A Little Late: Flyers 3 PENGUINS 0... Pens lead series 3-2

It was the makings of a party in Pittsburgh. But if you think for one second that the Stanley Cup playoffs was easy, you are a moron. The Flyers came to play and tonight was proof. I'm disgusted, but you have to give credit where credit is due. The Penguins came out flying in the first period, but Marty Biron stood tall. The Flyers struck first on a huge slapper by Arron Asham. The Pens got a bad break as a puck was kicked in by Evgeni Malkin nullifying a goal. Two more goals in the third and it spelled doom for Pittsburgh and a horrible trip back to Philadelphia for Game 6.

Everyone was a minus in this game. No one stood out. The Flyers simply outplayed, outworked and outcoached the Penguins.



Sickening...

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.