Weekend Wrapup

The Pens had a couple of tough losses over the weekend. Saturday's game against the Senators ended with an Ottawa goal at 4:56 of overtime. Pittsburgh lost 4-3 when Daniel Alfredsson lifted a backhander past Pens goalie Ty Conklin. Pens goals were scored by Sykora, Armstrong and Taffe.

Pittsburgh had a comfortable 3-0 lead halfway through the second against an Ottawa team that looked flat and unmotivated. When the Sens finally managed to get one past Conklin there was no looking back as they went on to score four unanswered goals to steal two points.

On Sunday afternoon, after a 25 minute delay due to a Zamboni malfunction that left a pool of hydraulic fluid on the ice, the Sharks got past Pittsburgh in a shootout win. Final score 2-1. The lone Pens goals was scored by Christensen. Shootout goals by Christensen and Letang. San Jose was able to put all three past Conklin.

While Pittsburgh played well in both games, they were unable to hold a three goal lead against Ottawa and were unable to generate anything resembling an offense against San Jose. Pens head coach Michel Therrien praised his team after the Ottawa game for doing everything they could to win. I wholeheartedly disagree! The effort to hold the lead was just not there. Granted Sens goale Ray Emery was outstanding in net while saving 32 of 35, but there would have been no need to score more than the three Pittsburgh scored had they played to win instead of playing not to lose. And against the Sharks, the Pens just looked tired. They played hard but it seemed to be without purpose. That fact is clearly visible on the scoresheet as neither team was able to put up any goals until the third. Pittsburgh's power play that had been converting at around 30% for the past 15 games was held to 1 for 9 (11%)in both games combined.

Pens red hot center, Evgeni Malkin, was held without a point in both games. He was dogged into submission, much like last seasons playoff series, by Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov on Saturday and was not a visible force on the ice against the Sharks.

It is a pretty good assumption that the Penguins will meet the Senators again in the playoffs. For this current team to win that series they will need to believe that they are able to beat an Ottawa team that will be even more hungry to win than the team that was on the ice on Saturday.

Next up - tonight vs. the New York Islanders

Injury Update - while I expected Sydney Crosby to get back on the ice against the Canadiens on Thursday, he remains on IR while still participating in full contact practices. I admire the fact that Pittsburgh is clearly waiting to get him back in the lineup until they are sure his injured ankle is fully healed, but it looks to me as if they need the shot of adrenalin his return will produce.

New of Note - Nathan Smith was sent back to WBS Penguins on Monday. He was scoreless in the 12 games he played for Pittsburgh.

Marc Andre Fleury has returned to the Penguins after playing 5 games for the WBS Penguins and putting up some outstanding numbers in those games. The Pens have decided to keep 3 goalies on the roster for now. Look for Fleury to get a start in one of the back-to-back games coming up this weekend.