Archive for December 2014

Saturday Night Special

Penguins dodge the Rangers

 
 Sidney Crosby battled through rough checking all night, earning three assists for his efforts


New York Rangers (1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (3).........
The Penguins top line of Sidney Crosby(3 assists), Jerome Iginla(1 goal, 2 assists) and Patrick Marleau(2 goals) registered eight points as Pittsburgh dispatched the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
Patrick Marleau scored back-to-back powerplay goals in the first period a little over seven minutes apart, his third and fourth goals of the year. Shots were 9-8 New York after twenty minutes. 
Rookie Curtis McKenzie scored his first WCHL goal at 5:44 of the second period to cut the Pens lead in half. Just over five minutes later Jerome Iginla(2nd) got that one back as he redirected a slap pass from "Sid the Kid" over the shoulder of Hendrik Lundqvist. The Rangers fired eleven shots at Marc-Andre Fleury in the second but only the rookie's shot found mesh.
The third period was played as if the teams already knew the game was over as the shot total for both teams was four shots apiece.
The night got worse for the Rangers as they were told after the game that Andres Lee, who left part way through the second period will miss atleast three weeks with what the team is calling an upper body injury (believed to be a concussion as told by a source close to the Rangers).
Fleury made 23 saves for his eighth win of the season for Pittsburgh.

MOLSON'S 3 STARS:
1 - Patrick Marleau (Pit)........ 2 goals, 4 shots
2 - Sidney Crosby (Pit)......... 3 assists, +1, 2 shots
3 - Jarome Iginla (Pit).......... 1 goal, 2 assists, 2 shots

Both teams are back at it on Monday as the Pens host Steven Stamkos and the Calgary Flames who split a recent home-and-home series with Anaheim, winning the last one 3-2 at home in Cowtown, while the Rangers visit the American Capital to take on captain Chris Phillips and the rest of the Capitals. The Rangers will have to do without Andres Lee for a while as he nurses his concussion, the Rangers have a slew of rookies looking for their chance to show GM Don they can stick with the big club. We'll have to wait and see who they bring up.

Reporting For The WCHL Network......

Peter Puck

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Sens can't rattle Sabres

Luongo pushes Buffalo to win with 31 saves

 
 


Buffalo Sabres (3) vs Ottawa Senators (1).........
The first Saturday night of Season 20 pits the Champion Senators against the Buffalo Sabres who missed out on the big dance in season 19. Both teams were playing their sixth game in seven nights, with the Sens riding a three game win streak.
The Sabres opened the scoring in this game at the 2:00 mark of the middle period as Tom Wandell(1st) scored on a deflection off a shot by Daniel Paille. The shots through two were 20-20.
In the third Paille(1st) scored to double Buffalo's lead on  assists from Wandell and Stephen Gionta at 6:38. The Sens got one back as Keith Yandle(2nd) hammered home a pass from Martin St.Louis, with the second assist going to Corey Perry at 15:08. With less than ninety seconds remaining in regulation Ryan Clowe(3rd) delivered the final blow as he would score on the powerplay at 18:32 to diminish any hope the Sens would have of a come back, and end Otawa's win streak. 
Marty Brodeur made 36 saves in the losss, while his counter-part at the other end stopped 31 shots to improve his record to 3-2. 
The Sabres are off until Monday when they host the Minnesota Wild (4-1-0-0-1). The Sens hope to get back on track on Monday as well as the travel to Columbus to face Jason Spezza and the (3-1-1-0-0-1) BlueJackets. 
MOLSON'S THREE STARS:
1 - Daniel Paille (Buf)........... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 5 shots.
2 - Roberto Luongo (Buf)...... 31 saves 
3 - Tom Wandell (Buf)........... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 2 shots

Reporting For The WCHL Network.......
Peter Puck

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