawa's captain <span>Daniel Alfredsson</span> brought the Senators back within one before <span>Pascal Dupuis</span> and <span>Kris Letang</span> each scored his first goal of the season within 25 seconds of one another to force Elliot to the bench, as rookie goaltender <span>Robin Lehner</span> came in for a period and a half of action. <span>Chris Campoli</span>'s third period goal finished the scoring on the evening as the contest sputtered to a 5-2 finish.</p>
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<p><b>What Went Right:</b></p>
<p>While we typically go over a few things that went right on the evening, I'm going to focus tonight's space on how a little wrinkle finally made the Penguins' top power play unit click:</p>
<p>What we'd seen early in the season was <span>Alex Goligoski</span> manning <span>Sergei Gonchar</span>'s typical spot at the top of the point. Tonight, Kris Letang was found high, with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby effectively rotating duties supporting him on either side. With <span>Chris Kunitz</span> occupying the power forward role, Goligoski had room to roam around.</p>
<p>Where Goligoski has been ineffective this season is decision-making, especially with time on the puck like you typically get at the point. Where he has been extremely effective is putting his exceptional skill set to full use. This rotation allowed Malkin and Crosby to control the puck more often than Goligoski and get more shots on target. When the situation was right, Goligoski would rotate high and allow Crosby to get in tight on goal, while also still being active on the man advantage.</p>
<p>The early portion of the Penguins' second power play attempt shows the former in action, while the latter can be seen on the second power play goal, where Crosby and Malkin were both found within a few feet of goal. By letting Goligoski effectively occupy whatever position was left empty on the rink, it created match-up problems for the Senators.</p>
<p>Lots of movement and lots of shots leads to a good power play. If the Penguins play the power play similarly for the rest of the season, they will be a match up headache for any opponent, especially with the continued virility of the second power play unit.</p>
<p><b>What Went Wrong:</b></p>
<p>- It's hard to find something to gripe about in a 5-2 win, but, if it weren't for an assured performance early and late in the game from Brent Johnson, the outcome could have been drastically different. Ottawa's 12 shots on goal in an open, attacking first period were all, impressively, turned aside, while Johnson made up for a number of third-period defensive lapses, including a sprawling poke check to deny a <span>Mike Fisher</span> breakaway.</p>
<p>Though you can nitpick that Johnson lost his angle for the Senators' first goal, his performance likely turned a potential 5-3 or 5-4 game into the considerably more comfortable one. It's becoming increasingly difficult to piece together an argument for relegating Johnson back to the bench.</p>
<p>- It was painful watching <span>Maxime Talbot</span> easily beat former Penguins fan favorite Sergei Gonchar short-handed in the third period. With the Penguins on the penalty kill, Talbot found himself near the boards one-on-one with Gonchar.</p>
<p>Talbot turned his half-step into a large cushion and easily turned the corner on Gonchar, before holding the ex-Penguins defenseman at bay and forcing him to take a penalty. The play brought back memories of Gonchar being brushed aside by <span>Travis Moen</span> in last year's playoffs and, as a fan of the player, you'd like to see a little more defensive steel from him.</p>
<p>For the Penguins, though, it was a good play for Talbot on a night where he was scrappy and effective. Rare are the nights where "What Went Wrong" features two things that went right.</p>
<p><b>Injury Report</b></p>
<p>-<span>Jordan Staal</span> begun limited skating last week. He should still be out for another month or so.</p>
<p>-<span>Arron Asham</span> should be back from his shoulder injury by the end of October.</p>
<p>-<span>Brooks Orpik</span> sat out with a groin injury once again and appears to be day-to-day.</p>
<p>-Zbynek Michalek's shoulder injury should keep him out for another two or three weeks.</p>
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<td>Senators</td>
<td><b>Team Statistics</b></td>
<td><b>Penguins</b></td>
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<td>2</td>
<td><b>Goals</b></td>
<td>5</td>
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<td>34</td>
<td><b>Shots</b></td>
<td>29</td>
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<td>1-3</td>
<td><b>Power Play</b></td>
<td>2-4</td>
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<td>23</td>
<td><b> Hits </b></td>
<td>17</td>
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<td>11</td>
<td><b> Blocked Shots </b></td>
<td>10</td>
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<td>28</td>
<td><b> Faceoffs </b></td>
<td>29</td>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2010/10/19/1760493/the-power-of-the-power-play-pittsburgh-penguins-defeat-ottawaVoxMediaUser3526512010-10-18T21:50:09-04:002010-10-18T21:50:09-04:00Penguins Vs. Senators: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin Score As Pens Win, 5-2
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<p>Sports Network | October 18, 2010</p>
<p>Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – <span>Sidney Crosby</span>, <span>Evgeni Malkin</span> and <span>Mark Letestu</span> each had a goal and an assist to power Pittsburgh past Ottawa, 5-2, at <span class="caps">CONSOL</span> Energy Center.</p>
<p><span>Pascal Dupuis</span> and <span>Kris Letang</span> netted the other goals and <span>Mike Comrie</span> had two helpers for the Penguins, who have won three straight games.</p>
<p><span>Brent Johnson</span> turned away 32 shots to improve to 4-0-0 on the season for the hosts, who have taken two in a row at home after dropping their first three games in their gleaming new arena.</p>
