Last night, Thursday March 27th, the Pittsburgh Penguins took on the Los Angeles Kings, and this game had a lot riding on it. The game was nicknamed the battle for 8. If Pittsburgh won, they would have cliched a spot in the playoffs for the 8th straight year. If the Kings won, they would have won their 8th straight road game. This game didn't disappoint.
Neither team started their starting goaltender, Jeff Zatkoff for the Pens and Martin Jones for the Kings. Both goaltenders have been playing very well as of late. Zatkoff actually has the same save percentage as starting goaltender Marc Andre Fleury at .915, and giving up 2.58 goals per game.
Now I know everyone has been down on Zatkoff as of late, but what you fail to know is he's a rookie. Not only is he a rookie, he is playing just as well as any starting goaltender in the league. Most people would kill for a goaltender with a .915 save percentage. Not only that he is 11-4-2 in his last 17 games, and in that has recorded a shutout. Now all that doesn't sound like a guy "playing bad".
Okay enough of that rant, let's get to how this game went down. Unfortunately, for the Pens anyways, the Los Angeles Kings extended their winning streak to 5 games, and won their 8th straight road game. They were also able to keep the Pens for clinching a Playoff berth. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty scored the game-winner in the third to give the Kings a 3-2 win. Doughty's goal wouldn't have been possible without the assist from Dustin Brown.
Now this game had a lot of controversy, and it didn't end well for the Pens. Forward Brandon Sutter should have had the tying goal, but was called off due to "goaltender interference". All he did was cash the net after a shot, to get the rebound, he did so and was able to push the puck into the net, and then the net came off the pegs. Now by rule if you disallow the goaltender room to make the save and or get in the way of his progress it is goaltender interference. Non of that happened on this play. Sutter crashed the net and got all puck and pushed it into the net, like every player does. What the refs missed was Doughty cross checking Sutter 3 times which caused the "goaltender interference". Therefore the goal should have been allowed, the game should have been tied, and went into overtime.
Non of the above happened, and the Pens lost the game. They weren't able to clinch a playoff spot last night, but have all the opportunity to do so tonight when they play the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets aren't best team in the league, but they still will give the Pens a run for the Playoff spot. Not that they will take the spot away from the Pens, but they could stop them from not clinching again. I don't think that will happen. Then Pens are playing mad now with the events that went down last night. It showed in the last few minutes of the game after the "goaltender interference" call. They played well last night, and had a lot of speed to there game in the beginning of the game. Near the end of the game they got physical, and I expect that physical play to continue until they have the spot clinched, and well after and into the playoffs. They have something to prove. All good teams go though a phase where they struggle to make playoffs and contend for a Stanley Cup. Everyone is starting to say that about the Pens, and I don't think they like that very much. They are one of the best teams in the league, and they are slumping right now, but will get back to Stanley Cup form starting tonight.
Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.
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