Third Period:

What a way to start the third period... Ryan Getzlaf took a couple of extra shots at Bill Guerin in the Ducks zone after he fell down. Guerin answered by catching up to him as they skated up ice and laying a check on him. Getzlaf, who has seemed pretty frustrated tonight, didn't seem to appreciate it and started slashing Guerins stick. The duo eventually exploded into a cloud of gloves and helmets as they got embroiled in their Flay-like throwdown.

Both went to the box - five for fighting...

* * * * *

Martin Skoula just got his first of the season. He took a pass from Ben Lovejoy and let a wrist shot fly through traffic. The puck found the twine behind Giguere who didn't seem to see it until it was on the way out of the net.

Skoula almost seemed surprised by the goal himself and brought a hearty fist pump in celebration...

4-1 Penguins...

* * * * *

The Penguins find themselves on the power play again. George Parros was whistled for tripping Deryk Engelland as they were headed up the ice.

* * * * *

The Ducks got the kill, but not without having to deal with some hardcore opportunities from Malkin, Crosby and company. They worked the puck around the zone well, freeing up their points for shots. They just couldn't finish a play.

* * * * *

It looked as if Jay Mckee was just injured during his last shift. As the play went back up ice, he skated to the bench bent over and looking like a hurting soul.

He is back on the ice and seems to be fine...thankfully! This blue line can ill afford to lose another...

* * * * *

James Wisniewski was just whistled for interference off of a face off in the Penguins zone. Back on the power play they go...

* * * * *

The power play didn't get much going until the waning moments... Crosby and Malkin stayed on for a bit of an extended shift and Malkin found Crosby crossing the blue line. Sid walked in and unleashed a slap shot that went over Giguere's head, missing the net.

Moments later, Jordan Staal and Chris Bourque got what amounted to a two on one. They worked the puck into the zone, with Bourque sliding a pass to Staal... Jordo didn't get a strong shot off, but hit the net. The rebound came loose, he followed it and pushed it back on Giguere... a third rebound came loose and Bourque tucked it back into Giguere.

Nice effort...

* * * * *

We are sitting at 6 minutes remaining in the period and I will be heading down to the rooms shortly... there may be an additional update, but if not stay tuned for more post game....

* * * * *

The Ducks fought back and scored a late goal to pull within two... Teemu Selanne scored from the left point with a slap shot that looked to deflect off of a Penguins defender before bouncing into the net.

The Penguins pushed the score to 5-2 late in the period when Jordan Staal got the puck across to Matt Cooke, as the duo were coming up ice on an empty net.

Overall a great performance by a team that was playing with many new faces. The young defensemen did a great job of filling the void... Ben Lovejoy had one of his better games in a Penguins jersey and Deryk Engelland picked up his first NHL point on a nice lead pass for Staal's shorty.

Great win by a team that really needed one. Stay tuned for more tomorrow...

Second Period:

Chris Bourque finally got on the stat sheet, unfortunately it was for a high sticking penalty. He clipped Nick Boynton behind the Ducks net. The Ducks are on the power play and the PK is still struggling to get it out of the zone...

They just got a big clear with :41 seconds remaining on the penalty...

Moments later, Jordan Staal almost got himself a short handed break away... he didn't get the bounce, but Deryk Engelland picked up the puck and sprung Staal anyway... Jordo walked in like the Big Bird he is, made a quick deke before firing the puck over the shoulder of JS Giguere... a short handed goal.

Huge for the team to pull back into a two goal lead and huge for Jordan Staal's confidence.

* * * * *

The Ducks have had themselves a productive period and have taken the lead in the shot department. Marc Andre Fleury has come a long way from the early moments of this game where he had allowed one goal on two shots. He has made no less than four great saves in this period. The crowd here at Mellon Arena just rewarded him with a Fleury chant...

6:42 remaining in the second period... the Penguins lead 3-1...

* * * * *

The Penguins will be back on the defensive as Eric Godard was whistled for tripping. Power play for the Ducks...

* * * * *

Jordan Staal almost had himself another breakaway while killing a penalty. He got up the ice on a mini two on one, but took it himself...walking the Ducks defenseman with a slick forehand move and almost getting past him. The puck slid into the goal mouth area, where Giguere was able to cover it for the face-off.

* * * * *

The Two-Headed Monster is in rare form tonight...they just combined to give Scott Niedermayer some headaches in his own zone. They pressured him and caused a couple of turnovers. As they wheeled around the zone looking for an opportunity to get the puck on net, Ryan Getzlaf took his second penalty of the game...

Pens on the power play...

* * * * *

Chris Bourque came within an eye lash of scoring the goal that I called earlier. Mark Letestu made the play from beneath the goal line. He saw Bourque breaking into the slot and slid a very nice pass right into his wheel house. Bourque fired just wide, but the shot looked like it would have found the back of the net had he gotten it a hair to the right.

