It doesn’t matter what happened in last night Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders game for one reason that you’re already aware of -- GOALIE FIGHT!
Islanders Vs. Penguins: Brent Johnson’s ‘Shutout’, Goalie Fight Power Pittsburgh To Victory
Unfortunately for Brent Johnson, that fight cost him a shutout, which he was just 16.5 seconds away from putting up when Rick DiPietro challenged him to skate down the ice. Then again, my gut says he’ll take it.
All the rough stuff started with a shoulder-to-shoulder hit from Max Talbot on Blake Comeau in the first period, in which Isles tough guy Zenon Kenopka somehow received the only penalty minutes. I’ll refrain from editorializing that one too much, but I will let out Islanders blog, Lighthouse Hockey, take care of those duties:
The Islanders didn’t do a lot of standing up for themselves to respond to the Penguins’ on-the-edge physicality. It didn’t help that when they did early on, in response to Maxim Talbot’s late hit on Blake Comeau, somehow Konopka walked away with a double-minor while Michael Rupp got only two minutes. (Via Katie Strang: Capuano said official told him Konopka was chattering and was late coming off the bench.” Now that’s quality officiating.)
In favor of balance, Pensburgh simply cites some “solid hits” from Talbot, among others.
Back to the hockey, or at least the obligatory mention of the result: The 3-0 win pulls the Penguins within just one point of the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Flyers, although Philly does have one game in hand there. Tyler Kennedy, Max Talbot and Chris Kunitz scored for the Pens as they improved to 7-3-1 without their captain, No. 87 Sidney Crosby.
Johnson made 20 saves in the, uh, not-shutout bid.
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