Nikman's Three Stars: 3. Kris Letang. 2. Jordan Staal. 1. Matt Niskanen.
+ Matt Niskanen showing off with a PPG and Assist Jordan Staal and Kris Letang got 2 points each. Malkin got in to a "fight" and got his first goal of the season
Penguins had a long off-season after losing three playoff matches in a row and being eliminated by the Lightning in Game 7 of the first round last season. They were hungry for win.
While Penguins where eliminated, The Canucks beat the Blackhawks in a Game 7 Overtime in the first round and went on to beat Nashville and San Jose to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history. Last time they were in the Finals they lost to New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 7 1994. Fans were rioting in the streets of Vancouver that night.
17 years in the future. Stanley Cup Final 2011 Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins. Bruins who already had two game seven matches heading in to this series. After Bruins tied the Series 3-3 it was time for a Game 7 for the canucks this time, only diffrence. This one was in Vancouver. Vancouver lost Game 7 again. But this time they lost by 4-0. Fans were rioting again and it was like never before.
Canucks great playoff-run ended in a car crash. Under the off-season The Canucks lost one member of their roster. Rick Rypien, a 27 year old center for the team killed himself after battling depression for a while. The team was hungry for a win after losing Game 7 and want to give a tribute to Rick with a win. This wasen't going to be an easy game.
1st Period 05:04 1-0 PPG James Neal (1) (Evgeni Malkin (1), Kris Letang (1)) 12:30 2-0 PPG Matt Cooke (1) (Pascal Dupuis (1)) 16:20 2-1 Maxim Lapierre (1) (unassisted)
2nd Period 03:09 3-1 SHG Matt Cooke (2) (Jordan Staal (1), Kris Letang (2)) 17:47 3-2 Keith Ballard (1) (Henrik Sedin (1), Daniel Sedin (1))
3rd Period 07:51 3-3 Daniel Sedin (1) (Henrik Sedin (2), Sami Salo (1)
OT: (nothing)
Shootout: Mikael Samuelsson.....SAVED BY FLEURY! Kris Letang.....SCORES! Alexandre Burrows.....SAVED BY FLEURY! Evgeni Malkin.....SCORES!
It's been a long offseason for the Pens. But the Preseason looked really good.
Red Wings @ Pittsburgh 2-3 Blackhawks @ Pittsburgh 1-4 Wild @ Pittsburgh 1-4 Penguins @ Kansas City (Los Angeles Kings) 3-2 after SO. Penguins @ Chicago 4-2 Penguins @ Detroit 2-3
Notes:
Malkin was a beast in the preseason, showing the world that The Malkin from 2009 is still in him and ready to explode. Malkin had 3g 3a in 4 games (He could have gotten more points in the Kings game but the game was not televised so we don't know if he got a point or not).
Joe Morrow was insane. I still remember when Shero drafted Morrow draft day. I was hoping for him to draft the German player that had a really great season in the german league. But then i heard him draft again a Defender for the second year in a row. But damn he showed everyone he was ready to play in the NHL. The games he really shined where against the Red Wings and Wild. He was insane on the Powerplay against the Wild. Him and Letang will become deadly when he comes back to play in the NHL. But for now he will be playing college hockey.
I really like Joe Vitale under the Preseason, he was playing for a spot in the team and got it after the preseason. He's a more scoring version of Craig Adams in my opinion.
Penguins were pretty damn good under the Preseason. Five wins in six games and the Pens let in fewer then three goals in the five of the six games. -------
NHL's BACK!. Season 2011-2012 is only hours away.
Penguins are in Vancouver to face the Canucks. A Canucks team that lost the Stanley Cup Game 7 Final at home in a 4-0 loss and a Canucks team that are still sad about Rick Rypien who passed away in the offseason.
The Canucks are a hungry bunch that really wants to win after everything that went down last season. But so are the Penguins.
It's going to be a really tough game. "IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR HOCKEY!" - Badger Bob Johnson.
