Penguins Take Game One in 4-0 Win Over Senators

Martin Gerber tries to hide from the Penguins...

The Pittsburgh Penguins jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the series against the rival Ottawa Senators in a 4-0 win Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

This is the sort of game that brings no complaints.  Everything that could've been done right was and everything that could've been done wrong wasn't even touched upon.

Pittsburgh started the scoring just one minute into the game on a Gary Roberts chip-shot in front of the net.  The second goal was by far the prettiest one on the night, as Evgeni Malkin dished a one-timer to Petr Sykora who beat Martin Gerber glove-side.

The second period showed no scoring from either side, but in the third Pittsburgh tagged two more from Malkin and Roberts to seal the deal and pave the way to victory.

The tempers were nothing short of playoff hockey in the third, as gloves dropped and bodies fell in a few end of the game matches.  Ryan Whitney pounded Wade Redden onto the ice like he was Riley Cote.  Seconds later Gary Roberts started a fight with the world and received 16-minutes worth of penalties, including a game misconduct, and skated off to the cheers of another sold-out Mellon Arena crowd.  Even on his way to the dressing room Roberts was picking a fight with Ottawa's Schubert.

Expect teeth to fly on Friday night for game two.

Marc-Andre Fleury was amazing in net.  He wasn't challenged all that often but when he was  Fleury was never short of spectacular.  Pittsburgh's penalty kill really sealed the deal for the Penguins, holding Ottawa 0-5 with the man advantage and 0-2 on the 5-on-3.

If the Penguins keep playing hockey like this, it's not far-fetched to think it'll be a quick four game series.  Will Ottawa's captain Daniel Alfreddson shrug off a tumultuous injury to try and rescue his team from elimination?  Will Ray Emery come back to save the day for a city that has ridiculed him all season long?

We'll find out soon enough.

Game two, Friday at 7pm.

Coming soon: a collection of reactions in the world of Ottawa bloggers.

Read more at Pensburgh.com

Pwinter713Varsity

180 days ago

Score 2

Pens in 3? Is there a mercy rule in hockey?

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

180 days ago

Score 1

haha that's what I was thinking. I think a writer in Ottawa actually said that. Of course he was later chastised and hung in the town square for all to see, but it still went to print.

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DeutscherVarsity Captain

180 days ago

Score 0

Why would Emery have to come back and save the day? Gerber didnt play that bad. The second period was pretty much played in the Ottawa zone and he made some really good saves. Yea he let in two soft goals but he made up for it. His team left him out to dry, talk about no help.

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

180 days ago

Score 0

Well Ottawa is going to need something to motivate around. Whether that means Alfreddson makes a return or they look to switch things up if down 2-0 after two games. A lot of Ottawa fans are already thinking Emery will be in net for the last loss regardless, should it come into play.

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Steel TownAll-American

180 days ago

Score 1

Revenge is soooooo sweet.

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Pittsburgh GunnyDraft Pick

180 days ago

Score 0

Wow what to say other than that was complete and utter domination by the Flightless Ones. Scary Gary was tough as nails and his work with Laraque and Talbot set the tone early in the match.

Oh yeah one of the local sports radio hosts has placed a personal bounty on the head Jason Spezza. A hundred bucks of his own money for the first guy who goes out there and really nails that creep. So don't forget that's the new look Pittsburgh Penguins against the Ottawa Senators this Friday at the War Memorial.

(I just love Slap Shot)

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

180 days ago

Score 0

That's funny, because an Ottawa writer named Don Brennan did the same against Crosby and has been taking heat since. Even other staff writers at the Ottawa Sun have been like, "What an idiot."

Here's the quote:

" Crosby's got a bad RIGHT ankle? How will it stand up to a two-hander? The Senators have to find out. The Penguins obviously wanted Ottawa over the Broadstreet Bullies. The defending Eastern Conference champs should feel a great sense of disrespect. They should be insulted -- even more so than in being referred to as purse swingers -- and they should respond in kind."

And here's the full article: http://www.o...896-sun.html

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Pittsburgh GunnyDraft Pick

180 days ago

Score 0

Yeah I heard about that idiot writer up there in the Great White North. Many of the media seem to be distancing themselves from him.

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Pwinter713Varsity

180 days ago

Score 1

Spent a few minutes listening to Ottawa sports radio this morning...they're still drinking the purple kool-aid up there...realized they can't talk about the game so they've taken to bashing Pens fans.

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Pittsburgh GunnyDraft Pick

180 days ago

Score 1

WWGRD

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Steel TownAll-American

180 days ago

Score 0

I want a WWGRD shirt.

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

180 days ago

Score 0

It seems to be the course of action for anything coming out of Ottawa. Never mind the fact they can't sell out their games: http://pensb...0/182740/308 As for WWGRD - I'd say he'd most likely score a goal, bang each hosts' wife for a hat trick and rack up 20 minutes in unsportsmanlike conduct calls by going on the air and cursing his pads off.

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J-DawgVarsity Captain

180 days ago

Score 0

Wow, what a great game(that is if you are a Penguins fan). Plenty of goals, great goaltending, and fights. The only thing that I'm worried about if I'm a Penguins fan is Crosby blocking shots. I understand how much of a competitor he is, but if he takes a shot off the ankle, he's going to be a competitor in the stands. The only thing I'm 'not' worried about if i'm a Senators fan is...........I got nothing.(Also I sincerely hope that Anton Volchenkov is okay. That was a nasty shot he took to the face.)

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

180 days ago

Score 0

That's oddly enough how he broke his toe/fractured his foot at the end of the season last year. A lot of people love to taunt him for 'diving' or 'crying' but very few could even walk on a fractured foot without complaining, let alone play five games of playoff hockey (and score goals).

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