Dustin Jeffrey... Man of the night. Jordan Staal, Not Suspended for Prust's Dive.

So we all knew last night would be a pretty huge game, and a pretty huge game is what we got to witness for sure. Somehow, even while missing 4 of their centers after Staal was ejected with a match penalty in the 2nd, Aaron Asham going down in the first, the Penguins were able to squeeze a victory. That somehow, was off the hard work of Marc Andre Fleury and the spark of a goal from Dustin Jeffrey.

The first period had some interesting prose to the rest of the game. The Rags came out and scored within the first 4 minutes of the game, a goal by Prust facing a practically empty net. Shortly after that during a face off Cooke and Prust are jawing at each other and jobbing each other before the puck drop. After the drop the two appear to want to fight, Prust definitely wants to but Cookie doesn't go. This was foreshadowing for the second period.

The rest of the period was uneventful except for some choice saves, and an injury to Aaron Asham forcing him out of the game.

In the second the Pens took another blow after a huge save by Fleury within the first minute of the 2nd period. Fleury couldn't stop the next onslaught after a turnover in the Rag's offensive zone leads to an Ansimov rebound goal. The Penguins at this point are pissed. 16:43 left in the period and Engellend decides it's time to take some of the hate out on Prust's face.

Engel definitely woke up the Pens after taking out Prust. At 14:30 left in the 2nd, off a fresh power play, Dustin Jeffrey let's one go from the top of the face off circle and beats King Henrik Stunnedqvist for the first of 3 consecutive goals the Penguins would notch this period. With a little over 9 left in the period Rupp came in to score a deflection, with Kunitz coming but 4 minutes later to tally his 17th goal of the season. It was after this that the foreshadowing comes into play.

With just 4:39 left in the period Prust comes out and blasts Kennedy right in front of the bench. Well Jordan Staal took particular offense to this little hit Prust decided to dole out and gives him a good hard cross check then, from what seems like out of no where, a left cross to Prust's face. Prust goes down, but it looks very suspiciously like a dive. Jordan received a match penalty, ejection from the game, and gave the Rags a 5 minute power play... One they capitalized off of and tied it up in the final seconds of the period.

Thankfully it was reported today that Jordan Staal will not be suspended, and will be in the lineup tonight. Here is the footage of some cerebral Staalsy in action:

The third period for the most part was very conservative hockey. More spectacular saves by Fleury and defense from the Pens took it to OT. More conservative play in the OT leads us to a shootout. 

After an amazing poke by Fleury and 7 rounds later we get this:

All in all, a tough game, a tough 2 points, but Dustin Jeffrey is really proving his need to be on ice full time in the NHL.

Around the league:
The Flyers lost to the Lightning 4-0
The Islanders stomped the Trashers 4-1, they'll play the Penguins tonight at 7pm.
The Capitals lost in a shootout against the Habs. Cary Price does this Lame Vanilla ice pose again to the stands:

Let it be known I officially hate this pose.