SUP87MAN, to the rescue!

Call him what you will, this is what we call him. He's always saving the day. Aside from Lemieux, the kid has saved Pittsburgh. You find a better name for him that describes his on and off ice ability, we're listening.
 

PensU writer Will Eller was at the game. He'll have a post and some more pics up later today.

SUMMARY

Not sure I saw a more physical game from the Pens all year. Laying 56 total hits on the Senators the Pens were able to come away with the key win and tie the series. Behind the absolutely stellar play from Crosby and a goal from Letang, our boys head to Ottawa tomorrow looking to take the lead in the series. Bridge-jumping bandwagon fans are stepping away ledges everywhere. Today is a good day.

Right off the bat we all threw our hats in disgust. Just 18 seconds in the game Peter Regin tosses a wrister from the blue line to beat Fleury. Versus reported MAF was a half hour late to game, apparently that also meant on the ice as well. You wonder what Theissen thought to himself after that. Though after the kids were done googling how to tie a neuse, we all felt good about the play from the Pens thereafter, including Fleury. Holding Ottawa from a powerplay opportunity and to only 6 shots, all the while laying 23 hits behind a Sid's rebound goal to tie the game, confidence was restored. 

Though we all were a little shaky after Andy Sutton buldozed Jordan Leopold with, in my opinion, appeard to be an elbow. But it was close, I'm not going to say it was completely intentional. I mean, Sutton is huge and has been known for destroying people. But the way Leopold went down, you immediately got angry and wanted justice.

Let's not forget what Rupp and Talbot did to end the period. It was time to send a message.

No scoring, but the period was not without chances. The Pens outshot the Sens for the second period in a row. Talbot and Cooke began pestering everyone, mainly Ruutu. That's their jobs, they'll score when called upon. The game remained tied after 2.

Found this on Pensblog...just too good to be on one blog...

The third was all Sid. He had a save and an assist. His determination was uncanny. After he stopped the Volchenkov goal from going in I immediately thought of the other greats in today's hockey world that might step up and do something like this. Nothing came to mind...

If this goal happens, Pens lose, plain and simple.

We've seen Crosby in net before earlier in the season. That's what happens I guess when you're dad was an NHL goalie. He does what it takes

Nearing the end of the period we saw Sid dribble past Spezza something like Derek Rose might do on me. Circling the back of the net and dancing to the oldies, Sid dishes the puck to Letang. In that split second when you saw number 58 with the puck you immediately thought, "no way is this hitting the net." But after you saw the netting shutter in resistance, all that went away.

As Letang himself said,

"If I would have missed the net [after what Crosby did], I would feel really bad," Letang said. "He [Crosby] is a special player, he's probably the best in the world."

Holding off the 6 man attack from the Sens in the last minute in a half, that was it. 2-1.

NOTABLES

• Every player on the Pens had a hit, Orpik had 9.
• Crosby went 13-19 on the draw, much improved.
• Third Line did their thing. Aside from Sid, corporately they are my top star.
• Fleury indeed bounced back.
• Mike Rupp, 6:46 of ice time, HUGE impact. 
• Oprik and Letang, 28 shifts a piece. damn.

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Down 2: But We've Been Here Before

The Pens lose 3-1. The Pens lose 3-1.

I got it.

I'm gonna start this off the same way I did after two games during the Washington series.

For me, its not time to panic, but it is time to be concerned. The Pens are down 2 to the Wings for the second year in a row. And since we need 4 wins and they need 2, that's a concern. But again, "A playoff series doesn't begin until the home team loses a game." And we're on our way back to Pittsburgh.

The good news is, just like the two games against Washington we could just as easily be up 2-0. If we were simply outplayed I'd have more concern in my writing...but that's not the case.

The Pens made the right adjustments in this game from the last. For starters they won faceoffs, that's key. This lead to several unsuccessful chances, but chances nevertheless. Bylsma also showed some new-look lines out there which seemed to throw Detroit off a little. Malkin looked a little better out there showing some more emotion and aggression. In the first two periods Crosby seemed to continue his funk. Though that's not entirely his fault, Detroit is targeting him. But if you're Byslma then you can't give Babcock a chance to be proactive, rather reactive by putting Crosby out there more with some different lines (which, like I said, he did in the 3rd).

The major problem is we are simply not having any luck. In my opinion if Geurin would have 66'd that Crosby feed, the score would have been 2-1. If the Official would have called a penalty on Hossa like he should have, the score would have remained the same. And if Malkin sunk that Fedetenko pass off the post, the score would have been 3-1. Then if Fleury didn't freeze and let that Abdelkader goal hover by, same score. And if Crosby would have 66'd that one past Osgood where Zetterberg then lieth down, 4-1. Finally if Crosby slid it past Osgood the way Ozzy thought he did, 5-1. So there, that's the scenario of what could have been. Looks good to me. But sadly, that's not what happened. But it could have, that's positive.

So, where do the Pens go from here?

Well, they're headed back to the 'burgh with moderate to high momentum on their side. Sounds odd but its true for the reason I stated above. They played well enough to win these games, they just didn't. So with the crowd on their side and positive play in their corner, Tuesday doesn't look that bad.

A few things that need to happen are:

1. Fleury needs to tighten up. At least 3 (maybe 4) goals for the Red Wings have come off of fluke plays. Sure we can blame the boards, but Fleury needs to take some responsibility and not allow anything easy to get through. Again, the Abdelkader goal cannot happen in the Stanley Cup Finals.
   
2. Finish, Finish, Finish. Yes, the Pens were 3 posts away from winning this game and heading back to the 'burgh 1-1, but they are not. Much of the reason is because of not burying it when necessary. In my opinion Osgood has been mediocre, not good, not bad. Its just the Pens haven't been finishing their big chances the way they should.
3. Intensity. I will say however the one thing that does aggravates me about the Pens that did so in last years finals as well was the level of intensity they can play, but wait until the last 4 minutes of a game. Detroit does this at all times which is why they are often successful.

I only have three adjustments because that's all I see is needed to win. Other than that the Pens look great. Down 0-2 for me is not scary, only a concern. The only bad thing about these wins is that Detroit won them without their best player, who may be back on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, we shall move on. Yes, game 3 is a must win, but the Pens shall prevail on home ice. The gods of Mellon Arena shall be good to us. They will not take this lying down, the battle has just begun.

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