The LA Kings fell to the Nashville Predators in convincing fashion this afternoon.
PRE-GAME
Malkin, Gonchar and Talbot are all skating with the Penguins, albeit in red, "don't hit me" jerseys.
Kennedy AND Goligoski are doubtful for tonight's game. Deryk Engelland was called up for Goligoski. That one will be a game-time decision.
If the Penguins win, they will take the NHL lead back from the Colorado Avalanche. It's gonna be a good one!
FIRST PERIOD
Injury report:
Gonchar, Malkin, Kennedy and Talbot are out.
Goligoski isn't feeling well, but he's in the lineup.
Cooke-Staal-Rup starts for the Penguins.
The refs miss a pretty obvious trip on Rupp in the slot, :20 into the game. The zebras must have heard Bob Errey complain about it as they call a weak hooking penalty on Crosby.
The Pens do a good job killing an uninspired powerplay.
Letang makes a great move to dump the puck in, chase it down and steal a lazy pass by the Sharks behind their net. Letang's wraparound is stopped by Nabokov and nobody is there for the rebound.
3:27 - Sharks score. Fleury seemed to have good position on the post as McGinn digs the puck out and shoots it near side. Somehow the puck finds its way behind MAF. Fleury has actually given a few of those up already this season - something to work on.
Sharks lead 1-0
Not long after the goal, Fleury saves his own bacon after misplaying the puck behind his net.
- Fire Gilles Meloche
Bob Errey mention the earlier non-call on Rupp. The refs must have been listening, because they call Adams for elbowing. I guess Craig doesn't like it when the other team tries to clear him out of the crease.
How is the #2 team in the West, 30th in the league on the powerplay at home? (Okay, the Pens aren't much better and they are #2 in the NHL...)
The Pens kill that penalty and then get their own powerplay to work with. Billy Guerin should have scored... Crosby makes a play even surrounded by the four Sharks. He passes it off to Letang who is coming in late on the play. Letang drops the puck to Guerin who shoots and misses. Meanwhile, Letang skates past the top of the crease and is tripped by Nabokov (another miss by the refs). Letang hits hard and looks a little shaken up.
Cooke takes a very undisciplined penalty. It's a roughing minor for a late hit.
- Send him to Philly
16:04 - Sharks score. Boyle has forever to set up a shot-pass that is redirected beautifully by Pavelski. The Pens give up a powerplay goal after stopping the last eight.
Sharks lead 2-0
Rupp's fight with Staubitz at 16:45 wakes Fleury up as he absolutely stones Thornton.
With 1:40 to go, Nabokov makes a clutch save on a Crosby shot. Sid's attempt looked pretty harmless though, he merely directed the puck toward the net trying to elude the defenseman. The puck bounced off Nabokov's right pad and he grabbed it with his trapper.
Looks like Letang won't return to the game. Goligoski isn't feeling well (H1N1?), but he is playing and Deryk Engelland was scratched. Maybe the Pens should have gone with seven defensemen.
Sharks lead at the end of the 1st period, 2-0
SECOND PERIOD
Injury Report:
Add Letang to the list.
The Penguins get a good early chance as Crosby centers to Guerin in front of the net. Guerin connects but can't cash in.
Okay... I don't get this call... Pavelski is guilty of holding Cooke. How can Cooke be guilty of diving? I hate this call. If Cooke is diving, then Pavelski wasn't really holding... Am I the only one who finds this kind of thing baffling?
Well, Fleury gives up a bad goal on the ensuing 4-on-4. Brent Johnson comes in as Fleury is chased from the net (H1N1?)
Sharks lead 3-0
Pavelski comes out of the box and does some nifty skating at the blue line to keep the puck in the zone and get some open ice. The Sharks outwork the Pens on the play and Pavelski bangs a rebound into the net. I think Brooks Orpik actually helped dig the puck out (he was trying to sweep it away as Johnson was trying to keep it under control).
Sharks lead 4-0
Guerin gets another good chance from a centering pass. Who does he have to blow to get a goal?
Bourque goes off for something... For some reason I'm distracted by live updates from the World Series of Poker Final Table.
Pavelski interferes with somebody and evens it up. The Penguins will have an abbreviated powerplay in a minute or so.
Staal and Dupuis think the score is 1-0. They are working hard right now and got a scoring chance during the end of the 4-0n-4 then another chance early in the powerplay.
I'd like to see the Pens use the body a little more. It might take the pressure of the five remaining defensemen.
9:34 left and Staal gets dragged down in the slot - no call.
Nabokov is stopping everything the Pens are throwing at him - Kunitz had a nice chance on the PP.
Sharks still lead at the end of two, 4-0
THIRD PERIOD
It is hand 113 and blinds are at $250K/$500K ($50K ante).
James Akenhead finished in 9th place and fails to win any extra money. All the final table players were paid 9th place money ($1,263,602) when play was suspended back in July.
For the second year in a row, ESPN and the WSOP have brought the final table players back in November to coincide with the end of ESPN's television coverage. If you ask me, it's stupid unless they cover the final table live. Today's play won't air until Tuesday, and everyone will know who won anyway.
Kevin Schaffel finished in 8th place, good for $1,300,228.
Fan and pro favorite, Phil Ivey, is hanging in there with 25 big blinds.
Jeff Shulman and youngster Joe Cada are the short stacks with $7 million and $10 million in chips respectively.
Amateur and logger (yes, logger, not blogger) Darvin Moon has $40 million in chips. He was once the overwhelming chip leader but lost over $25 million by playing two hands horribly (yes, two hands). He has recovered a little bit.
Bill Guerin still can't find the back of the net.
Back when I bought tickets to the Ducks and Kings games, I had hoped to attend the Sharks game too since my fiancee's sisters live in San Francisco. Now I'm glad that I'm not there. After the abuse I took from Kings fans on Thursday, I might have ended up like McKee - 5 minute fighting major and game misconduct at 7:59.
This is turning uuuugly.
Sharks lead 5-0.
Pens are down to four defensemen.
Goligoski and Co. draw a penalty as they rush up the ice just when the Sharks' second PP on McKee's penalties expire.
13:30 - Nice shot by Fedotenko, looking for a redirection.
16:49 - Crosby makes a nice play to get a shot out of nothing. Trying to get through two players, the puck pops up into the air, but Sid keeps his eye on it an takes a whack. The puck just misses the corner over Nabokov's glove.
19:40 - last gasp as Crosby puts a pass on Kunitz's stick, but Kuni gets off a weak shot and Nabokov gobbles it up.
Sharks win 5-0
See you in Boston.
Lets' Go Pens!!!
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