Snap Shots: Pens 8, Sens 5

Thoughts, musings and observations from the Pens' 8-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

\The Pens now have 3 wins in a row, with 19 goals during the span. The offense is clearly popping and the points have been spread throughout the lineup with 11 different Penguins tallying points on Monday.
\Sidney Crosby mentioned the speed of the Senators Monday morning as something to watch for, but the Pens brought their own speed to the game. Pittsburgh came out flying, especially the line of Kunitz-Bonino-Rust. They seemed to be clicking really well right out of the gate, they were hard on the forecheck and quick getting the puck out of their end.
*Rust in particular was on another level. The right wing was on a mission since his skates first hit the ice. He notched an early goal just 1:45 into the first period, later adding an assist on Matt Cullen's shorthanded goal in the second, scored on a penalty shot with a filthy backhander top shelf, and, to top things off, landed the empty-netter for the first hat trick of his career. His 4-point night is just his 2nd multi-point game of his career.

\Evgeni Malkin is a monster at home. After a 3-point night (1G-2A), the Russian now has 19 points (5G-14A) in 11 straight games at PPG Paints Arena. He also extended his overall scoring streak to 6 games (2G-9A). The tallies give Malkin 18 assists on the season, landing him in a 4-way tie for third in the league.
\Speaking of point streaks, Crosby extended his own to 5-straight games (3G-5A) when his slap shot beat Ottawa netminder Craig Anderson from the left circle. The captain is doing what he does best, making the game look easy. The goal gives Crosby 17 in his 20 games played this season, allowing him to pass Patrik Laine for most in the league.
\As always, Crosby's puck handling skills were something of another world. In the second period, Crosby deked Anderson out of his skates in a wraparound attempt that was denied by the stick of Dion Phaneuf. Watching his offensive work is always a treat.
\The Pens' blue line has been an offensive explosion lately. Four defensemen tallied points on Monday night (Letang 1A, Dumoulin 1A, Cole 2A, Schultz 1G-1A). Cole and Schultz both extended their point streaks to 4 games, the duo totaling 13 points (4G-9A) over the span.
\Kessel was on top of his game, tacking on his own 3-point night (1G-2A), to stretch his point streak to 3 games. In that span, Kessel has 3 goals and 3 assists.
\Forty is the new 20. Matt Cullen was the only Penguin to not record a shot on goal on Saturday against Detroit, despite earning an empty-netter. He was able to get a shot off on Monday, scoring a shorthanded goal in the second period after outskating two-time Norris Trophy winner Eric Karlsson.
*Monday night's matchup was the Penguins' 445th consecutive sellout, surpassing the 8 million mark in attendance during this span, which began Feb. 14, 2007. Even actors Bryan Cranston and Steve Carell were on hand for the occasion. The home record during the sellout streak is a strong 285-129-30.