Why I'm A Fan: PENS 3 Flyers 2 OT. Pens lead series 2-0

Game 2 at Mellon Arena was one of those games where you felt proud and excited to be a Pens fan. The kind of exhiliration knowing that one save possibly saved the series being tied at one. And then capitalizing on it by tying and winning the game. If this game doesn't demoralize the Flyers, I don't know my own name. Just the sheer effort and work by the Pens equalized an even harder effort by the Flyers after a Game 1 played so poorly by them. I would've paid top dollar to be a fly at the wall at Mellon Arena.

You knew immediately that the Flyers were going to come out better and harder. However, early on the Pens still seemed to be the faster, more skilled and yes even more physical team, but Malkin hit the post early and the Flyers capitalize on a power play redirect by resident ass clown Scott Hartnell. 1-0 Flyers at the end of 1. Easily could've been 3-0 if it wasn't for Fleury. Philly had some momentum having the lead for the first time.

The second was more of a waiting game when the Pens were gonna score. They had some nice chances but either missed or Marty Biron was a little quicker. Then Dan Byslma stacked the deck, putting Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Billy Guerin on a line, which capitalized on a beautiful odd man rush with the goal scored by Guerin short-side Biron. Just a beautiful setup! The period ended 1-1.

The third started horribly for the Pens allowing a garbage goal by third liner Darroll Powe which Fleury should've saved. I just felt like the Pens were still in it if they got on the power play. Before the festivities though, the most amazing save of the playoffs thus far was made by Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. On a 2 on 1 break, Flyers star Jeff Carter puts a backhand pass to Joffrey Lupul which he saved and with a gaping net, Fleury makes an unbelievable right toe save with his body completely in the opposite direction. Save of a lifetime. I immediately thought the save on Mikael Samuelsson in Game 5 of the Cup finals last year. But they needed to tie it and after Jordan Staal draws a penalty, a new look Pens powerplay capitalizes with a goal off of Evgeni Malkin's foot. Tie game and overtime.

The OT was everything it lived up to be. Every rush was entertaining and the building thought the Flyers had momentum when the Pens got called for a penalty, but as they killed it, Philly's lack of discipline costs them as they took back to back penalties in overtime to put them 2 men down. All that happens next is usual playoff goat Billy Guerin coming through with the OT winner and chills going down my spine. Pens win 3-2 in overtime and take a HUGE 2 games to 0 lead heading to Philadelphia.





The Penguins have got to capitalize and put their foot to the Flyers' throats this Sunday. I can't think of a worse way for Philly to lose. They had this game in the bag, and let the Pens crawl back and steal it.

Plus (+)
*Marc-Andre Fleury: Amazing game. The saves that kept the Pens only down 1 was nothing close to legendary status.
*Bill Guerin: his status as a playoff choker is slowly fading away.
*Jordan Staal/Tyler Kennedy/Matt Cooke line: Tons of energy tonight. Great work. Staal is a beast!
*Evgeni Malkin: Most quiet 3 point night though, but sometimes it shouldn't always be so flashy.

Minus (-)
*Ruslan Fedotenko/Petr Sykora: Did they know the playoffs started?
*Hal Gill: I always think one of these days Hal's slow skating is gonna burn the Pens in a game. I'm always on edge.

Game 3 in Philly is gonna be hostile, but we gotta pull the plug on this team early!

Let's Get Physical: PENS 4 Flyers 1... PIT leads series 1-0

Most of the experts who picked the Flyers to win the series were banking on their more physical presence and nature to beat the more shifty and finesse Penguins. Boy, the outcome of today's game disproved that prediction (at least for one game). The Pens set the tone early with a Chris Kunitz hit to Kimmo Timonen that obviously rattled and bothered him the entire game. It was the shifty Penguins who was hitting more and making life miserable for everyone wearing orange and white. From Brooks Orpik, to Craig Adams, they were hitting anyone in their vicinity. The first period tally was scored by Sidney Crosby, who in my opinion really needed to make the first true statement to this series. The goal was reviewed but it stood. 1-0 Pens after period one.

The second period proved my notion that Jordan Staal needed to be a presence in not only this series but the entire Stanley Cup run. Though he only had one assist tonight; a 3 on 1 goal by Tyler Kennedy (1st ever playoff goal), he was everywhere! He had countless opportunities to score but just missed, he backchecked, played physical and used his long reach to his advantage. The man should've gotten a star tonight. 2-0 Pens after two.

