Pens fall to Caps 3-2 in shootout

What a day for Penguins hockey. First, one of my favorite players Chris Kunitz signs a 2 year extension that will keep him a Penguin through the 2013-14 season. His average salary will be the same as the contract he was under prior to the extension. Great signing if you ask me. Grit, forecheck, character, hitting, and 20 plus goals per year. After hearing that news, it was announced that Sidney

Crosby is now cleared for contact, more than 10 months after his concussion. I cannot wait to see 87 on the ice for the Penguins again. His first home game back will be EPIC! Now for the game. Kind of a bummer. Don't get me wrong, it was a great game to watch, and the Penguins still have 8 of 10 possible points to start the season, BUT they should have won this game. First, give credit where it is due. Tomas Vokoun was the difference in this game. The Penguins threw 41 shots at him, and onlhy two got behind him. Great game for him. The Penguins opened the scoring when the Real Deal James Neal tallied his third of the year, after a pretty play by both Malkin and Sullivan. They just look great together. I really like to watch Sullivan play. Early in the second period Knuble, who has scored in 13 straight games against the Penguins comes out of the corner and beats Johnson to tie the game. Later, in the period the Caps take the lead 2-1 after the Grape Ape deflects a shot from Vespa girl behind Johnson. After watching several flat Penguins power plays, it appeared as if the Penguins were going to lose their first game in regulation until Neal tallied again LATE in period three to tie it. Neal scored off a feed by Malkin and Kunitz, giving Geno his second assist of the night, and Kunitz his 100th point as a Penguin. The game goes into overtime, and a little more than halfway through the period Staal gets called for tripping Ovechkin, and ultimately on their lone power play, the Caps end the game with a goal by Dennis Wideman. All in all, the point is a good pickup, but this game was winnable. The power play looked bad at times, though it did generate the game tying goal. The PK was dormant all night, but failed in its one mission, a 4 on 3 in OT. Staal looked like his hands were made of stone. On the positive, Geno did not like a man with a knee issue, as he was scary good at times with the puck tonight. James Neal was a beast again, and with 4 goals in 5 games, we are seeing what it was that made us all salivate when the deal was done. He is strong, gets to the net, and man does he have a quick and powerful release. I thought Kunitz was a beast all night, as was Sullivan. At any rate, the special teams, and a monster effort by Vokoun were the difference tonight. Take the point and prepare for a tough Buffalo team on Saturday night.