DarthEbriate

That was one of the most obvious and awful things about the RaKru team -- and all of last year, too. When another team pushed back, or turned it on for 5 minutes, or got a goal to tie the game... we had no response. We'd fold. Ullmark could sometimes save us, but we didn't as a team simply shrug off the problem and battle through it. That is another heartening thing about Sunday's game (these past few weeks, actually). We give up the shutout. Whoops. And now, immediately afterward, Pitt gets a power play. Under RaKru -- we're giving up a PP goal and ahead only 3-2 and lapsing back into full on Death Star mode and waiting for them to tie it. Instead, it was an easy kill, and we arguably carried play the rest of the way until 20 seconds to go.

Samuelsson stayed paired with Ristolainen until the very end. Nice.

Regulation, but yes. It's still a joke what we've been since Ruff.

Since 2/19... Twenty Twelve??? Are you kidding?

Fiddlesticks. Though if there's any Pens player that has impressed me this weekend it's been one Theodore Blueger.

Great shot kid, that was one in... a... well, of four.

Skinner with the somewhat-easier-than-normal-given-his-skating-prowess fall draws a penalty. Now let's bury this thing and go home.

Now, how do we respond to a little adversity? I like this... we need this challenge.

Blergh.

Oh. Messy decision there, Bjork. Use your speed and go up ice. Then worry about the pass.

Risto, you are clear to buzz the tower of Crosby. Fire at will.

Woooooooooo!

If we had scored there... I think Thompson might've been offsides. But a penalty because we're all over them. Nice.

Krueger. Eakin can sometimes kill penalties. You just don't want the puck on his stick. Edit: Also, Krueger was ruining our entire youth movement and blue line. Eakin is strong but not that strong.

I like this line.

Eakin, you can't let that happen, there.

Let's close it up, boys. We're going into the third, we're going full throttle. Remember the Death Star!

At some point we're going to bury a couple of these loose pucks and salt this game away.

Looked like maybe behind the play Crosby went to check Risto and got put down. I'll have to rewind and take a look.... Edit: Nope. 12. Nevermind. Still, Risto simply shrugged him to the ice.

Good kill, gents. Asplund one stride away from a tap-in. nice... feel The Concept Of within you!

yes, yes, keep away. Thank you!

SAMMMMMMSONNNNNN!

Phew (regarding the Crosby weapons malfunction)

1st period, Samuelsson with Risto. I wonder if we maintain the lead into the 3rd, whether Bryson rejoins Risto to hold the lead, as Risto will log a lot of minutes.

Not the first person to have that difficulty with Crosby. After the whistle, Dahlin and Rust share a little shove, and Thompson, the Tager, wanders over and escorts Rust away. Tage is our muscle? I'm liking Samuelsson thus far.