PITT--8 OTT--2

No, the title doesn't lie. The Ottawa Senators traveled to Pittsburgh yesterday in good spirits: they were celebrating the return of their number 1 goalie Pascal Leclaire, as well as big hitter Chris Neil and winger Sean Donovan. Twas even the night before the night before Christmas, that had to count for some good luck, right?

Wrong.

First period, no score, first thing that happens? Captain Daniel Alfredsson gets caught with a shoulder to the head and immediately goes down and doesn't return to the game. No penalty was called on the play, causing much contraversy between the two teams, and setting the tone for a long, sad, scrappy night for Ottawa. If the Senators weren't pushing and shoving and recieving unnecessary penalties, the Penguins were probably scoring a goal.

So, the first period ends 1-1. Evgeni Malkin clinched his first goal of the game. Not bad, both teams are still easily capable of grabbing hold of this one. Soon into the second though, things begin to happen.

A goal.

Another goal.

And another goal.

And another.

And one more, just for kicks.

So, by the end of the second, this is how the game is looking:

• Pascal Leclaire has let in 5 goals in 20 minutes.


• Billy Guerin, a Pitt veteran, has two goals, and so does teammate Evgeni Malkin.


• Ruslan Fedetenko and Chris Kunitz both have one as well for the Pens.


• The only goal for Ottawa is held by Chris Kelly


• The score now stands 6-1

So, without much question, Pascal Leclaire has been benched for the third. But no, he sits not on the bench with the rest of his sad teammates like you would expect. He sits perfectly protected behind the glass, in order to not harm his new plastic jaw. He even keeps his helmet on for the first few minutes for good mesure.

Elliot is once again in nets for the Senators, much to his delight. His happiness doesn't last long, however, because our little Geno decides, "I likes score goals. I not get hat trick in long time. I no like Ottawa. I show Ottawa that I no like Ottawa. I make Ottawa sad. I make mama Malkin happy. I score third goal now."

And that is exactly what he does.

Geno enjoys all the attention he's getting, and he watches for several minutes as fans littered the ice with headware and the loudspeakers boomed "Let it Snow". Of course, he doesn't understand the significance of the song, but he smiles widely all the same.

By now, the Sens are upset and frustrated. They managed to put one more goal in, a fabulous slap-shot by Anton Volchenkov from the blue line right off the face-off, but they know they are done for. So, they decide to do what most teams do when they are getting annihilated: they started yapping and throwing punches.

Chris Neil challenged and almost killed Mike Rupp, and less than a minute later Matt Carkner and Adams came together briefly. Sean Donovan and Matt Cooke had a rather long conversation on the face-off, of what consisted mostly of Donovan raising his eyebrows in question or challenge and Cookie continuously shaking his head. After the drop of the puck Donovan tried to fight a reluctant Cooke by pulling him back by his jersey. Cookie scurried away unscathed and the refs skating in to a dissapointed and confused Sean Donovan, who received a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a 10-minute major. He did not return to the game.

The Pens managed to pop a final goal in for a satisfying 8-2 home victory. The amazing line of Malkin, Kunitz and Guerin were spectacular, ending the game with a total of 12 points, with six goals. As for the Senators, it was an ugly game all around, and it set the stage for a difficult and dissapointing new year. So much for a merry Christmas.

~

Oh, one more thing. Remember Alfie's crazy full-face visor that he had to wear for a few games after he broke his jaw? Jordan Staal got hit in the nose with either a puck or a stick last game and look what he had to wear.

Seem familiar? I don't know about you, but I think he wore it well.