From: lli+@cs.cmu.edu (Lori Iannamico)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Subject: Pens-1 Devils-5
Date: 14 Apr 92 15:25:48 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

The Devils defeated the Pens 5-1, and moved back into third place.  The
Pens have a chance to move back into 3rd, but I have a feeling that isn't
a high priority task to them.

I wondered how the Pens would look last night.  Not so much because of the
strike, but because of their attitude leading into last night's game.  From
quotes in the media over the past few days, it seems that the players and
interim coach Scotty Bowman are putting more emphasis on getting into playoff
shape than winning the last 3 games.  After the way they played last night, 
that might be a good idea.

Mario Lemieux suffered a slight shoulder bruise early in the 3rd.  The injury
is believed to be minor.  Scotty Bowman said that he took Lemieux out of the
lineup because he didn't want to risk further injury, and "the game was out
of hand by then."  Actually, the score was 3-1 with 14 minutes left.  This
statement seems to support the attitude mentioned above.

Lemieux was injured when after colliding with Ken Daneyko, he slid shoulder
first into the boards.

Up to that point, Lemieux was playing well.  Due to his back, he's used to
playing cold after long layoffs.  He seemed to have his legs back, and was
improving with each shift.  Tocchet was having a hard time.  He looked like
he was having a hard time readjusting to his modified helmet.  Joey Mullen
was playing his first game since being injured in the Detroit game, and
was bascially trying to get back into game shape.

Bowman went with 4 "Bowman lines" (linemate changes at the drop of a hat), 
but he kept the Lemieux-Tocchet-Stevens line bascially intact until Mario's
injury.  Francis moved up to center that line.  Until the strike, Bowman had
been going with 3 lines.  It was obvious he was trying to get everyone some
playing time.

Timing was off, defense was non-existent (Due in part to Kjell Samuelsson
being out.  I'll explain later.) and the power play was more confused than
ever.  This team needs a lot of work.

The Pens actually came out with some jump the beginning of the first, but
that quickly disappeared.  The Devils, looking a lot sharper and far
more comfortable out there, scored first.  The Devils played the Caps the
night before, and I believe that helped them get back into the playing groove.

Richard (?) Semak got a gift from Jaromir Jagr when Jagr did a drop pass to
Semak instead of to a Pen. (Can't blame this on the strike.  Jagr has been 
doing brainless stuff like this for most of the season.)  Semak raced to the 
Pens end, outskating Grant Jennings to the net.  Tom Barrasso (First start 
since Mar. 24th.  He's been out with back problems.) moved over to play Semak.
Semak passed the puck to Stephane Richer who scored into an open net.  Jagr
was supposed to be covering Richer, but looked clueless.  He had no idea what
was going on.  (I feel that Jagr has been a disappointment this season, but
that's a matter for another post.) (Richer:Semak: 1:46)

That was all the scoring in the first.  Tocchet had a chance to tie the game,
but Chris Terreri stoned him.

The second was a pretty sloppy, penatly marred period.  The Pens blew all
their power play chances.  At 13:37 the Devils converted on theirs.  Peter
Stastny (C. Lemieux) shot from the slot and past a screened Barrasso.  And
then at 15:04 Valeri Zelepukin (unassisted) fended off Grant Jennings and
flipped the puck over Barrasso on the stick side as Barrasso was trying to
knock the puck away.

Terreri had come up with a big save on Stevens in the second, a great
sliding leg save.  But he couldn't stop Bob Errey, who took an amazing pass
from Lemieux (I don't know how Lemieux even saw Errey), and beat Terreri on
the stick side.(Murphy had the other assist.  17:05)

In the third, the Devils defensively shut down the Pens, allowing only 4 
shots the entire period.  The Devils did whatever they wanted that period.

At 9:00 Kevin Todd (McKay) beat Barrasso between the legs to make it 4-1.
(Barrasso played well up until this point.  He came up with some very big
saves, and kept the Pens in the game.  But he has a nasty habit of getting
beat from the left point.)  Ant then at 17:59 Zdeno Ciger scored on a 2 on
none breakaway.  The puck went between Barrasso's pads.  Barrasso thought the
puck was under him, and started to lay down.  He didn't realize that as he was
laying down, he was pushing the puck into the net with his back.  The puck
slid across the goal line.

The Pens play Washington at home on Wednesday and the Rangers in NY on
Thursday to finish out the regular season.  I expect Ken Wregget to work one
of those games, to get some playing time after the strike.

Shots: Pgh: 8-8-4: 20, NJ: 12-13-11: 36

Scratches: Wendell Young, Kjell Samuelsson (Chronic neck injury.  Scotty 
Bowman said the Kjell had aggrevated the injury during the Montreal game
Mar. 28th.  If last night's game were a playoff game, Bowman said Kjell 
could have played.  But he and Kjell decided there was no need for him to
play.)Jim Paek, Bryan Trottier (Personal reasons.)

Lori 
Contact for the Penguins
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey