Furious Fleury: PENGUINS 3 Flyers 1... Pens lead series 3-1

After game 3, if there was one Pittsburgh Penguin who needed a huge game it was Marc-Andre Fleury. Tonight, he was simply stellar. He robbed Philly of about a handful of goals tonight and the Pens are just one win away from the second round.

The first period, the Pens seemed thoroughly outplayed, but Fleury stood on his head the entire period. Saving everything, plus getting help from Mr. Post. 0-0 after 1.

The second period gave Pittsburgh an early momentum shift in which Sidney Crosby scored falling down after a penalty kill. Clearly a goal before the net came off. Huge momentum goal there! A few minutes later, the most consistent line of the series so far struck again as Tyler Kennedy scored on a backhanded shot after a pretty feed from Matt Cooke. Once again Fleury stood tall as well as the penalty killing was magnificent. 2-0 Pens after 2.

The third was simply survival mode. I hate that. The Pens need the killer instinct. Fleury had it though, but his shutout ended after a bad clearing attempt by Kris Letang that led to a goal. The final eight minutes was what playoff hockey was all about. Great stick work by the Pens D, a strong goalie, and timely shifts. Maxime Talbot ends it with an empty netter to seal the win. 3-1 Penguins.

The Pens have a chance to close it out on Thursday. There should not be any way this goes back to Philly on Saturday. The Penguins have an opportunity to get some rest and wait for an opponent. However, you can never count this Philly team out. Yes they're annoying and full of assclowns, but they do work hard and a desperate team is a dangerous team.



Plus (+)
Marc-Andre Fleury: AMAZING Performance. Best since Game 5 of the Finals last year.
Staal/Kennedy/Cooke: Line chips in again. Best line thus far in the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby: Faceoff wins plus a huge first goal
Penalty killing units: Philly goes o-fer out of 8 chances. Solid job

Minus (-)
Evgeni Malkin: Where was he tonight?
Power Play: Another disappearing act tonight. Can't let that happen in Game 5.
Petr Sykora: When you're struggling (and get a gaping net and miss) YOU ARE STRUGGLING!


Get It Done Thursday!!!

They Came To Play: Flyers 6 PENS 3... Pens lead series 2-1

It was a game the Flyers HAD to win. After such a deflating OT loss two days ago, they were a desperate team, and in the playoffs, no team is more dangerous than a desperate one. The Penguins had their chance, but Philadelphia just capitalized on many mistakes.

The thought of recapping the entire game of a Penguin loss just makes me sick so I'm going to do it in a nutshell. The first period had the Pens getting the first real scoring chance of the game, but didn't capitalize, then the Flyers came out firing... Jeff Carter and Mike Richards quickly made it 2-0. However, before the end of the period, Dan Bylsma puts Max Talbot, Ruslan Fedotenko and Evgeni Malkin on a line and capitalize... 2-1 End Of 1

A few seconds into the 2nd period, the sound of doubt came over the Wachovia Center as Rob Scuderi of the Pens scored to tie the game. It should've been a momentum swinging goal, but Philadelphia showed some resiliency and Claude Giroux scores on a pretty pass that just left Marc-Andre Fleury horribly out of position. Then the backbreaker, the Pens shorthanded and too cute with the puck and Philly scores shorthanded. Ouch. 4-2 End of 2.

The nail was placed on Pittsburgh early as the fourth line struck for Philly. Brooks Orpik gets a stick in the face and bleeds. Geno puts the game closer with a power play goal, but Simon Gagne's empty netter seals it for Philly 6-3.

Horrendous game for Pittsburgh. However, amidst all the mistakes they made, they still had a shot to win this game. Game 4 is now an important "SWING" game. Philly wins, its a best of 3. Pittsburgh wins, plug will be pulled on Thursday.



Still at 14.

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!