The third was a tale of the ever popular momentum. The Flyers apparently had gained some back at the end of the second and beginning of the third, but then Mike Richards hit the post and the game stayed at 2. Then a ghastly error by Philly which made things worse that the NHL's scoring leader Evgeni Malkin capitalized on the turnover and made it 3-0. Blowout central was on four minutes later as Mark Eaton of all people scores from the point after a Crosby faceoff win. The whole Kimmo Timonen injury was actually a focal point on that goal. The man just did not look comfortable out there and the puck ended up behind the net. Philly scored a meaningless goal on the power play late, and typical Flyer antics: gooning it up. First Arron Asham and Andrew Alberts start slashing and roughing guys, then Ryan Parent cross-checked Staal to the boards. Then Billy Guerin of the Pens had enough, fighting Braydon Coburn. Oh don't forget, Mr. Ass Scott Hartnell got ejected too. Needless to say it was a tactic that will carry over to Game 2. Hope it didn't phase the Pens one bit. Penguins win 4-1 and lead the best of 7 series 1 to 0.

Plus (+)
*Jordan Staal: Best player on the ice tonight.
*Marc-Andre Fleury: Made some difficult saves routine. Seemed to have his "A" game tonight.
*The grinders (Adams, Dupuis, Talbot, Cooke): Great shifts from them. Matt Cooke was a pest all night. Adams had a hell of a game. Dupuis had some great chances. Talbot was excellent in the PK.
*Sidney Crosby: Nice to see him make the first statement on the scoresheet

Minus (-)
*The Power Play: Needs work. It's to cute. They need to keep it simple. Too predictable.
*Petr Sykora: Where art thou Sykie?
*Hal Gill: Horrible turnover on the Philly goal. You can't give these guys any opportunites.

Good win, but put it behind you! Game 2 is Friday, and its gonna be tougher and more physical. I expect the Flyers to correct their mistakes and try to steal one in Pittsburgh.




We Gotta Ways To Go!

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Round 1

It's one thing to be excited about being in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is even more exciting knowing you'll be playing one of your hated rivals. This is what we have here. The battle of Pennsylvania is known to always be a knockout drag with both teams countering with physicality and even more hatred. Of course there is some history. Let's open our history books shall we

1989 Playoffs: Game 5, the Penguins ended up stomping on the Flyers 10-7 with Mario Lemieux finishing with 7 points, but the highlight of the evening was Rob Brown's goal and being chased by an obviously frustrated Flyers goalie Ron Hextall



You thought the Pens had all the momentum after that game, but no, the Flyers came back and won the last two games to win the series 4-3.

1997: The Flyers ended Mario Lemieux's career. The Pens were down 3 games to 0 but Super Mario gave them one more memory.



To this day, I still get chills watching that goal. It was just fitting it was in Pittsburgh. Needless to say, the Flyers ended the Penguins season 2 days later.

2000: Another crack at Philly. It was almost inevitable when the Pens took a 2-0 lead after winning the first two in Philadelphia. But then two OT memories that will never go away and change momentum.

Game 3: Andy Delmore cuts it in half...


Game 4: Keith Primeau rips my guts out in five overtimes



The Flyers go on to win the final two games and steal the series from Pittsburgh.

2008: REVENGE IS A BITCH MY FRIENDS!!! Finally Pittsburgh gets on the board in this one sided rivalry. The clinching Game 5 video relieved the Pens of all the frustrations from past years. So I am happy to post the entire highlight reel from that game.



Whatever the case, this series will be determined by who has the most will and skill and capitalize on their opportunities. Let's face, the Pens are the more finesse team, but the Flyers can be a tough, rugged bunch. For me it is the goalies. Which Martin Biron will show up for Philly? I sure do hope its the one from last year. Overall I just feel that Pittsburgh has so much more fire power than Philadelphia that they can out gun them anyday of the week, plus we have an All-Star caliber goaltender that can steal the show also if it ended up being a defensive struggle. However, for the sake of the rivalry, this game goes SEVEN. Philly losing to the Rangers on the final day is really going to haunt them and not getting Game 7 in their barn. Pens in 7.

It's time...



This is not for the weak of heart.