Pens Take Over Atlantic, Storm New York Again

On the left, cheap Staal. On the right, game-winning Staal.

55-16 shot differential. Are you kidding me? Was this Canada vs. Latvia pee-wees? The Penguins fired 39…39!…more shots than their opponent Thursday night, yet it took a Jordan Staal tip-in 3:42 into overtime for the visitors to earn two points in Madison Square Garden against the nasty Rangers.

In case you couldn’t tell from their actions tonight, the New York Rangers will no longer be taken advantage of. They are going to use cheap shots – even from their goalie – to light a fire and erase their former laissez-faire attitude. Thankfully, at least on this night, the end result was the same. The Pens walk out of MSG with puffed-out-pecs having won all three contests in the storied barn this season.

It wasn’t all confetti and champagne on this night however. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a piece on M-A Fleury knocking the rust off this week after serving as an innocent bystander during the Olympics. He needs more time. The Flower allowed a goal on every third shot he saw. That yields a pathetic save percentage (four goals allowed, 12 saves). Not to worry, Brent Johnson “saved” the day making all four stops – that’s right four – in the final 26:56 of the contest.

While Johnson was minding the nets, and trying to stifle yawns, Mike Rupp, Alex Goligoski, and then Staal ripped off three unanswered to rescue the Pens from a 4-2 hole and give them their second consecutive win since the Olympic break.

Rupp’s goal was his first in 19 games. Yikes. Goligoski’s first notch in 39 games. Double Yikes. Malkin, primary assist on Staal’s GWG, now has a 15-game point streak. The gentle giant has awoken. Look out.

After winning the game with his three-point night, Mr. J-Staal does have one more task. The elder needs to set his brother straight after Marc laid a heavy hit on Jordan’s captain. Hey Marc, just five days ago Crosby saved your country’s pride with his gold-medal cinching goal. Have a little patriotic respect.

Congratulations to the Penguins for fighting back and taking over – hopefully permanently – the Atlantic Division lead.

No. 1 Star: Jordan Staal, 2g, 1a, game-winner in OT
Blew A Tire: Marc Staal, rude hit on his countryman, -2 on the night