Game 5: Pens 3, Islanders 2

Finally!
Penguins- 3
Mike Rupp (Martin, Letestu) 2-4:07
Eric Tangradi (Letestu, Engelland) 2-6:57
Alex Goligoski (Malkin, Crosby) OT-1:51
W- Johnson (22-24)
Islanders- 2
Josh Bailey (Comeau, Weight) 2-11:18
Radek Martinek (Comeau, Moulsen) 2-13:06
L- DiPietro (26-29)
RECAP
This game can certainly be remembered in a variety of ways. It can be noted for the dismal Pens powerplay, the ejection of Kris Letang which may have been the worst blown call in the NHL all year, and it will always be remembered by Eric Tangradi and his family. But, years down the road, the history books will note this day as the day the Pens finally got that first win at the Consol Energy Center. After a scoreless 1st, Mike Rupp got things kicked off for the blue-clad Pens with a rebound goal early in the 2nd. Eric Tangradi quickly followed.

Tangradi took a pass from former WBS teammate Mark Letestu and wristed it hard enough that it found its way through Dipietro's pads and into the goal for Eric's first NHL goal. Then the Letang fiasco commenced (see below) and the Isles took advantage to tie up the game. The game would remain tied, and start to get a bit nastier, until Alex Goligoski was able to cash in early in overtime to send the fans at Consol Energy Center into a frenzy and finally get the monkey off their backs. It wasn't pretty, but it was a win.

The sidestory of the game was the ejection of Kris Letang, who was given a 5 minute major and game misconduct for an "illegal contact to the head" of Blake Comeau. I'm no expert, but don't you actually have to make contact with the person's head in order to call that?

Letang clearly got the shoulder (if you aren't convinced by the screenshot above just YouTube it and you will see what I mean). The powerplay turned out to be huge for the Isles, and was the sole reason why they even got a point. (Who knows, maybe that point will be significant in March) The NHL probably won't do any reviewing on this hit unless it wants to laugh at the incompetence of its officials, so Letang won't be further disciplined.

Game Changing Play

OT game winner... Doesn't change the game any more than that.

Grades

Offense- B- meh...they were mediocre.

Defense B Did a decent job protecting Johnson.

Johnson- A- Well done again Mr Johnson.

Powerplay- D The goal is the only thing keeping them from an F

Penalty Kill- B Gave up 1, but killed the rest of the 5 minute penalty as well as all the minors off.

3 Big Points

-Tangradi and Letestu are now being rewarded for their hard work. Well done and they are both making a strong case to stay.

-Letang looked great until his penalty, and Goligoski was also on the top of his game. Perhaps there is some defensive upside in them after all?

-Powerplay needs to be "un-revamped." They are even worse than last year.