Wednesday, October 17, 2007

10/13/07: Game 4: Penguins 6 - Maple Leafs 4

Well its a good thing the Penguins have had a really light schedule so far this season, because I've been off my game with these game reviews. Lately I've just been completely exhausted from training for the Philadelphia Marathon. 7.5 miles in 1 hour and 33 minutes today.

Anyways, let's all pause and take something really big in right now. Maxime Talbot is leading the Pittsburgh Penguins in goals right now. And that is no fluke. Sure, Crosby and Malkin, and probably a handful of other Pens, will eventually pass him, but that's nothing to discredit Talbot. He is a hard worker, and probably the most underrated player I've ever seen.

I have to say I'm not really sure what Michel Therrien was thinking starting Dany Sabourin in favor of Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has not preformed well so far this season, but he is our starting goaltender and a potential franchise tender. When the schedule picks up there will be plenty of time for Sabourin to get in some starts, but right now Fleury needs to be between the pipes.

It turned into a shootout Saturday against the Maple Leafs. Erik Christensen buried one in the first, beating Toskala off of a offensive zone face-off win.

Sabourin let in two goals on the first 5 shots he faced. He looked very shaky, but some responsibility lays with the defensive play. Far too often the Penguins were caught standing still in their own zone. If they want to cut down on the amount of quality opportunities they allow, they are going to have to step up to players who are moving into the slot.

Later in the 1st Brooks Oprik forced Darcy Tucker of the Leafs into the net, crashing into Sabourin, and forcing him to leave the game.

Less than a minute into the 2nd Mats Sundin took an Antropov pass from behind the net and beat Fleury, giving the Leafs a 3-1 lead.

A Crosby pass intended for a breaking Petr Sykora deflected of a Toronto defenseman and into the net. Only 19 seconds later Maxime Talbot tied the game, beating Toskala on a Gary Roberts cross crease pass.

Ryan Malone gave the Penguins the 4-3 lead, scoring off the rebound from a Evgeni Malkin shot with 4 minutes left in the 2nd. But the lead was short lived, as Jason Blake scored only moments later to take the game into the 2nd intermission all locked up.

With less than 5 minutes remaining in the game Sidney Crosby picked up his second of the game, giving the Penguins the lead for good.

Talbot picked up his second of the game, throwing a shot from the Penguins defensive end into the empty net down ice.

The Penguins take on the Devils on Wednesday at home.

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