The Penguins ran their season record to 8-2-2, beating New York 3-2 in a shootout for their fifth straight win. The injury riddled Penguins have managed to get points in 10 of their 12 games this season. Tonight's game marked the first regular season game since April 3rd, 2010 that the Penguins came from behind in the third period after trailing by two or more goals. The Pens looked like they had taken the lead on a power play goal by Jordan Staal in the first period, but the goal was waved off due to incidental contact between Matt Cooke and Evgeni Nabokov. As it turned out the Islanders took a 1-0 lead into the third period, then Matt Martin scored a dirty goal in front of the net to put the Islanders up 2-0. Then the comeback began. Chris Kunitz got his third goal of the season from Pascal Dupuis and Kris Letang, to get the Pens to within one goal at 2-1. Then, on a power play, James Neal nailed his 9th goal of the season on a snap shot, assisted by Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin. The goal tied the game 2-2, put Neal in a tie again with Phil Kessel atop the league in goal scoring, and gave Chris Kunitz his second point of the night. What a beautiful Malkin to Kunitz to Neal tic tac toe play! Neither team could score the rest of the way, or in overtime and the game went to a shootout. Nabokov was replaced by Rick the Prick DiPietro due to a lower body injury. The only person to score in the shootout was Evgeni Malkin, on a beautiful play in tight. Fleury was perfect in the shootout, running his season record to 7-2-0, and his career shootout record to 29-15. Fleury has now stopped 21 of his last 22 shots in the shootout, including 14 in a row. Fleury leads the league in wins with 7. Some other notes include the fact that the Penguins are 8-0 this year when they score 3 or more goals, the penalty kill is now 36 of 37 for the year, including 35 of 35 in 5 on 4 situations. We all know what a season James Neal is having, with 9 goals and an assist. Right behind him though, is Jordan Staal with 6 goals and 3 assists, and Super Duper with 3 goals and 6 assists, both with 9 points. I thought it was significant how the Penguins quickly answered the Isles once they went up by two goals, breaking a rather dubious streak for such an accomplished team. Marc Andre Fleury stood TALL in the third to keep it tied as well. Next up, Toronto on the road Saturday. Go Pens!
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