Fuse Box Monday

Yinzers,

The 2010-2011 NHL season is underway and the Penguins have had 2 games thus far. The Pens are 0-2, but may I remind you that it is still VERY early in the season and Jordan Staal is still out of commission, recovering from an infection on his repaired foot. Even still, the Pens have still looked good in their two losses...just a few brain farts that turned into goals. Those will be worked out. Don't worry. So, here is what happened.

Thursday October 7: Flyers v. Penguins
The regular season home opener for the Penguins saw the defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers in town. The Flyers came out on top in this one 3-2, but it was not due to better play. Daniel Briere opened up the scoring early in the second period with a tip-in goal on the power play. Late in the second, Blair Betts added a tip-in of his own and the Flyers led 2-0 at the end of two. The Penguins finally got on the board 44 seconds into the third period when Tyler Kennedy ripped a wrist shot past rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The Flyers answered back with with a fluke, short-handed goal by Claude Giroux but the Pens got back within one on that same power play off the stick of Alex Goligoski. That would be all the scoring in this one. Two big observations presented themselves to me in this game. Observation number one was how much we will miss the big shot of Sergei Gonchar on the power play. It seems as though none of the Penguins have the confidence to take that shot from the point if Evgeni Malkin cannot. The other observation was that the Philthadelphia Flyers have themselves a fantastic rookie goaltender in Sergei Bobrovsky. The spry 22 year old knew where every shot and rebound went in that game and was very cool, calm and collected. Look out for the Flyers to lean on him this year since that is the only way they will be able to get to the Stanley Cup playoffs again.

Saturday October 9: Canadiens v. Penguins
Perhaps after losing to the Flyers, the Pens could pull out their first win in the new building against the Halak-less Canadiens. To no avail. Carey Price out-dueled Marc-Andre Fleury who let up two soft goals late in the game, leading to a 3-2 Canadiens victory. For the second straight game, the Penguins dominated puck possession and pace of the game and did not pull out a victory. Penguin killer Mike Cammalleri opened up the scoring 15 minutes into the first when he got his first of the season. Evgeni Malkin answered just 40 seconds into the second period when he put home his first of the season. The third period belonged to the Penguins all the way up to the very end. Mark Letestu contributed to the effort at 8:42 in the third. Fleury played strong all the way up until the 17th minute of the third period. Then, at 17:48, poor angles gave the Canadiens' Mike Cammalleri an easy lane for a tip-in goal, followed by a flubbed shot by Scott Gomez at 18:12 that snuck through Fleury's legs. Carey Price turned away 34 of 36 and the Canadiens left Pittsburgh with a 3-2 win.

It is slightly disturbing how the Penguins can carry the pace and possession of the first two games and still manage to lose, but I would not get too concerned. Since they did control both games, it shows that they are working hard and playing good hockey still. Things will get smoothed out as the defense finds its leader to replace Sergei Gonchar and Jordan Staal gets healthy enough to lead that third line again.

The season continues today with a 4:00 game in New Jersey. Not sure why it is at 4:00, but it is. The game is on FSN Pittsburgh but if you're at work, check out www.hockeywebcasts.com or www.myp2p.eu to stream it at your desk.

Let's go Pens,
B Brog