There are a lot of idiots out there who think they know things about hockey. A lot of them came out of the woodwork after the Penguins and Islanders last met in what was a disgusting display of thuggery endorsed, clearly, by the Islanders organization. During that game everyone expected the “code” to be upheld and someone had to fight to avenge what Johnson did to DiPietro in the previous matchup (breaking his face in a fight and all). No one expected the debacle that occurred though.

Mario Lemieux, normally withdrawn from league matters, had some harsh words for the league after the league pathetically suspended Islander goon Trevor Gillies for a mere nine games after he deliberately hunted down Eric Tangradi, knocked him silly and then pounded on him while he was on the ice.

Here is a video of all all the “action” that night on the Island in case you forgot. At about 6:10 is where you see Gillies skate all the way across the ice to hunt down Tangradi:

During this scrum, the Islanders’ Haley then skates down the ice to confront Penguin’s goalie Brent Johnson to which Eric Goddard reacts by jumping off the bench to defend his netminder. Out of this entire incident THIS is what Islanders fans emailed me the most about and griped over; about how Goddard is such a “goon” that he came off the bench to defend his goalie against a player that skated all the way down the ice to seek him out.

Of course the fighting was not over. But it was enough for anyone that knows anything about hockey, which I will not accuse your typical Islanders fan of being such a person, that the behavior of the team from New York was pathetic.

Goddard, for jumping off the bench and defending his goalie got an automatic ten games suspension. The league decided that Gillies only warranted a nine game suspension for his actions. Islanders fans justified this whole sham of a game as revenge for what Johnson did to DiPietro, a man who as of right now gets hurt just looking at a hockey rink it seems.

Well then what is the excuse for Gillies last night then? Yes, fresh off his suspension for beating Tangradi in the back of the head, Gillies was back to head hunting against Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck? There wasn’t a Penguin to be found anywhere near the rink. Matt Cooke wasn’t even in the same state. But here is Gillies acting like a thug again.

What’s the excuse this time I ask again? Did Clutterbuck lace his skates in a way that drove Gillies into a fit of rage?

Fifty games. That was Gillies deserves. We’re not talking about a “repeat offender” here who plays on the edge and throws a questionable hit every 15 or 20 games. We are talking about a goon who, fresh off a nine game suspension for gooning it up on the ice, rushes back out on to the ice in his first game back to do it all over again. And while we’re at it, maybe the league should fine Garth Snow a cool million too since it is clear he is the mastermind behind this latest pathetic performance on Long Island.

How do you like your new team New York?

On Wednesday night, after putting away the New York Islanders, Rick DiPietro engaged in some funny business around his own net with 16.5 seconds remaining in the game.  That resulted in a dog pile in the corner and Brent Johnson leaving his own crease and darting down the ice to confront his counterpart.

DiPietro both removed their gloves and helmets as they squared off.  The New York netminder looked to be in such shock that there was actually going to be a goalie fight that he was smiling!  He wasn’t smiling at the end of it all however which wasn’t very long.  One left from Johnson and DiPiertro was down with Johnson hovering over him with his fist cocked for another blow in case he wanted more.

DiPietro, who the Islanders singed to a long term contract worth big bucks but who has also been unable to remain healthy, is once again sidelined for four to six weeks following the fight with facial fractures.  Wow.  Talk about bad luck.

It was just before the 06-07 season that DiPietro signed a 15 year $67.5 million contract.  However since the start of the 08-09 season he has played in just 34 games and 21 of those games have been this year.

Bad luck and bad signing all the way around.  Maybe Rick DiPietro needs to become a bubble boy because he is getting hurt almost just looking at the ice it seems.

Blame last night’s loss on the rain falling last night as fans funneled into the Igloo for Game 7? Nope. Blame it on the Fleury – Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins netminder had a game that all Pens fans and even he would sooner forget.

Sure, the Canadiens capitalized on their first shot after Sid took a terrible boarding penalty. Sure Gonchar looked like he was already making plans about where he would be playing next year. But those are the sorts of stops a goalie the caliber of Fleury is supposed to make. And that was the story of the night on three of the Canadiens first four goals as all were stops Fleury is supposed to make. But he didn’t and the Pens are off to the golf course for the summer awaiting next year and the opening of the Consol Energy Center.

Fans on hand tried their darndest to get the home team fired up but slowly and surely they fell down 4-0 half way through the second before coming to life with a goal by Chris Kunitz. The fans were loud and cheered even when the Pens were down. They cheered their hearts out. But this was not the year for another Stanley Cup.

