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We meet Dan Potash (a.k.a. "Mr. Hockey"), the FSN reporter who enforcer Georges Laraque recently kissed on the cheek during an intermission interview. Just one of many pranks the team has pulled on him...
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Marc-Andre Fleury leads the team onto the ice once again, heading towards another spectacular performance (28 saves, .929 save percentage).
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Evgeni Malkin & Sidney Crosby are always the last two players to hit the ice.
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The gang warms up.
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"Gary Roberts for President!" Blatant plagiarism from my "Mario for President!" sign back in 2000-01.
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The one and only Penguin Lady, with her jumbo inflatable penguin. How would you like to sit behind her??
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Fan of the Game: Drunky McPenguin (Iceburgh's long-lost alcoholic hippie cousin). Yup, that's a full-length penguin suit, folks.
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Marc-Andre Fleury tries to stop shots from Jordan Staal & Sidney Crosby at the same time. Talk about a tough assignment!
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Evgeni Malkin stays late to practice roof shots from in close.
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Carol & I get ready for the start of the 2007-08 Eastern Conference Finals!
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Jeff Jimmerson does his magic.
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The U.S. Marines deploy a Color guard for the National Anthem.
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It's a WHITEOUT!
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The Battle of Pennsylvania begins!!!
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Just 6:19 into the game, Evgeni Malkin steals the puck from Philadelphia's Patrick Thoresen, dumps it off to Ryan Malone, who makes a thread-the-needle pass...
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...to Petr Sykora, who scores with a slick, backhanded, top-shelf shot!
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Pens lead, 1-0!
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Pascal Dupuis & Sidney Crosby get an odd-man break.
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Gary Roberts disputes Philadelphia's first goal, which is ultimately allowed. Game tied, 1-1.
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Philadelphia stays true to its reputation for cheap shots and dirty play, as Braydon Coburn gets in Evgeni Malkin's kitchen.
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Gary Roberts doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is.
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Marian Hossa centers the puck to Sidney Crosby, who deftly redirects it past Philadelphia goaltender Martin Biron and into the net!
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GOAL!!!
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Score tied up, 2-2.
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Ryan Malone smiles broadly as he gives Derian Hatcher (the goon who knocked out a few of Sidney Crosby's teeth back in 2005) a face wash with his sweaty glove. Hilarious!
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For some reason, Derian Hatcher takes offense and tries to draw Ryan Malone into a fight. The refs intervene.
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With just 6.5 seconds left in the first period, Evgeni Malkin breaks into the offensive zone and unleashes a fierce wrist shot... GOAL!!!
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LET'S GO PENS!!!
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Evgeni Malkin's not done yet, folks...
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Pens lead again, 3-2!
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Talk about a good way to end the period! Second period coming up...
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Moment of the Game: After absorbing a bone-crushing check behind Philadelphia's net, Evgeni Malkin skates back onsides, gets a breakout pass from Sergei Gonchar, and fires this close-range cannon of a slapshot. GOAL!!! This picture is the shot!
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Penguins lead 4-2!
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The two-headed monster: Evgeni Malkin & Sidney Crosby.
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Sign of the Game: "Prom dress, $100. Hair & nails, $75. Spending prom night with the Pens... PRICELESS!"
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Evgeni Malkin skates onto the ice for the third period.
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Marc-Andre Fleury makes a stellar save (that required him to do the splits... ouch!) and gets a pat on the back from teammate Kris Letang.
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Sidney Crosby & Ryan Malone grind out the clock in the corners.
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Sergei Gonchar shoots the puck on a 4-on-3 break.
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Judging from this game alone, I'd guess that local costume shops have sold out of all penguin costumes!
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Sidney Crosby takes a faceoff in the offensive zone.
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Kris Letang holds off Braydon Coburn as things get rough. Somewhere in this scrum, a Flyer rips off Evgeni Malkin's necklace. The cross that hung from the necklace was never found... draw your own conclusions.
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With just 1:28 left in the game, you'd think the refs would just let these guys fight already!
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Video Clip: The Mellon Arena crowd chants "GO HOME FLYERS!" as the fight breaks up, and Evgeni Malkin gets a standing ovation as he leaves the rink.
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Gary Roberts pleads Malkin's case with the ref: "Come on, man. The guy broke Geno's necklace. Isn't that at least a four-minute penalty?!?!"
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Not much creativity in this sign. But hey, I won't argue with the premise!
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Carol gets a laugh from the newly-placed sign.
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Philadelphia pulls goaltender Martin Biron to gain an extra attacker.
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Marc-Andre Fleury & the Pens prepare to kill the final 42.9 seconds off the clock.
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Carol smiles as the game clock expires. You know what that means...
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...PENS WIN, 4-2!
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Ryan Whitney congratulates Marc-Andre Fleury on another excellent game.
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3rd Star: Sidney Crosby (1 game-tying goal).
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1st Star: Evgeni "Geno" Malkin (2 goals including the game winner, 1 assist, plus/minus rating of +3, 5 hits, and 2-minute roughing penalty). He was so upset following the scrum that he didn't even come out for the honor.
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A fireworks display follows the game.
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Penguins lead the series, 1-0!
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Holy crap, are we really leading the Eastern Conference Finals? WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!
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Next game is Sunday at 7:30 p.m. LET'S GO PENS!!!
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