Pens win third in a row in shootout 2-1

If you did not see the game, but see the score, you may think hmmmmm boring game right? You would be wrong.  In a very free flowing up and down skating game, both goaltenders stood on their head as Ward made 40 saves on 41shots, and Fleury made 25 of 26, many of which were quality chances in tight. The save on Staal to end the second period was BIG.  And the save at the end of regulation on Jokkinen who was supposed to be hurt was epic. Finally, his save on Eric Staal who beat Martin badly for a clean look in overtime was a thing of beauty. The game had two pretty entertaining tussles with Engelland getting the edge on Tim Gleason in a fight where both were throwing punches like crazy, and then late in the third Joe Vitale and Tim Brent had a good go as well.  The teams were hitting like crazy, with Kunitz crushing former Flyer Andreas Nodl against the boards, and Brooks Orpik knocking Jeff Skinner into next week with a great open ice hit.  Of course, the garage league referees reacted to the fact that Skinner lay prone on the ice to dish out a phantom interference call on Orpik. Even the Carolina announcers called a clean open ice hit.  By the way, Orpik has been a MONSTER since he called out the team several games ago. Good leadership by you Brooks, eh?  Deryk Engelland continued his solid, physical play as well.  Pascal Dupuis who has not scored a goal in 8 games had at least 5 great looks with shots on the net, and Paul Martin had several chances to put the puck in the net.  Joe Vitale was handing out checks like it was the first of the month.  The two leading shooters in the NHL Neal, and Malkin were getting great looks and rubber on the net all night.  And the Malkin goal was a thing of beauty.  Late in the first, down 1-0, Geno gets a good shot on Ward, who makes the save and the puck comes out to Eric Staal.  Malkin takes advantage of a Staal miscue to steal the puck and roof one on Ward in 0 space!  Great goal!  He was assisted on the goal by Matt Niskanen (14) and Paul Martin (12).  The next two periods did not have any scoring, but you saw two hungry, gritty teams trade chances and big hits up and down the ice all night long.  Then in the OT period both teams had chances to win it in OT, with Martin having a glorious chance late.  Then in the shootout Malkin beats Ward, Jokkinen beats Fleury, Neal rips a wicked wrister to give the Pens a 2-1 lead in the shootout, then Fleury stops Eric Staal to seal the victory!  Some other game notes.  Evgeni Malkin has now scored 7 of the last 13 Penguins goals, a pretty amazing Hartlike performance.  The Penguins have killed 11 of 12 Carolina power plays this season.  This was the first shootout for the Penguins in 29 games, the last, a 3-2 win on November 5th in Los Angeles.  In closing, this game was won for three reasons despite an insanely great game by Cam Ward.  The Penguins big guns Malkin especially delivered when necessary, Fleury was a wall himself, and the Penguins played gritty down n dirty hockey.  Malkin is playing at 2009 Geno level right now.  That is FUN to watch.  More importantly, the victory tonight put the Penguins in 7th place with 52 points.  Next up is three big conference games starting Thursday in New York, Friday at home against Montreal and a Sunday matinee against the Craps.   Go Pens!