Oct 12, 2009 10:42 pm US/Eastern
Penguins Top Senators, 4-1
By: Sergei Feldman
OTTAWA (KDKA) ―
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The Penguins' Tyler Kennedy celebrates with his team after scoring a goal in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings during Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Mellon Arena. (File)
Harry How/Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators with an undefeated road record.
The streak continued, as the Penguins prevailed 4-1 at Scotiabank Place and improved its overall record to 5-1-0 in the process.
While tonight's affair featured a clash of two division-leading opponents, it was clear by night's end which team came off a Stanley Cup championship and which came off an extended summer vacation.
Pittsburgh maintained the edge from the drop of the puck, despite Ottawa taking the early 1-0 lead on a Milan Michalek goal at 15:59 of the first period.
But the Penguins' Bill Guerin tied the game just 39 seconds later, when he collected his own rebound and outmuscled a defender before knocking the puck in.
Coming right back after giving up a goal has been the Penguins' modus operandi in recent games, answering Philadelphia, Toronto and, most recently, Ottawa tallies with quick, momentum-sinking strikes of their own.
Equally as noticeable of late has been the team's secondary scoring, which paved the way to tonight's victory, as captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were kept off the scoresheet.
With the game tied, 1-1, third-line winger Tyler Kennedy chipped in a go-ahead goal for the Penguins at 6:16 of the second period before earning his second goal later in the period on a slap shot rocket from the top of the right circle that beat goaltender Pascal Leclaire.
Kennedy is now tied with Crosby for most goals on the team, as each has four.
At 9:54 of the third period, center Jordan Staal provided the Penguins with a deflating cushion goal at 9:54 of the third period.
An errant Ottawa pass was intercepted by forward Mike Rupp, whose rebound shot was pounced on by Staal before ending up behind Leclaire. Rupp earned his first point in a Penguins sweater on the play.
Meanwhile, Staal's three goals on the year have all come in the past three games.
As potent as the offense has been of late--scoring a combined 14 goals in the past three games after being blanked, 3-0, by Phoenix--the defense has been just as impressive.
The Penguins successfully killed a 5-on-3 penalty and either blocked shots or got sticks in passing lines the entire night.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury played to another solid performance, making timely save after timely save on a few prime scoring chances generated by Ottawa. He finished with 30 saves on the night.
The Penguins will conclude their road trip Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Penguins 2009-10 Season In Pictures
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