Crosby vs Ovechkin: Round 1 goes to Crosby

The Pens took a 4-0 lead in the first. Including goals from Ziggy, Lasse, Jac Rickman and an evil backhand waterbottle shot from Crosby.

Of course, the Pens are never happy with success. In the second they gave up two quick goals which can only be attributed to poor goaltending.

Later in the second the Pens got another highlight goal when Crosby made a pinpoint pass from his knee to Ziggy who deflected the 5th goal home.

The Caps got two more goals, one shothanded. And the Pens held on to win in a game that should have been a blowout.

But the Pens will never have a blowout as long as they have terrible goaltending and poor defensive play. And after outshooting the Caps 12-10 in the first the Pens went on to be outshot 28-45. So your making average (at best) goaltenders face the firing squad game after game.

And the frustrating thing is that their best goalie isn't playing because they don't want to pay him a $3M bonus yet they are getting nothing but turnovers from a defenseman (Gonchar) that they are paying an average of $5M a year.

It was stupid to structure Fluery's contract that way. But what's done is done. I guess they'll just try and hold down the fort until they can bring MAF up and not have to pay him his bonus. But if I'm Fluery I'm not gonna be that motivated to perform for a club that went to such lengths not to pay me my money.

I thought the call ups played pretty well, although not spectacularly.