Crisis Averted, Crosby OK/Pens Win

Daniel Larusso/Sidney Crosby survived a nasty leg sweep and assisted on GWG. (photo source: Yardbarker.com)

The logistics of the Penguins/Lighting game today were the antithesis of hockey.  A 5 p.m. Sunday game in Tampa, Fla.  The icing on the cake?  A majority of the 20,230 in the building were cheering boisterously for the visiting team!  Really harkens the ole’ memory back to old time hockey doesn’t it?

However, it didn’t take long for the unique contest to take a dastardly turn.  Cobra Kai Steve Downie, in a patented Johnny Lawrence villain move, “swept the leg” of our hero, Sidney Crosby, from Miagido Karate, and sent the face of hockey to the ice in excruciating pain.  Thankfully for the viewing audience and hockey in general, the star was not seriously hurt and still managed to play 23:44 and assist on Sergei Gonchar’s power-play slap-shot that was the game-winner.

The replay was a stomach turner.  You’d hate to believe that Rick Tocchet was the evil sensei and ordered the hit, but regardless, Downie for all intents and purposes, attempted to tear Crosby’s leg off.  This type of move had the same amount of season-ending potential as Matt Cooke’s elbow to Marc Savard’s noggin.  Downie was clearly making up for a vicious hit on Steven Stamkos a few seconds earlier.  Never a man of principle, Downie couldn’t go after the hit-layer, but instead went after the big money.

I must admit that this afternoon’s game was only two periods long for me.  I missed all but about 40 seconds of the second while watching the March Madness brackets being unveiled.  So, for those of you scoring at home, I saw a scoreless first and a two-goal Penguin third.  Not a bad day’s work.

Marc-Andre Fleury was exceptional in the final frame, making several key stops on his way to 21 saves.  Pascal Dupuis evened the game 2:20 into the third following up a Staal shot that rebounded off the back boards.

Good news of the day: A-O got tossed for a boarding penalty and game misconduct.  As a bonus, he will also be suspended one game for being a repeat offender.

Bad news of the day: Evgeni Malkin missed the third after apparently hurting his foot when absorbing a pass on the boot in the second period.

No. 1 Star: The TV crew gave the nod to Dupuis, but I’m going with Fleury.  I thought he made some really tough stops when the game was hanging in the balance.

Blew A Tire: Steve Downie.  -1, two penalties, complete cheap shot on Crosby.  I longed for an Eric Godard appearance…commence the pummeling.