Penguins Sink Flyers 4-2 in Stadium Series Set-to

I have a confession to make. I didn’t see the first half of last night’s Stadium Series matchup at Heinz Field.

By the time I arrived at the Pennsbury Pub and Grille to view the game on a big screen TV, the Penguins had already forged a 2-0 lead over the blood-rival Flyers. Replays revealed that Sidney Crosby and Nick Bonino did the honors.

No sooner had I settled onto a barstool and ordered a beer than Philly’s Jakub Voracek walked around the normally redoubtable Ian Cole in the corner and beat Matt Murray with a brilliant individual effort off the end boards to make it 2-1.

Oops.

I held my breath for a second, hoping no one noticed our fortunes had turned the instant I walked in. Didn’t want to be labeled a jinx.

As I began to take in the game, a friend named Joe approached the bar next to me. We made small talk while I glimpsed the proceedings from the corner of my eye. In particular, I wanted to see how the newest Pen, Ron Hainsey, was faring in his black-and-gold (or gold-and-black) debut.

“I was there,” Joe muttered.

“Huh?” I replied, only half listening.

“I was at the game,” he continued. “About 10 rows back in the one corner. Couldn’t see a thing. Left after the first period. The wind…it was too darn cold.”

Joe proceeded to describe what he was wearing—long johns, Under Armour, hoodie and winter parka I believe—but by then I’d tuned him out. I really wanted to watch the game.

I winced as an unidentified Flyer lined up Pens defenseman Justin Schultz, fresh off a concussion, only to pull up at the last moment.

Thank goodness. The last thing we need is for Schultz to get hurt again.

Judging from replays, it appeared as though I’d missed most of the mayhem that’s come to typify the “Battle of Pennsylvania.” Brandon Manning’s crushing (and dirty) hit on Jake Guentzel, who set up our first two goals to earn the game’s first star. Eric Fehr’s payback collision with Voracek minutes later. And the near-scrap between Chris Kunitz and Flyers toughie Dale Weise.

Indeed, the game—at least from my standpoint—had grown a bit dull. Worse yet, what little action there was seemed to be heavily skewed in the Flyers’ favor. I later learned Philly had piled up a 16-7 edge in first-period shots on goal.

I took a long draw from my beer.

C’mon Pens. We can’t lose to these guys.

Absorbed by the game’s ebb and flow, I began to note some changes.

Why is Kunitz playing with Sid? He’s not a top-line winger any more. What the heck is Hornqvist doing on a line with Bonino? Jeez, Sully…

Then Matt Cullen scored on a rebound off a wraparound attempt early in the third period, and I breathed a little easier. That is, until Philly’s Claude Giroux grabbed Guentzel’s stick while circling out of the corner, pulled it towards him, and somehow sold a bogus holding call to the referees.

“That’s a bleep call,” railed a buddy from a table nearby. “Are they blind?”

It took all of 14 seconds for Philly’s lethal power play to cash in. With Wayne Simmonds providing the hockey equivalent of a solar eclipse, Shayne Gostibehere (as in, you gots-to-be-here to believe it) beat Murray with an absolute rocket from the point.

Poor “Muzz” didn’t stand a chance. One of the few times all evening (36 saves).

Worried anew, I fidgeted and fretted until the 14-minute mark, when Chad Ruhwedel returned the favor with a gift long-ranger that somehow evaded the radar of goalie Michal Neuvirth. I ordered another beer and mellowed out while the Pens wrapped up a 4-2 victory. Leveling their record in outdoor games at 2-2.

While everybody else celebrated, I felt mostly relieved. Relieved it was over. Relieved we’d won. And relieved nobody got hurt.

Ice Chips

The Penguins outhit the Flyers, 50-39. Philly outshot the Pens, 38-29, and won 59 percent of the faceoffs.

Hainsey played 21:08, equaling his career average. He finished the game a plus-1 with four hits, one blocked shot, and one shot on goal. The former Hurricane was second to defense partner Brian Dumoulin in shorthanded ice time (3:09).

The fourth line of Cullen, Fehr and Tom Kuhnhackl (eight hits) combined for three points. Cullen’s tally was his 10th of the season, marking the 15th time Matt’s reached double figures in goals during his NHL career.

Cameron Gaunce (five hits) teamed with Ruhwedel on the third defensive pairing. Kris Letang missed the game with an upper-body injury. Steve Oleksy and Carter Rowney were healthy scratches.