Geno Malkin and James Neal continued their domination with an overtime win over Washington yesterday. That’s six in a row for the Penguins.
The 4-3 win didn’t just extend the winning streak to six, the same number of consecutive losses the Pens endured, but it was the first time the Pens beat the Caps at home since 2007.
The Pens didn’t waste any time getting on the board. Five seconds after going on the power play, Kris Letang buried a nice half-slapper less than five minutes into the game. That’s two goals in two games for Tanger.
Just a minute later, Neal scored his 25th of the season – Geno had the assist. How is Neal not an all star?
I’m not going to lie, I thought it was pretty much in the bag with the way the Pens were playing. They were carrying the play and Worshington only put four shots on net in the first period. Things were really getting physical towards the end of the period and both teams were showing they didn’t like each other…like we didn’t know that already.
The physical play continued in the second, including a typical cheap hit by Ovechkin. The Caveman went into the corner full speed, left his feet, and delivered a blow to the head of Zbynek Michalek. This is what the NHL is trying to get rid of, right? Well, no penalty was called. Amazing.
Everything changed for the Caps after that. Brooks Laich and Alexander Jizzum Semin scored back-to-back goals within four minutes to tie it up.
From then on, every whistle was followed by fasewashing and shoving matches. Finally, Troy Brouwer and Tyler Kennedy threw down. Say what you want about Pigface, but he is pretty tough, especially for a little piglet. I’d rather watch him fight than punching bags like Craig Adams, Joe Vitale and Eric Tangradi.
The second period ended with things all tied up at 2.
It didn’t take long for our worst fears to come true. Worshington managed to get a two-on-one and Ovechkin buried a one-timer. Marc-Andre Fleury stretched so far to try and save it that most men’s junk would’ve ripped in half, and still he couldn’t get a piece of the shot.
The Caps had scored three unanswered goals and it wasn’t looking good. We should have known better to be worried because Geno had been quiet…a little too quiet. Seven minutes into the third, Geno carried the puck through the neutral zone, battled through three defenders, gathered the puck against the boards and found his buddy Neal in front. Sick shot. Tie game.
Geno’s non-stop effort and Neals’s positioning and shot were just incredible. This one was going to overtime.
OT wouldn’t last long; want to guess why? Neal made another amazing play to keep the puck in the Caps’ zone and ripped a shot towards the goal. It bounced off of the boards and found who else? Geno. Needless to say, Game Over.
The Geno and Neal show is starting to become routine when the game goes into the third and overtime. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get canceled anytime soon.
Seven is better than six, boys.
Notes:
- Ovechkin is such a dirty caveman. If he isn’t suspended for at least three games, **** is wrong.
- Neal was the No. 2 star, Malkin No. 1. You could have flip flopped them either way…they are playing out of their minds.
- Sid better hurry back, this may soon be Geno’s team.
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