Pens Win. But At What Cost?

PENGUINS 4, STARS 3 [F/SO]
February 29, 2012 – American Airlines Center

Letang would not return after taking a controversial hit

Even before the game started, it wasn’t going to be Kris Letang’s night.
The OLN Versus NBC Sports graphics team showed this:

56?  Really?  

But unfortunately, Letang’s night would get worse. Because……

Midway through the first period, Kris Letang tried to win a puck race to the corner. The Stars’ Eric Nystrom had no such interest.

Letang would not return.  Our reaction was the same as yours.

Only we didn't say fudge.

 Here’s the rule on headshots, in case you’re wondering:

Whether Letang “put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior” to the hit is up for debate. We await Brendan Shanahan’s response.

Mike Milbury [of all people] thinks it should be a suspension.  He said this in the studio show:

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“I think Eric Nystrom – who’s supposed to be a hitter – took advantage of a player who was in a vulnerable position and hit him with a shoulder to the head.

He changed his mind, didn’t engage in a battle for the puck and found the guy where he could just bury him…just bury him [saying] I’ve got a chance to put this guy into next month…and he puts him into next month. 

That’s shoulder to head…targeting the head. that’s 5 games minimum.”

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Certainly looks like a shot to the head to us.

Maybe the first time we’ve EVER agreed with Mike Milbury.

   Whisky. Tango. Foxtrot.

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 Jeremy Roenick, meanwhile, defended the hit on that same show, even getting into a shouting match with Milbury over it.  Roenick claims Nystrom’s hit was NOT to Letang’s head. We disagree, and think Roenick’s a douche.  So here’s video of him crying:

Mike Modano apparently went on twitter and agreed with JR:

It’s ‘would HAVE,’ Mike.  Not ‘would OF.’ ….We would HAVE cared more about your opinion if you would HAVE gotten that right.

 

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So all eyes will be on Letang’s health over the days and [maybe] weeks to come. Letang already missed 21 games earlier this season after suffering a concussion from a headshot by Montreal’s Max Pacioretty.

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As for the rest of the game, Steve Sullivan scored near the end of the first to tie it at 1-1.  Craig Adams scored his first goal in forever, and Chris Kunitz tallied a big 3rd period goal.  James Neal, Chris Kunitz, and Pascal Dupuis scored in the shootout and MAF held the fort for the 4-3 shootout win.

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Highlights:

[Game Summary]  [Event Summary]

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• Offering up some rum to Jobu in the hopes that Letang is ok.  The defense was mud without him.
• Sullivan also left the game with an undisclosed injury. Power play won’t be the same if those two miss time.
• Roenick is on my Mt. Rushmore of douchebags.  Maybe twice.

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FLOWER BLOOMING
Marc-Andre Fleury is now 6-0-0 all-time vs the Dallas Stars.

STAR TREATMENT
Pens have won 7 of the last 8 meetings.

BEST WESTERN
Penguins are 10-2-3 vs the Western Conference.

IT’S BENN AWHILE
Jamie Benn scored in his return to the Stars lineup, after missing 6 games with an injury.

STREAK STOPPED
Dallas’ 4-game win streak was snapped with the loss.

POWERLESS
The Stars went 0-for-4 on the power play.  Dallas is 17-21-2 when it fails to score with the man advantage. They’re 16-5-3 when they do.

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AT COLORADO
Saturday, 9:00 PM (ROOT Sports)

• Pens are 5-13-3-1 vs the Avs since they moved to Colorado. Not good.
• Even worse in the Mile High city.  Won just once in Denver since 2000.
• Tebow still sucks.

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