Pens lose 4-1

Well, tonight brought that quality opponent.........and a loss.  The game was much closer than the 4-1 score would indicate.  It was a well played game by both teams that had the Wings up only 2-1 with five minutes to play.  Dan Cleary scored with just under five minutes left to ice the win at 3-1, then again into an empty net to make the game look a lot more lopsided than it was.  The difference again was special teams.  The Pens formerly stellar PK unit again gave up a power play goal, while the Penguins' power play unit failed to score on four power play chances, including two in the third period.  Evgeni Malkin who scored a goal with only 5 seconds left in the first period, on an assist from James Neal and Brooks Orpik, played like the Geno from 2009.  He was all over the ice and could have had four goals with a little luck tonight.  I thought James Neal also played a strong game up front for the Penguins.  The team could have used a bit more from Jordan Staal, and frankly I would not have known Tyler Kennedy was playing tonight if I did not read the scratch list.  It was a well played game up until the latter stages of period 3, but the Penguins came out on the short end of it, largely based on special teams play.  I think the PK unit is missing Zybnek Michalek and Kris Letang just a bit.  Friday night, the Pens play in Ottawa, then return home Saturday to face Buffalo.  Time to get back in the W column Friday night!