NHL Playoff

A Back-To-Back Solid Effort

Sunday afternoon, the Atlanta Thrashers were faced with playing the Pittsburgh Penguins after playing a strong game up in Boston the previous afternoon. Usually, the Thrashers do not play well in back-to-back games, however, that was not at all the case in Pittsburgh. The Thrashers gave it their all, but were unable to pick up the win. The shoot out final from Mellon Arena: our Atlanta Thrashers – 2 and the Pittsburgh Penguins – 3.

The beginning of the first period did not start off on a positive note for Atlanta goaltender Kari Lehtonen and the rest of the team. Only 00:50 into the game, Ryan Malone was able to score on a play many thought should have been whistled off. It had seemed that Lehtonen had covered the puck, yet the play continued on because the referees did not call for a stoppage in the game. During that time, Lehtonen lost the puck, which allowed Malone to score. It was Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin to puck up the assists on this first goal of the game. Following that goal at 02:09, Maxime Talbot put a fast backhanded shot past the young Kari Lehtonen. On Talbot’s goal, which increased Pittsburgh’s early lead to 2-0, Jarkko Ruutu and Alex Goligoski were awarded the assists. The Thrashers found themselves on the penalty kill as Alexei Zhitnik drew an interference penalty at 06:09. Thanks to Alex Goligoski, the odds on the ice were evened when he drew hi-sticking penalty at 06:45. Neither Atlanta nor Pittsburgh was able to score during the 4 on 4 situation, keeping the score at 2-0. Evgeni Malkin took a penalty...

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