<p><span>Daniel Alfredsson</span> and <span>Chris Campoli</span> scored for the Senators, while <span>Brian Elliott</span> was charged with the loss after allowing five goals on 22 shots in less than two periods before being replaced by <span>Robin Lehner</span>, who stopped all seven shots he faced for the Senators, who are 0-3-1 on the road this season.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2010/10/18/1760364/penguins-vs-senators-sidney-crosby-evgeni-malkin-score-as-pens-win-5-2Charlie Wilmoth2010-10-18T18:39:35-04:002010-10-18T18:39:35-04:00Penguins Vs. Senators: Brent Johnson To Start Over Marc-Andre Fleury Yet Again
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<p><span class="caps">NHL</span>.com writes that Pens goalie <span>Brent Johnson</span> <a href="http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=540898">will get yet another start</a> over <span>Marc-Andre Fleury</span>. Johnson has played well so far this season, and although he <a href="http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_704846.html">still defers to Fleury</a> as the Penguins’ top goalie, he’s getting enough starts that it’s time to wonder what’s going on here. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Is-Brent-Johnson-hot-hand-or-does-Fleury-have-?urn=nhl-277987">Greg Wyshynski wonders the same thing</a>:</p>
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<p>It’s still somewhat incredible to think that even after that season, with a ring on his finger, Fleury still has to prove himself every new campaign.</p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2010/10/18/1760015/penguins-vs-senators-brent-johnson-to-start-over-marc-andre-fleury-goalieCharlie Wilmoth2010-10-18T18:31:18-04:002010-10-18T18:31:18-04:00Penguins Vs. Senators: Sergei Gonchar Returns
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<h3>Sports Network | October 18, 2010</h3>
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<p>(Sports Network) - Having finally earned a win in the most recent game at their new arena, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/teams/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> will try to post a third straight victory overall when they welcome <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54823/sergei-gonchar">Sergei Gonchar</a> and the struggling <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/teams/ottawa-senators">Ottawa Senators</a> to CONSOL Energy Center.</p>
<p>The Penguins lost their first three games at the new building before beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/teams/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> in overtime on Friday. Pittsburgh then won consecutive games for the first time this year by pounding the rival Flyers, 5-1, in Philadelphia on Saturday.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/55428/sidney-crosby">Sidney Crosby</a> notched a pair of third-period power-play goals and totaled three points to lead his Penguins in the rout of the Flyers. <span>Kris Letang</span> added a pair of assists and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54333/brent-johnson">Brent Johnson</a> stopped 29-of-30 shots for the win, improving to 3-0-0 on the year.</p>
<p>"When we do get those chances, we have to make the most of them," Crosby said. "We got them and found a way to hit the net."</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54511/chris-kunitz">Chris Kunitz</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/70758/mark-letestu">Mark Letestu</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/55405/matt-cooke">Matt Cooke</a> also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who have won three of their last four contests to improve to 3-3-0 on the year.</p>
<p>Johnson has clearly outplayed regular starter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54838/marc-andre-fleury">Marc-Andre Fleury</a> in the early going and Pittsburgh's backup could get the call again tonight. Fleury is 0-3-0 with an awful .853 save percentage and 3.41 goals-against average. Johnson has a pristine 1.32 GAA and a .953 save percentage to go with his perfect record.</p>
<p>On the injury front, defenseman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/55416/brooks-orpik">Brooks Orpik</a> is questionable for tonight's game with a groin injury. Orpik has missed the last four games for the Penguins.</p>
<p>This evening marks the return to Pittsburgh for Gonchar, who was a mainstay on the Penguins blue line for five seasons before signing a three-year, $16 million contract with the Senators this summer. Gonchar recorded 259 points in 322 regular-season contests during his stellar run with the Pens. However, Gonchar has just one assist in his first five games with the Senators.</p>
<p>Ottawa enters tonight with just one win on the year and is coming off Saturday's loss to Montreal in the opener of a three-game road trip. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/55652/tomas-plekanec">Tomas Plekanec</a> scored with just under four minutes remaining in the third period to lift the Canadiens to the 4-3 victory at the Bell Centre.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54753/milan-michalek">Milan Michalek</a> scored twice for the Senators, who are 1-3-1 on the year. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/71658/erik-karlsson">Erik Karlsson</a> also scored, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nhl/players/54387/brian-elliott">Brian Elliott</a> allowed all four goals on 37 shots in defeat. Ottawa led the contest by a 3-1 score in the second period, but allowed the Habs to tie it up heading into the third.</p>
<p>"We can't let teams come back," Michalek said. "We can't let these games slip away. We were leading, 3-1, so we have to stick to our game and keep playing the same way."</p>
<p>The Sens have yet to win on the road this year, going 0-2-1 as the visitor. Ottawa will face Buffalo on Friday before returning to Canada's capital city for a four-game homestand.</p>
<p>The Pens and Sens split four meetings in 2009-10, but Ottawa has taken five of seven and eight of the last 11 encounters between the clubs. The Senators have taken four of five and eight of 10 in Pittsburgh and will try to carry their Steel City success from the Igloo to the new barn.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/10/18/2322804/penguins-vs-senators-sergei-gonchar-returnsCharlie Wilmoth