The Penguins got back on the right track tonight after a two game skid, winning 6-1 against Phoenix. Malkin tied a career high with 5 points(2G and 3A), and Crosby added a goal and two assists to run his league point scoring streak to 21 games. This is one shy of the longest streak in the NHL since the lockout. How about this for symmetry? In the twenty game streak Crosby has 21 goals, and 21 assists for 42 points. Geno has gotten very hot with 5 goals in his 3 games since his return. I like the fact that the Pens also got secondary scoring with Letang adding a goal and an assist, and Cooke and Connor each adding a goal. Special teams were key as the referees must had a taste of Dave's Tip pet before the game, calling 8 penalties on the Pens, at least one of which(the Kunitz high stick on Upshall) was not even close, and many others including the delay of game on Fleury were odd and the types rarely called. The Pens killed off all 8 including two extended 5 on 3's. This was the chance for the Coyotes to take advantage of the gifts to get back in the game, but players like Dupuis, Cooke and Adams shut them down. The Pens' power play chipped in with 3 goals to make the special teams truly the difference tonight? Lost in the fireworks is the fact that Fleury held firm during the first period when Phoenix had 16 shots but no goals. This gave them the chance to stay in it, and ultimately blow the game open. In addition, Deryk Engelland dropped Taylor Pyatt and knocked him into next week during a fight in the third period. What was going through Pyatt's mind when he dropped the gloves with Engelland?? Well, it was Engelland's fist of course! The Flyers finally cooled down losing 5-0 tonight to Florida, leaving the Pens three points behind the Flyers with a game in hand and the same number of victories. The race in the Atlantic should be great this season!
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