|
|
Subject :PITTSBURGH -- When Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma shuffled the lines in search of a spark for
PITTSBURGH -- When Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma shuffled the lines in search of a spark for his slumping offence, putting Evgeni Malkin and rookie Brian Gibbons on the ice together wasnt what he had in mind. Pete Johnson Ohio State Jersey . Still, hell take it. Gibbons converted a slick backhand pass from Malkin for his first NHL goal at 3:56 of the third period, starting a late burst as the Penguins beat the weary Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on Monday night. Called up from the minors 12 hours before the opening faceoff, the 25-year-old Gibbons was thrown immediately onto Pittsburghs third line. He ended up on the ice with Malkin after the Penguins were caught in the middle of a shift change. While watching Malkin do a full lap through the Anaheim zone, Gibbons sprinted to the slot, took the pass and sent a shot over Viktor Fasths right shoulder to break a scoreless tie. "I was just trying to get to the net and bang home a rebound or something," Gibbons said. "Somehow it ended up right on my stick." Gibbons earned his first NHL assist 62 seconds later when Brandon Sutter deflected Olli Maattas shot from the point past Fasth. Anaheims Ryan Getzlaf quickly pulled the Ducks within one, but Sidney Crosbys 10th goal of the season capped a flurry in which the Penguins scored three times in just over four minutes. The outburst was a welcome development for a team that for all its considerable offensive talent has struggled to score recently. The Penguins came in riding a 1-4 slump, scoring just one goal in each of the four losses. "It was actaully a good game for us," Bylsma said. "We wanted to be in that tight game and stayed the course and came through with a couple of big goals." Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots for Pittsburgh as the Penguins leapfrogged Washington to move back into first in the Metropolitan Division. The teams will meet in the nations capital on Wednesday. Getzlafs fifth goal in four games provided all of the offence for the Pacific Divison-leading Ducks, who earned just one point during a four-game East Coast road trip. Fasth made 24 saves but struggled in the final 20 minutes. "Im not seeing any secondary scoring from anybody," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "When you dont have four lines contributing scoring its tough to win. I dont care how good the guys are, its tough to win." Anaheim totalled just six goals in four games during a swing through Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Pittsburgh. "Weve been getting chances and stuff and weve been working hard, but like I said weve had sickness and injury throughout our team and we havent dealt with it well this trip," Getzlaf said. The Penguins have their own issues, particularly an offence that has looked spotty at best over the last three weeks. Bylsma decided to experiment. He moved Pascal Dupuis from the top line with Crosby to the second line with Malkin, replacing Dupuis with Beau Bennett. Jussi Jokinen, second on the team in goals, was bumped down to the third line to give Sutter a little help. The initial results were underwhelming. Then again, Anaheim had a little something to do with it. The Ducks, in the midst of their first rough patch following a brilliant start, dominated the first period. They clogged passing lanes, gave Pittsburghs talented forwards little room to freelance, and controlled play for long stretches. Pittsburgh didnt record a shot on Fasth until 2:02 left in the first period, when Bennett managed to redirect a pass from Crosby into Fasths chest. "Theyre a big team," Crosby said. "They got a long reach and they clog up the neutral zone pretty well." The arena roared in mock celebration, though for all of the Penguins offensive issues, the game remained scoreless thanks to Fleury. Starting for the 19th time in Pittsburghs 22 games, Fleury turned aside several early scoring chances, including a pair of opportunities by Getzlaf. The Penguins grew so frustrated at one point that Bylsma paired Malkin with Crosby and Chris Kunitz for a couple of shifts, looking to get something started It produced better flow but nothing that found its way by Fasth. Pittsburghs best chance came when Malkin skated behind the Anaheim net and deftly dropped the puck to a sprinting Kunitz, whose backhand shot banged off Fasth -- who wasnt looking because he thought Malkin still had the puck -- and then hit the crossbar before rolling out of danger. NOTES: Anaheim F Matt Beleskey returned to the lineup after missing 19 games with an upper body injury. ... The game was the 600th of Jokinens NHL career. ... The Ducks head home to face New Jersey on Wednesday. Anaheim is 8-0 at home. Durron Neal Oklahoma Jersey . -- Brendan Leipsic had two goals and an assist and Nicolas Petan extended his point streak to 11 games as the Portland Winterhawks slipped past the Red Deer Rebels 5-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Michael Jordan North Carolina Jersey . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. http://www.wholesalenfljerseysstitched.us.com/buckeyes-1-dontre-wilson-red-limited-2014-discover-orange-bowl-patch-stitched-ncaa-jersey-eh.html . Erik Logan, president of the network, said Friday that the postponement was made after meetings with the St. Louis Rams.Despite being a native of Rochester, New York, Jon Jones has made Toronto a second home of sort as he prepares for he third championship fight of his career at the Air Canada Centre versus Alexander Gustafsson Saturday night. The llight-heavyweight champ joined TSN 1050 on Wednesday to discuss what will be his sixth title defence versus six-foot-five Swedish striker Alexander Gustafsson. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Jerseys. Jon Jones on Alexander Gustafsson, UFC 165 Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' ' |
