-You asked Santa for Pittsburgh, Caps fans? You effing got them. What a game. I always feel suspenseful and nervous when we play these guys. This time, it was a little different.
-First off all, Flower, from the very beginning, was absolutely on. If we were playing a team like the Panthers again, he’s got a shutout. We have him to thank for the two points tonight. This is a blowout by the end of the second without him.
-The Caps looked off. You could tell that they were more rested than the Pens, but their star players just don’t play a complete game. If their big guns would get their heads out their asses and realize that, despite their big paychecks, they’re missing something, they would win the Cup. In the mean time, I’m enjoying watching them obliviously think that they’re the best.
-In addition to Flower, our D was fantastic. I know, I know, the tying goal, but hey, if you’re only giving up one bad goal a game and you’re as offensively gifted as the Pens are, you can afford that goal. Michalek and Orpik really stood out to me. Both were physical and mean to the Caps stars.
-Sid did his thing. As Kevin Weekes said tonight, the only problem for the Caps (and the rest of the league, for that matter) is, Sid’s thing is everything. You know, the Caps did a pretty good job defending him, but he definitely made the most of his chances and that’s what great players do.
-On the flip side, we saw the Ovi we’ve been seeing this season. A guy who’s ready to explode offensively at any moment, but refuses to change his game even when teams have figured out how to defend him. If our Captain was ever underappreciated by any of you, all you’ve got to do is watch a Washington game to see how one extremely talented player refuses to change his ways even when it’s painfully obvious opponents have figured him out. Even still, his presence in the top 10 in scoring is a testament to how supremely gifted Ovi really is. But it’s that extra motivation to be the best that separate’s our Captain from his rival.
-How about our PK? Yeah, I know we gave up a goal, but it was their defense that kept us in this game.
-Our PP was playing it safe and just trying to control the puck, but our D men got too non-chalant and it resulted in a goal.
-Who got the goal? Who else but Mike Knuble, who has killed the Pens in his career.
-I loved the overall physicality that the Pens showed in this game. They let every Caps star know that they were there tonight. I don’t want to sound terrible here, but we exposed the softness of the Caps and exploited it.
-Speaking of Caps stars, Green got a goal, but wasn’t all that good, in my opinion.
-I loved what I saw from Talbot tonight—lots of energy.
-Geno was kind of quiet, but he wasn’t bad. Usually, either he has a good game where he demands the puck or he has a bad game where he gives it away. Not tonight. He was kind of quiet, but picked it up and made some nice plays towards the end of play.
-Again, I loved Michalek. He was blocking everything in sight and was surprisingly physical.
-I have to give the Caps credit—they were really aggressive. The Pens had a tough time getting it out of their own zone on a breakout and had a tough time establishing puck possession in the Caps zone as well. That was the best aspect of the Caps game.
-The first and Buzz lines worked really well. The first line was really involved especially. Sid did his thing, Kuni chipped in with a goal, and Duper won it in the shootout.
-What a Merry Christmas it will be, as the Pens have the most points in the national hockey league and #87 continues his assault on the league! Have a good Christmas, everyone!
Sorry, but I think the 24/7 "My Thoughts" will have to come tomorrow or after Christmas.
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