PHT- Recap, Shark Bitten, Pens go down in SO

First Period

The Pens came out in this game on fire. Engelland scoring some huge goal, and Malkin flying everywhere around the ice. The Sullivan-Malkin-Neal line was purely dominating the early stages of this game. But thats why you play 60 minutes. Winchester was in Engo's face the entire first period challenging him to a fight, and as much as we would of loved to seen Deryk take him down, Niskanen had just sustained some injury. So smart hockey on Engellands part to not drop the gloves and send the Pens down to 5dmen. Winchester finally found someone to oblige late in the first, and that was Craig Adams. The fight was a snoozer, no real winner or loser, Pens take a 2-1 lead into the break.

Second Period

Puck drops and Engelland knows Niskanen is back and healthy on the bench, so he decides to drop them with Ryan Clowe. He puts up more of a battle then I thought he would. I thought the fight was pretty even, both guys got in some solid right hooks. Marleau puts some soft goal by Flower that he knows he shouldn't of let in. Pens waste no time responding, as Malkin buries his second of the night from Letang and Neal. Questionable right there whether or not that puck touches Neal on the way in, but either way Geno gets credit.

Third Period

Pens carry a two goal lead into the third period and cant hang on. How many times have we heard this before? Seems like too many, and it was exactly the case last night. Lets be honest, if it wasn't for the play of Flower in net in the third period, San Jose could have scored 6 goals in the third last night and won this one in a blowout. Fleury was tremendous in the third, really the only reason at all that the Penguins got this game into OT.

Overtime

Pens looked odd in the overtime. Never really even trying to move the puck up ice. If they controlled the puck for two minutes in overtime, a minute and a half of that was in their own zone. Bizarre.

Shootout

Sharks select to shoot first and Fleury stones Couture. Next up for the Pens was Kris Letang. Tried a pretty sneaky move once he got to the hashmarks to put it over the glove hand of Griess, but just couldn't elevate the puck. Weird seeing a Dman in the shootout on both teams, and neither one scores, Boyle misses for sharks. Next up was Evgeni Malkin, and unfortunately, this shootout attempt looked like a replay from 2007. Geno never looked comfortable taking this attempt, and never looked like he had any move planned out. Soppy attempt for someone who has looked fantastic in the shootout lately. Ryan Clowe beats Fleury over the glove, 1-0 Sharks. The Penguins must score to move it on to sudden death, so the game is on the stick of James Neal....right? Pascal Dupuis misses. Game over. See you Saturday night in L.A.