Staal Falls

I mean...it's kind of creepy. After a disappointing loss to Ottawa last week, the Pens took on their 2009 playoff championship rivals at Mellon Arena this afternoon. It promised to be a good matchup, as both teams are very tough. Unfortunately, sometimes a good, even matchup just makes for a pretty boring game. It took nearly two entire periods for the Pens to put a goal on the board, and well into the third before the Red Wings tied it up.

++Staal falls: 3

++Most people involved in a Staal fall: 2

++Staal falls resulting in a successful goal: 0 (but not for lack of trying, especially in the third)

++Number of times Malkin landed in the box: 1

++Fighs: 2

It seems like both sides were trying to stir up a bit of a rivalry here. I guess playing each other for the Stanley Cup championships 2 years running will do that to people. Flower was quoted as saying something to the effect of, "I don't think they like us very much...but we don't like them either". All he needed to do was stick his tongue out, and we could have had a really nice grade-school scene going on.

Today's only regulation goal was scored by Sidney Crosby (surprise, surprise). Regular time ended with a 1-1 tie, which was maintained through the five minute overtime period, culminating in a shootout. I would like to say that the shootout was just awesome to watch, and I'm sure it was exciting, but I was foiled by TWC again. The recording cut off before OT was over, and I missed the end. But apparently Sidney and Malkin came through again, and put the Pens up, 2-1.