Too many players just went through the motions after falling behind last night and when they finally got a fire lit under their asses it was too late. Too many players on the team just played like there was another chance to win the series when there was none and it will lead to one interesting off season as several players on this year’s team will almost certainly not return from Fedotenko to Ponikarovksy to most likely Gonchar as well.

Time for Shero to work his magic and get this team set for next year. And he’ll have a little bit longer than last year to do so.

It didn’t look so good a few days ago. The Penguins won their first game after the Olympic break against Buffalo behind Brent Johnson. Then against New York Marc-Andre Fleury looked like he shouldn’t even be playing for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Penguins, got pulled and Johnson and the team rallied to win. Yesterday against Dallas it again did not look too good as Fleury and the defense let the team down early to let the Stars post a 3-1 lead that again required a comeback. Convincing as it was, with the Penguins winning 6-3, it was still worrisome.

Today against Boston Fleury looked like the #1 netminder he is. With the Penguins leading the Atlantic Division but New Jersey sitting in second with games in hand every point is precious and despite letting up the first goal and falling behind to Boston in the second period the team responded.

After Blake Wheeler (14) score to put the Penguins down, Pascal Dupuis answered back as the Penguins crashed the net and put a puck behind Thomas to tie it up at 1-1. Then Evgeni Malkin (23) scored early in the third to give the Penguins the lead and what would eventually be the win.

The Penguins defense played well, allowing just 11 shots in the first two periods but let up in the third to all that many in one period.  Although Fleury was up to the task to was tense to watch.  Jordan Leopold maintained his strong play and finish +2 while Ponikarovsky added an assist and a +1 to go along with his goal in his debut against Dallas.

The fourth straight win for the Penguins continues what has been a tradition as of recent years where the team puts the pedal down in March as they gear up for the playoffs. It also gives them a 5 point cushion over the Devils who skate later tonight and then still have two games in hand after that. Sixteen games remain for the Penguins then comes the playoffs but they cannot overlook any games or opponents because every point matters and a mini slump now could send the Penguins tumbling down the standings late in the year.

Hopefully last night’s overtime victory against the Florida Panthers, in which the power play FINALLY scored a goal, means that the Penguins are back on the winning track. After an overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in which the Penguins clearly outplayed them and a loss in regulation to the Carolina Hurricanes, who have not been the same team this season since getting swept by the Penguins in the East finals last year, the Penguins needed another win to back up their 3-2 win in Montreal previously just to keep things rolling.

With Brent Johnson in goal, the backup netminder played more than well enough to win at times flashing leather like Marc-Andre Fleury to rob the Panthers of goals. After Steven Reinprecht (11) scored on the power play half way through the first, it was Pascal Dupuis (9) that answered with a wrist shot to tie up the game. The goal keeps Dupuis on pace to break the 20 goal mark for the first time since he played for the Minnesota Wild in 2002-2003. And that year he made the mark by playing on the power play and netting 6 goals with the man advantage. This year he is doing it in more of a utility role playing anywhere and everywhere the Penguins need him with a lot of 4th line time.

Ruslan Fedotenko (5) tipped in a cross crease pass from Malkin and Rupp mid way through the second to put the Penguins up. Then it was Steven Weiss (4) who wristed in a goal for the Panthers early in third and into an empty net as Johnson scrambled out for a missed poke check after a stop on a break away and tied the game.

The Penguins power play nearly cost them another game going 0-5 in regulation. But thankfully on their sixth chance it didn’t take long for Evgeni Malkin to find the net. With Jordan Leopold sent to the box just 0:30 into overtime for a hold on Jordan Staal as he crashed towards the net and Thomas Vokoun, the Penguins controlled the draw. Sidney Crosby pushed the puck back to Sergei Gonchar who fed Evgeni Malkin up high and Malkin (9) ripped the puck into the net on the 4-3 to win.

Brent Johnson finished with 29 saves on 31 shots faced, 15 of which came in the third period. He has a .907 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA, both very respectable for a backup goal tender who does not get regular chances in net.

The win helps the Penguins keep pace in the East with 45 points (22-10-1) which is good enough for 4th place and keeps them just a few games in hand behind New Jersey also with 45 points in the Atlantic. The Penguins now prepare for a home and home series against division rivals the Philadelphia Flyers (14-15-1, 29 pts).

Notes:
Winger Chris Kunitz returned to the lineup last night after missing 14 games with a lower-body injury marking the return to health of a Penguins team that spent most of November wondering who would get injured next.