The Pens had a 3-0 lead and the Flyers scored four straight to take the lead. I was thinking the Pens may be done at that point, but they found a way to get the two points in the shootout.
Early in the game there wasn't much going on. Both teams feeling each other out. Neither one could do much on the power play.
The line of Kennedy, Staal and Cooke played really well, and it paid off with a nice wrist shot by Cooke that found the back of the net. We also have to give thanks to Biron for sliding off of his angle.
Prior to the start of the second period, Steigy gets back to talking about Tyler Kennedy. I quote:
"That's maybe the one thing we don't give Tyler Kennedy enough credit for. He is a... He's got a lot of little skills. He can move the puck...."Yes, that's right - it's another reference to "little" with Tyler Kennedy. Take a drink!
Just 1:11 into the second, Geno made the score 2-0 after an extended shift. Fedotenko, Sykora and Malkin had been on for an extended shift and they stayed on as the puck headed towards the offensive zone. It could have backfired had they been caught up ice. The puck, however, wound up being buried.
Just a few minutes later, the Flyers started a penalty parade. The Pens took advantage when Sid went high on the backhand over Biron's left shoulder. Great goal, and great lead. 3-0 Pens.
The Flyers decided to play hockey again when (and it pains me to say this) Jeff Carter had a nice deflection to make the score 3-1.
The Pens went on the power play when Scott Hartnell continued his fine tradition of absolutely STUPID penalties. That turned out to be part of the Flyers secret strategy, as the Gagne blocked a Goligoski shot and beat both Alex and Geno down the ice. Flower went for the poke check on Simon, but missed. 3-2 Pens after Gagne buried it on the backhand.
Max Talbot took a penalty, but I don't think we were ever told what he did. the Flyers power play seemed to last forever. The Pens did an excellent job killing the penalty.
Max came out of the box and had a near-breakaway, drawing the penalty. He did get a shot off behind his back with the stick between his own legs. Pretty amazing shot.
Coburn used the free hand on Malkin during the power play. The Zebras didn't want to put the Pens on the two-man advantage, so there was no call. Just a bit later, Gagne notched another shorty.
Two short-handed goals allowed in one period is pretty sad. HCMT had to be burning up inside.
Eaton took a penalty with only a minute left in the period (Upshall earned a 9.7 for his tumbling skills) and Carle promptly hit the crossbar. Lucky (for the Pens).
The Flyers cashed in when the puck deflected and floated over Fleury. The Flyers had come all the way back and taken the lead. Horrible second period to be certain. The good news is that it was only a one goal game going to the third.
Fleury was yanked to start the third period. Therrien was looking to shake things up in my opinion, because while Fleury could have stopped Gagne's second goal, but I can't see that the other ones were his fault.
The third period started out kind of sleepy. Things were gummed up, and the Flyers were (mostly) on good behavior.
HCMT tried to get things goin near the halfway point by pairing up Sid and Geno again. Didn't help.
Therrien continued to shorted the bench, putting Staal with Sykora and Satan.
Carter took a cheap hit on Malkin near the boards. Geno's leg bent awkwardly underneath him. Carter's head needs to be bent awkwardly.
Lupul took a penalty, putting the Pens on the power play with about 8:00 remaining.
The Pens were screwing around with the puck too much on the power play. Patience is good, but at some point you have to get the puck to the net. Biron is not that good, but he'll be amazing if you don't shoot.
Is anyone else getting really tired of seeing the obstruction that occurs when one defense has the puck and the other one wanders in front of the pursuing forward like a member of a grazing herd of cattle? The Flyers are annoyingly professional at it. Of course, it might not be that much of an act since many of their defensemen are slower than molasses.
Sid took advantage of a fortunate bounce from behind the net and blew the puck past Biron. Tie game!
The game was going to overtime.
Did I mention the Flyers are morons?
Sid almost brought the house down on a rush up the left side, blowing past Carle and nearly beating Biron, who made a nice save.
Geno almost did the same with a nifty deflection that didn't get past Biron.
In the last minute, Carle coughed up the puck deep in his own corner, Malkin took advantage and again nearly beat Biron.
Richards almost scored with less than 10 seconds left in OT, but he hit the side of the net.
It was time for the shootout.
Biron has allowed goals on both shootout attempts he faced this season.
Sykora was up first. Biron broke his streak of allowing goals.
Sabu poke-checked Gagne, which was lucky since he (Sabu) was in the process of falling over.
Letang also missed.
Sabu again looked bad, falling over, but reached back to make an insane save on Richards.
Crosby had the puck fall off of his stick.
Carter couldn't do it either.
Malkin tried the backhand and just couldn't get the puck on the net.
Timmonen hit the post.
Satan had Biron beat, but Marty was able to do the last-chance poke-check.
Lupul tried five-hole and Sabu said no.
Goligoski tried his first shootout in the NHL, and he beat Biron. Great move by Goligoski.
Hartnell never had a chance, but his comical game-losing attempt was significant in that it's the only one that I've ever seen where the skater (Scotty-not-so-hottie) ran over the goalie. It was typical, but it didn't matter, as the Pens had won the game.
Great job getting the late goal and winning in the shootout.
Next up: Third jersey time on Saturday night against the Sabres.
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