March 24, 2015

Blues 3, Penguins 2, OT ⁷⁹

by Dejan Kovacevic • Game previews • Tags: Penguins

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Getting ready for faceoff …

Game: Penguins (40-22-10) vs. St. Louis Blues (45-21-7), 7:08 p.m., Consol Energy Center

Goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (32-16-7,vs. Jake Allen (18-6-4, 2.46)

TV, radio: Root Sports, 105.9 the X

Online: GameCenter / Multimedia / Official game notes

UPDATE 6:31 p.m.: Neither Evgeni Malkin nor Patric Hornqvist has taken the ice with the Penguins for pregame warmups. Looks like Mike Johnston will dress Derrick Pouliot and go with seven defensemen.

6:48 p.m.: And it’s now official, all of the above.

7:14 p.m.: There goes Christian Ehrhoff again. Slammed into the end boards by Vladimir Tarasenko, his visor making contact with the wood, he was visibly dazed, then helped off the rink. Given his recent concussion issues, this isn’t good.

Chris Kunitz, shown Saturday in Arizona, has no points in eight games, one goal in 23. — GETTY

79 Comments Newest to oldest

3-24-2015, 5:42 pm

Should be interesting to see which Pens team shows up...the one from the first period against the Coyotes, or the one from the second and third.

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove

3-24-2015, 5:51 pm

When was the last time Penguins played 3 complete periods? Seriously!

Not in March! In February? In 2014? Since November?

Jay Baileys

3-24-2015, 6:13 pm

Considering their top 2 scorers out over a week, I'd say the Anaheim game, haha.

SC Yinzer

3-24-2015, 6:40 pm

Remember how psyched we were at the beginning of the year when the Pens were lighting the lamp with amazing regularity? I yearn for the days when the Pens were a struggling team jus finding their way, and every trip to the play-offs was something to be relished and thoroughly enjoyed....instead of the spoiled fans we've become.
Try to find someone in South Carolina excited about Hurricanes hockey...

PucknutZ

3-24-2015, 7:23 pm

Ya Yinzer, admittedly we are spoiled. And as DK notes:
" the state of Penguins fandom has reached the point of hyper-hyperbolic".
I agree w/that to a point, but we ain't all bridge jumpers yet. lol
We do have the luxury of dissecting almost every shift for even the slightest miscue and expecting near perfection from every player, highly skilled or not.
Not necessarily a bad thing. I think it points to at least a core of knowledgeable and somewhat sophisticated fan base that has seen some pretty darn good hockey over the last few years and gotten used to it and expects it.
I am old enough to remember the days you speak of and although the anticipation and nail-biting was sorta fun, I do like this better.
Still "relish and thoroughly enjoy" every trip to the play-offs.
Ain't nuttin like playoff hockey.
GO PENS!

A. Lane

3-24-2015, 6:42 pm

The Penguins are playing a hockey game, but somehow it will end up as a referendum on the entire organization.

mike

3-24-2015, 6:43 pm

HCMJ said in recent media questions it would be interesting to see how the team reacts after a road trip and a couple days off. Maybe we will see a decent start. Lapierrer played his best for the Pens just thefts couple games. Should be good to see. Poulliot will bring more offense than any available system forward also.

Gene Z

3-24-2015, 7:02 pm

I expect the Blues to come out flying after a tough OT loss Sun at DET. Both Wings goals were sketchy -- the first where play should've been halted after a STL defender took a puck to the face, and the game winner scored with a broken stick.

Milo Hamilton

3-24-2015, 7:08 pm

If they want the fans to sing the Anthem so badly, why don't they just hire an organist and be done with it ?

3-24-2015, 7:36 pm

Here is an idea, not sure it would popular, is it really necessary to have the national anthem before every sporting event?

3-24-2015, 7:38 pm

Some traditions must not die. And this is one of them.

3-24-2015, 7:51 pm

I'm fine with playing it for bigger events but the ubiquity of national anthem kind of cheapens the impact, that is how I feel others can certainly disagree.

Justin

3-24-2015, 7:17 pm

Can Ehrhoff catch a break?

3-24-2015, 8:02 pm

He's the new BB

Well Ehrhoff lasted a whole 5 minutes. So much for that 7 defenseman thing.

3-24-2015, 8:01 pm

Imagine if only 6 to start with.

Durka

3-24-2015, 7:20 pm

Pouliot on a wing would've been awesome

3-24-2015, 7:30 pm

Next time I criticize the NFL for completely selling out for offense, someone please remind of this. I thank you kindly in advance.

3-24-2015, 7:41 pm

Good God do I cringe every time Reaves takes a run at somebody

3-24-2015, 7:47 pm

That's 6 straight games the Penguins haven't scored in the first period.

3-24-2015, 7:49 pm

There were 10 shots in the first period. That's both teams combined of course.

Dejan Kovacevic

3-24-2015, 7:50 pm

Blues 3, Penguins 2, OT 79

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Blues 3, Penguins 2, OT ⁷⁹