Wow!!! What a first period!

The goaltending left a lot to be desired at the Penguins grabbed a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period.

Fleury seemed to get more comfortable after poke checking Umberger on a breakaway and then making a nice save on the rebound, on a shot by Lupul. This was just after Crosby tied the score at 2.

Sykora opened the scoring for the Penguins on a beautiful goal and Mike Richards then potted two to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead, with Umberger getting assists on both.

Malkin scored with 6.5 seconds remaining in the first. That has to give the Penguins a boost and really deflate the Flyers with a goal so late in the period.

Flyers outshot the Penguins 12-11 in the period with Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger leading the way with four and three shots respectively for the Flyers. Malkin had three shots on net for the Pens.

Flyers were 12 of 19 on the faceoff.

Jordan Staal is lining up against Mike Richards. Richards is plus two and Staal is minus two for the period.

Sergei Gonchar led the Penguins in ice time with 8:37 while Braydon Coburn had a whopping 9:11 for the Flyers in the first stanza.

Continue reading "Game 1- Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh" »

Posted by Michael Finewax at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Notes from the first period:

Boy, is Johan Franzen Superman or what? It looks like the only way the Stars will be able to stop him is with Kryptonite.

On Detroit's first goal, Tomas Holmstrom gave Marty Turco no chance to make the save as he screened him perfectly. The only way he was going to stop Rafalski's shot was if it hit him.

The Stars better stay out of the penalty box as both Red Wings goals were with the man-advantage.

Kirk Maltby is playing in his first game of the post-season. He played 2:16 minutes in the first period.

Notes from the second period:

Another power play goal for the Red Wings as Holmstrom potted one.

The first even strength goal by Filppula. A beautiful passing play as Kronwall hit Samuelsson who got it quickly to Filppula and the puck was in the net.

Dallas finally came alive after the Red Wings made it 4-0 as they swarmed around Osgood, who was great when he had to be.

The Stars finally beat Osgood as Morrow knocked in a rebound.

Brad Richards has five of the 15 Dallas shots on net.

Pavel Datsyuk has seven shots and Henrik Zetterberg has four shots on goal, out of 25 by the Red Wings.

All three have combined for 16 shots and no goals through two periods of play.

Notes from the third period:

No scoring so Detroit leads the series 1-0.

Detroit outshot Dallas 31-21 in the game,with Zetterberg and Datsyuk each getting seven shots apiece.

Detroit won 35 of 56 faceoffs.

Well, at least the Stars signed Fabian Brunnstrom today.

Posted by Michael Finewax at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Sens at least look like they are trying tonight. It's amazing how different this team is with Alfredsson in the lineup. Shots are about even, as are scoring chances, after two periods. If Ottawa doesn't win this evening this series will likley be over.

It's hard enough stopping Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom and Franzen. What the Preds don't need is goals against by the likes of Draper. If Hasek stones Nashville for the second half of the game, this series could also be over by the weekend.

Posted by Brian Rosenbaum at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Wild are peppering Jose Theodore in the third and have just take the lead on Mikko Koivu's goal with 1:49 left in the contest. Colorado was one period away from going home up 2-0 in the series.

That is the kind of goal that can change a series.

Posted by Brian Rosenbaum at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alexander the Great has had over 13 minutes of ice time and has yet to register a shot on goal. Great overall defensive effort by the Flyers.

Can't blame Gerber for the 3-2 deficit against the Pens after two periods. He's kicked out 38 of 40 Pittsburgh shots.

The snore in New Jersey continues. 27 shots between the teams. No goals

Posted by Brian Rosenbaum at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)