For the 2nd time this year, a Penguin player scored a natural hat trick in the third period of a game. First was Jordan Staal, this time it was Evgeni Malkin's turn.
The Penguinos got off to a slow start tonight against the red hot New York Islanders. There was no black and gold offense at all and the first period led to a 2-0 Islander lead. To make matters worse, Max Talbot took a point-blank slap shot to the ankle in the neutral zone--he would not return.
The 2nd period showed a game play improvement on the Penguins side. Unfortunately, it didn't result in a Penguin goal until almost the 3rd period. When Bill Guerin scored to make it a 3-0 game, Michel Therrien pulled Dany Sabourin and gave John Curry his first look at NHL ice. At the 19:41 mark of the 2nd period, Brooks Orpik scored his 2nd of the year. We thought for sure it was Crosby who deflected the puck, but the scorekeeper said otherwise. The goal made it 3-1 Isles and gave the Pens a puncher's chance.
When Sidney Crosby scored a goal had a goal disallowed, we thought it might have demoralized the now full speed Penguins--we were wrong. The Kid came back to score a beautiful goal in the 47th minute of play. After cycling the puck back to Gino at the point who then drove down the boards and toward the net, Crosby slid from behind the net and got open on the far post. It was then that Malks made a beautiful soft-touch backhand pass to Crosby who finished it. 3-2 Islanders. Malkin made a beautiful play to generate the scoring chance and was just getting started.
At this point, I would have broken Malkin and Crosby back up to generate opportunities from 3 lines. I was wrong and a friend just chuckled when Gino and The Kid hooked back up to tie the game. This time it would be Crosby who made a great pass to Malkin. Gino made sure to finish like Crosby as he was falling when he took the shot. If you thought Therrien should break the duo up here, you were more wrong than I was. Crosby found Malkin again to put the Penguins up 4-3. Just like that the Penguins turned the game around and looked to get 2 points out of the night. Malkin jumped on the open-net opportunity to put the Pens up 5-3 and net himself his 3rd hat trick of his career. The cardiac kids did it again.
It was clear to us that the turning point in the game was a period during the 2nd when the Pens were short handed. The Penguins grabbed 2 great scoring chances and looked to keep the Islanders on their heals for the rest of the game. Malkin fired a puck off the post and Jordan Staal just missed on a breakaway opportunity. Although neither player scored, it was the first moment that I felt like the Pens would come back to win this game. Of course, we can not short change Therrien's decision to pull Sabou. A change like that isn't always to pull a tender because you think they are playing poorly. In this case, Sabourin wasn't playing his best hockey, but neither were the Penguins. When coach made the call to bring in Curry, it sent a message to the Penguin players that they were going to need to step up their game--they did.
It is hard to have a 3rd period hat trick overlooked, but tonight goes to the underdog. We feel that Gino gets enough spotlight attention. ;) With the Penguins' win, John Curry recorded his first win in his first NHL experience. The 24 year old had no warning that he would be getting ice time tonight and said "I didn't have time to think. All I could do was just go in and play." (Pens) Congratulations John!
The Penguins have a break tomorrow to eat mashed potatoes. I personally like turkey but feel that mashed potatoes, like John Curry, deserve the spotlight this time around. For a good change, fire them up with some hot sauce and butter instead of the old gravy. I promise, it's good!
Everyone have a good Thanksgiving (for the Americans) and we'll see you Friday for the Buffalo Sabres. Don't forget to watch the Pens beat the Sabres in the Winter Classic tomorrow on FSN!
Official score sheet.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Matt@Penstation
Posts
