At the beginning, I thought this game might go like the seventh game against the Caps. The Pens seemed to be a half-step ahead of the Hurricanes for the whole first period. This resulted in a 2-0 lead after one. The shots on goal in the first period would lead you to believe that the lead would be the other way, but the Pens were outplaying the Canes for most of the first period.
In the second period, it seemed to me that the Hurricanes picked up the half-step they needed to get back in the game. Fleury did what he had to do to win this game. He played very well. Cam Ward also played well. He made some great saves, two on Billy Guerin alone. The Hurricanes got a goal in the second period by Chad Larose. However, the Canes found themselves down by two goals again after a Phillippe Boucher goal midway through the third period. The Canes kept working hard. They used relentless puck pursuit to keep the pressure on the Penguins. With less than two minutes remaining, the Hurricanes scored to get back within one. They had a powerplay and added an additional attacker by pulling the goalie to get the goal. The game got very interesting for the final moments, but Pens were able to fight off the desperate Hurricanes attack and win the game.
One thing I can say is that I am glad the Hurricanes are not better finishers. I thought they had some great plays in front of the Pens net. They had some nice passing (too much passing at times) and some open guys in the slot. Fleury made a number of big saves on those plays. The Canes, however, misfired on some chances. Carolina had some good opportunities to change the outcome of the game. The Pens are definitely going to have to pick up their play if they want keep winning.
This was a clean, hard-hitting, well-played hockey game. Not at all like the previous two series. In fact, it seemed a bit boring, at times. The lack of any real hatred or inside story-line seems to make it less exciting. I think it will get better.
Notes:
- Sergei Gonchar was in the lineup for game 1. I have to say, he looks tentative out there. I am sure he is still hurting. He is a valuable member of this team and I hope he gets better. We will need him.
- Though the Pens went 1-4 on the powerplay, I was hoping for more from the red hot PP unit.
- The previously ineffective Carolina powerplay went 1-2.
- You gotta start givin’ it up for Satan. He is playing well.
- Though they did not get a goal, I thought the third line was very good again. Tyler Kennedy really looks good. If he could just finish some of those great plays he is making………….
- Matt Cooke was also very effective. He was playing very hard and hitting anything that moved.
- What is up with Eric Staal batting Fleury’s stick out of his hand and then sweeping it away, out of Fleury’s reach? Isn’t that interference? Aside from that, I thought the officiating was pretty good tonight.
On a side note: there was much talk leading up to this series about former Pittsburgh favorite Bill Cower. It turns out he may of cut his Pittsburgh roots since moving down south. It seems (though he has not committed to it) that he may be cheering for the Hurricanes. In fact, he has become responsible for cranking the Hurricane horn (pictured) This is, of course, much to the chagrin of the Pittsburgh faithful.
The current coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, on the other hand, is a big time supporter of the Pittsburgh Penguins. So, as good as Cower was, let’s forget about him and move forward with Mike Tomlin.
Hey, anybody know the guy in the background. He seems to take umbrage with Paul Maurice.
Great game today guys. Let’s do it again on Thursday.
The way I see this series is, Too long in between games to get any feel for it yet. Still waiting for game two and that`s not until tomorrow night. It`s like starting out all over again. I do`nt know if that`s a good thing or not for the Pens. I do know this, forget Cowher, he means absolutely nothing. Matter of fact, the only reason he`s sirening in the first place is because the “NATUREBOY” RIC FLAIR couldn`t make to the game that night. Woooooooooooo!
Has anyone ever seen Cowher wearing a Penguin jersey or at a Penguin game or Pirate game? I’ve seen pictures of Tomlin in Crosby and Malkin jersey’s and sitting in with the crowd at Penguin games.
For not being originally from Pittsburgh, Tomlin sure has become part of it, plus, he did in two years what it took Cowher 14 years to do.
Cole and Ruutu have 15 games each in the postseason and have scored but 1-goal. Big deal over nothing. It might benefit the Hurricanes to get them out of the lineup.
Erik Cole’s goal scoring and play has been dropping since he scored 30 a few years ago. Carolina traded him for Pitkanen but Maurice must have convinced Rutherford he was a key. If the Pens keep playing as they are they will wear-down the Canes just as they did the Flyers and the Capitals. Carolina’s forwards and defensemen won’t handle the pounding and the biggest factor in Carolina’s favor is the healing time between games.
Go Pens.
Is it me or is Cole soft, he cheap hits Orpik from behind (he owed him one, I’ll give him that) then Cooke barely touched the guy and he drops like a sniper picked him off.
@ Dunlap – [This was a clean, hard-hitting, well-played hockey game.]
Not according to Paul Maurice who claimed it was dirty. Amazing that Scaott Walker cold cocks Adam Ward while Ward has his hands at his side and the Canes only see Cooke’s blindside of Walker in January. I’m not downing the Canes as I think this series is really going to be a close as last nights game but from Maurice, to big whiner Cole (try handling it more like Gonchar) and also their fans (such as, Bill Cowbeller cranking up the siren) and the rest of the NASCAR folks who generally whine a lot. This team should pack up in the middle of the night and move back to Hartford and then turn that arena of theirs over to something they know more about – like, Monster Trucks Shows. Screw-em all. I’d like to change my pick to pens in 4!
It was good to see that Geno got MAMA Malkin to dump that RED sweater.
Where is spell check when you need it?
Where is the honorable mention to Malkie’s parents? They are definetely our good luck charms.
Great game. I think it will be an interesting series. Glad to see we broke Cammy early. That is the only way we are going to stay in the game. We need points early against the defense mind set.
Cooke figured if Ovechkin can get away with it and no call, might as well try it. Not even close to what Ovechkin did. However, it is Matt Cooke.
I’m surprised at Malkin not getting a star last night but I see you didn’t make mention of him either. In my opinion he was the best forward on the ice last night.
6 SOG, 1 goal, 1 assist and a +1. Maybe with all the Staal hype and Crosby hype and the goalie hype everyone was looking the other way.
Looking over a few Carolina boards they are already claiming slew-footing on Eaton and knee-to-knee on Cooke indicating both were dirty plays. And it’s just the first game. This could get fiesty.
Fleury was simply better than Ward in game 1. As to the Penguin poop focusing on Cowher . . . is this site planning to turn into Stillerpoop?? 😉
I think the guy behind Maurice is just letting him know that the Pens are #1.