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Penguins & Lightning Stars Don't Disappoint, Crosby Hat Trick, Pens Win 5-4

October 12, 2013, 10:45 PM ET [45 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
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The Pittsburgh Penguins were able to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 powered by Captain Sidney Crosby’s hat trick. This is the second hat trick of the year that has helped the Penguins in earning a victory, the first being Jussi Jokinen against the Hurricanes.
This game featured some of the best offensive talent in the NHL and did not disappoint. Crosby, Stamkos, St. Louis, and Malkin were all able to find the score sheet and have an impact on the game.

Here are the highlights:



The Lightning put themselves in a situation to win the game by entering the third period with the lead but the Penguins outscored the Lightning 3-1 in the period to take the game. The game was won on a Matt Niskanen PP one timer that was put on a platter by a beautiful Malkin saucer pass.

The reason the Penguins were on the power play was because Richard Panik took a very bad tripping penalty in the offensive zone behind the play. Hockey can be a cruel sport as Panik was the guy who made a special play to get the Lightning to tie the game just minutes earlier.

As you can see in the chart, the flow of the game was pretty even until the Penguins decided to step it up in the third period and start to control the game.




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The Crosby hat trick was able to put on full display all the different ways that Sidney Crosby can beat you. Incredibly skilled puck handling in traffic, check. Quality tipping skills, check. Blast from the slot, check.

Crosby has always done well scoring goals when he gets near the goal cage which is why it made me very happy to see the Penguins utilizing him closer to the goal during their power play opportunity’s tonight. Crosby scored two power play goals tonight. Crosby scoring goals on the power play has not been commonplace the last 20 or so games as Sid has only had 1 power play goal.

The switch to the goal line/slot area provided him the opportunity to utilize his skill in tight areas and it led directly to goals. Malkin is more than capable of playing the half wall and by putting Crosby down low it will force the Penguins to use the whole zone instead of just near the blue line. I hope this is a wrinkle that sticks around for a while as I think it will pay dividends if consistently used.


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Beau Bennett may have found himself in the dog house as his ice time was not near what it has been in previous games. Bennett played a team low 6:05 and it is unknown if it was injury related or coach’s decision at this point. If it was a coach’s decision I imagine it stems from some of Bennett’s zone entries tonight where he got cute deferring the puck which led to a few turnovers. However, I believe that Bennett has earned the right to play through those mistakes and deserves to be consistently on the ice.
Chuck Kobasew was called on to replace Bennett on the Malkin/Jokinen line.


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Paul Martin had some rough patches in his game tonight. One of the better plays he made was actually when he took a penalty down in front of the Penguins net. He used his free hand to grab a hold of the Lighting player’s stick in order to prevent a goal scoring chance right in front of the net.

However it was Martin’s play on the PK that allowed the Lightning to tie the game. The Penguins won the faceoff clean and Martin shanked his clearing attempt and the Lightning were able to generate more zone time. While there was no goal scored on that sequence it was an indicator that Martin was a bit off because the next sequence it was his man (Killorn) who won the race to the front of the net and scored the tying goal.

Can’t say I am too worried about it though, Paul Martin is very good and those kind of plays will be the exception to the rule.


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Olli Maatta was called on a pretty ticky tack interfence call for his first ever NHL penalty. If the NHL continues to enforce that standard of interference I’m not sure how the Detroit Red Wings plan on surviving moving forward.


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Sidney Crosby is currently in the league lead for points with 9. Depending on how the late games finish up tonight, he could still be tied for the lead come morning.


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Marc Andre Fleury was guilty of giving up 4 goals but I didn’t leave the game thinking he played a poor game. The Lightning were able to make some pretty good plays in order to score their goals. When St. Louis and Stamko are allowed to play catch in the slot area I’m not so sure many goalies are going to stand a chance. The fourth goal for Tampa was also a slam dunk in which Fleury really had no chance on.
So far Fleury have played at an acceptable level this year, its up to the guy in front of him to live up to their end of the bargain.


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Robert Bortuzzo was a healthy scratch but do not read into it. The Penguins wanted to give Deryk Engelland a game and the elected to play Maatta over Bortuzzo. Bortuzzo has done a really nice job so far this season and he should not feel as though his job is in question, at least from Engelland.


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Craig Adams did one of the things that he does best. He got his butt kicked in a fight. Adams wasted no time as he went against Ryan Malone right off the opening draw. Malone left him bloodied. Par for the course as it pertains to Craig Adams and fights.


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Some of the Penguins defense that are not known for the offensive skills got in on the action this evening. Brooks Orpik scored his first regular season goal since Nov. 21, 2011 against the Islanders.

Rob Scuderi also found his way on the scoresheet via assist and that is his first point with the Penguins in the regular season since April 9, 2009, also against the Islanders.


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The Penguins don’t have their next game until Tuesday night when they will butt heads with the young and exciting Edmonton Oilers.

That is all for now

Thanks for reading!

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