First Period:

The Penguins came out of the gates with some hop and Sidney Crosby immediately got a great scoring chance from the high slot. He walked the puck down the wing and cut into the high slot, where he fired a snap shot that caught Giguere off guard.

* * * * *

Moments later, Matt Cooke got himself a gift, as the Ducks turned the puck over to him in the same area that Crosby got his chance. Cooke walked laterally across the slot and flipped a backhander past Giguere. Giguere didn't seem to know where the puck was and reacted very late.

1-0 Penguins

* * * * *

The Penguins got themselves a power play and that new look unit got a chance to work. It didn't look too bad, as they worked the puck around the zone. Malkin looks a lot more comfortable on the point than he used too. He is also shooting the puck...

* * * * *

The Ducks got themselves the kill, but quickly took another penalty for too many men on the ice. The Penguins power play had several great chances before Bill Guerin finally broke their 0-30 streak and cashed from the high slot. He took a feed from Sidney Crosby and one timed it past Giguere, who again seemed a bit out of sorts.

2-0 Penguins...

* * * * *

Ryan Getlaf just got whistled for a hook and the Penguins are back on the power play...can they make up for their health issues with two power play goals in one game???

* * * * *

The Penguins got themselves caught in a change and Cory Perry sprung Todd Marchant in behind the defense for a the short handed breakaway. Marchant went to the backhand and pushed the puck behind Marc Andre Fleury.

It looked as if there was some kind of miscommunication and Ben Lovejoy was late getting over the boards which set up the odd man situation.

2-1 Penguins

* * * * *

The Penguins just got called for their first penalty of the night, as Deryk Engelland was whistled for a rough.

The defensive injuries are definitely taking their toll on the PK unit... the boys they have been employed are having some problems getting the puck out of the zone.

They did get the kill though...

* * * * *

Evgeni Malkin just had a glowing chance in front of the net and Giguere robbed him. Sidney Crosby got the pass to him in front on the net and he just tried to shovel it into the net...great chance, but a better save...

* * * * *

The first is in the books and the Penguins can hold their heads up...sure, they allowed a shorty, but overall, they played a great period. Especially when you consider who is out there tonight.

The young defensive core is holding its own and the team is generating plenty of scoring chances. They put nine shots on goal and probably could have had a couple more goals if not for the play of JS Giguere who made some great saves.

It is still mind blowing to see the energy with which this team hits the ice with when Evgeni Malkin is in the line-up. It doesn't matter which player we are referring too at the time...they just look faster when he is playing. I guess it goes hand in hand with what Dan Bylsma said last game about Malkin opening up the ice for everyone. He presses the defense and keeps them on their toes, allowing line-mates to have more space.

More shortly...

Pre-Game:

In the immortal words of Weezer.... "Saaaay it ain't soooo!" I knew that they were wearing their thirds tonight, but seeing them hit the ice in them and knowing the injury situation just doesn't give me high hopes! We can hope that some of the momentum generated with Saturday's late game heroics will carry over and inspire the Wilkes Barre-Scranton call ups to play the games of their lives!

As some of the folks in the comments sections said, the defense doesn't look like a unit that is going to be very dominant, but we have to give it a chance. Also, let's realize that we are only dealing with it for a few games...I have a sneaky suspicion that Sergei Gonchar will be back sooner, rather than later and that will be a much needed boost.

I can deal with the defensive pairings for the time being, but I would love to see Max Talbot, Tyler Kennedy, or Chris Kunitz make their returns so that Jordan Staal and Bill Guerin can get themselves a more effective winger. Chris Bourque just isn't warranting the ice time he is getting with the second line. Granted, he is only playing about ten minutes a game, but in those ten minutes he is doing nothing to boost the offense.

Don't get me wrong, he is full of energy and plays a great north/south game... but speed skating doesn't win hockey games. I keep waiting for him to find his way. Maybe a goal will jump start him? He has had some glowing chances, but has yet to cash in. I think the time has come and it is tonight! Pencil him in for at least an assist.

Marc Andre Fleury will make his triumphant return to the Penguins net this evening and he is looking sharp in the warm up. That is a good thing, because he is going to need to be until these defensive pairings get themselves acclimated with one another.

Dan Bylsma said that the line-up will be more of a work in progress, in that he will juggle the lines and D pairings based on game situations until he finds the best roles for people. One constant will be the Two-Headed Monster... Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin skating on the same line paid immediate dividends against the Bruins and I am sure it will be effective again tonight. It is a sure fire way to generate offense while the line-up is upside down. Putting the two stars together is always great in short doses and a short dose is all that they need to hold them over until their wounded Birds start returning top the flock.

I just spent some time with Boomer Gordon on XM Home Ice and the thinking around the league is that the Penguins are jinxed... so much so, that players who don't even play here anymore aren't safe. Boom was referring to the fact that both Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi are out hurt now as well.

A small part of me was slightly tentative coming into the building tonight, as I am afriad that I may also find myself out for two weeks with an undisclosed injury...

Obviously I am live at Mellon Arena...please join me here and in the comments section throughout the evening.

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