Far be it for me to belittle the work of the Pittsburgh Penguins in last night's game. They played a tight game against the Sens. But while it looks like a dominating win, the score in no way represents how close the game actually was. Take away the Pens' lucky bounces and the Sens unlucky bounces, and it's a whole different game. It seemed the puck, and even the building, were dead-set against the Senators.


AK27 chases yet another skittish puck.

When pucks seem to hop over Sens sticks to wind up on Pens sticks, what can you do? When pucks take weird bounces off the end boards with a mind of their own and wind up on Pens sticks, what can you do? When pucks hit Sens skates and wind up in the back of the net, what can you do? When almost every puck that comes to a Sens stick is a jumping, skittering live thing that won't settle, what can you do? Just ask AK27 who benefitted from the same weird bounce that Bill Guerin buried in the Senators net, except that his, unlike Guerin's, skittered and jumped and hit post. Ask Pascal Leclair who, on Tyler Kennedy's second goal, was ready, three feet outside the paint and properly positioned. Nine times out of ten, there is no way such a slap shot gets through, but that particualr puck had eyes.

I saw a lot of good on the ice last night and little to complain about, except for the Sens' power play which was dismal, especially in the 1 1/2 minute 5 on 3 advantage (Philip Kuba where are you?). I was glad to see Michalek's first goal, and the hard work he displayed in ensuring it found the back of the net. Spezza's work was excellent as well, as he pick-pocketed many Penguins players in the offensive zone. But when "puck luck" is against you, the best you can do is grin and bear it... and ask the Scotiabank Place management to fix the end boards.