The Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars played a high event game which was entertaining. After it was all said and done the Penguins fans probably found it more entertaining. The Penguins defeated the Stars by a score of 6-2. The game play was closer than the score indicated. It wasn't until the latter portion of the third period when the Penguins exploded for three goals and pulled away.

Sidney Crosby is the best. He continues to make plays that leave you astonished. His latest goal was scored behind the net ala Mario Lemieux except he upped the ante and decided to bat the puck in off of the goaltenders back. Here is the incredible goal.



I may have to come up with a new hashtag #SidDownLower for goals like that. There really isn't much you can do from a defending standpoint and what makes that goal even more frustrating for Dallas is that it was in the last minute of the second period to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead. A lead that was never relinquished.

Crosby also added two assists on the night. He now has 16 goals in 16 games with nine assists. In the last two games he has recorded four assists which almost add up to half his season total. The assists were always going to come. They are a staple in Crosby's production. His 25 points trail Connor McDavid for the league lead by nine. Watch your back, Connor.

Marc-Andre Fleury played a strong game. He stopped 33 out of the 35 shots Dallas was able to throw on net. After giving up ten goals in his past two starts Fleury has to feel a sense of relief with this quality outing.

Fleury's counterpart, Antti Niemi, did not have a great night. He let in five goals on 39 shots. No team pays more and gets less at the goaltending position than Dallas. The money spent and the caliber of play they get for it is one of the big things holding back the Stars from being a dominant team in the league.

For some reason Jake Guentzel was scratched last night. I can't find the logic in it. In his young NHL career of five games he has three goals and an assist. He is the team leader in 5v5 points per 60 at 3.87 (small sample size) and is a 53.7% possession player. His three goals on the year are only surpassed by Sidney Crosby (16), Evgeni Malkin (9), Phil Kessel (6), Conor Sheary (6), Patric Hornqvist (6), and Matt Cullen (4). He should be a regular in the lineup considering what some of the other options are.

Conor Sheary has been tremendous this year. He and Sidney Crosby are starting to form some chemistry and the results have been great. When Sheary and Crosby play together they control 61.8% of the play. In 17 games Sheary has a 5v5 points per 60 of 3.26 which is excellent. It is hard not to think about how many undersized players like Sheary have been passed over throughout the years just because they were short. Sheary has the ability to play the right or left side and that will come in handy when the Penguins are at full health and are trying to figure out line combos. For now I wouldn't have Sheary leave Crosby's side.

It's been four games since Olli Maatta was able to crack the 50% possession barrier and he only has one assist on the year which came on October 29th. Possession isn't what I would consider a strength of Maatta, but offensive production at even-strength has been. If he isn't going to add to the offensive attack he is going to have to drive play. Right now he's doing neither. Derrick Pouliot is back with the team after his conditioning assignment with WB/S. If Maatta is going to be held to the same standard as Pouliot he will get a night off.

Penguins play the Detroit Red Wings tomorrow night. They aren't the same Red Wings that were dominating and cruising to Stanley Cup Final appearances. They are the league's second worst possession team and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in forever.

Thanks for reading!

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