Penguins Blog

The Pens keep facing more and more adversity early on this season and are still finding ways to win. Last night’s 4-3 shootout win was one of the most exciting regular season games I’ve seen in a long time.

While I was complaining about the amount of penalties the Pens were taking, they stepped up their game in the final moments to somehow tie the game. Down 3-1 with under three minutes to play, Ruslan Fedotenko slammed home a rebound and then just 39 seconds later, Alex Goligoski ripped one to the shelf over Steve Mason to tie it up. The patience Goligoski showed before taking the shot speaks volumes for how he’s progressing in his young career.

After Sidney Crosby feathered an aerial pass out to the point, Goligoski could have just stepped into it for a one-timer. Instead, he held it and waited for a Columbus player to slide by and for Mason to go down a little early before ripping a wrist shot to the twine. Most young players would have taken the one-timer and buried it into the diving player, but Goligoski must be paying attention to someone like Sergei Gonchar who would have done exactly what Goligoski did.

The thing that impressed me the most, aside from the win, was the crowd. After Fedotenko scored, there were plenty of Pens fans jumping up and down in the stands. However, when Goligoski tied it, you would have thought they were playing at the Igloo. The fans in Columbus were great and showed that they understand how exciting the sport can be. No one was in their seats for at least the final three minutes of regulation and they stayed on their feet for the overtime and shootout. The atmosphere for a regular season game was fantastic.

Evgeni Malkin missed his first game of the season with a shoulder strain and Tyler Kennedy missed his second straight game. Max Talbot and Gonchar are also still rehabbing, but the key point in all of this is that the Pens found a way to win without those four guys in the lineup.

In a game that appeared as if nothing would go their way, the Penguins took control and Columbus went into a shell to try and hold the lead. I’ve lost track of how many times the Pens have pulled a late third period comeback over the last couple of seasons. When will other teams take notice and realize you can’t give this team an inch?I’m not sure if it says more about the Pens that they can turn it on at will, or if that other teams know it and start to play not to lose. 

There’s simply no quit in this team and as long as they continue to put forth the effort, they should get results. Even with the injury bug setting up shop in the locker room.