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With some luck getting extra tickets, John & Kim join us for this game. It's Kim's first-ever NHL playoff game!
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Looking up through the Mellon Arena's exoskeleton.
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Carol poses with Marian Hossa, who ends up being the star of the game. An omen, perhaps??
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We walk around to the front of the Igloo, where hundreds of fans have gathered to watch the game on a huge video screen.
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Kim, John, & Carol pose in front of the crowd.
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Yeah, you have to appreciate this foursome effort to spell out "PENS"... but what you can't see is the girl with the "E" on her stomach. I would have taken a photo of her, but I didn't have a wide-angle lens. Yikes!
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The video screen.
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You have to love the fan support!
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We hang with Iceburgh.
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Iceburgh is apparently against the new 10% "Onorato-Fitzgerald" drink tax!
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Gate Ten, our traditional entrance to the Igloo.
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With the extra tickets, Kim & I sit in Section C1 on the North end of the rink. Good thing, too... all five goals were scored there!
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Evgeni Malkin always stretches out smack dab in the middle of the faceoff circle.
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Let's see if Kim stays awake...
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We spot Carol & John in our usual seats in Section B10.
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Sidney Crosby takes a shot on Marc-Andre Fleury during warm-ups, with Marian Hossa trailing for a rebound.
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Petr Sykora winds up a slap shot for Ty Conklin.
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Tyler Kennedy ("Misterrrrrr KENNEDY!") wrists the puck at Marc-Andre Fleury.
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The pre-game show features some cool on-ice video. "Time to seal the deal!" With the opportunity to close out the series and a possible Game 6 looming in New York the very next night, no truer words have been spoken.
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The crowd gets loud.
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The starting lineups stand for the National Anthem.
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Jeff Jimmerson belts it out. SING IT, JIMMY!
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Towels twirl.
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Marc-Andre Fleury gets ready for another solid performance (20 saves, .909 save percentage).
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Start the clock!
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Just 6:37 into the game, Jaromir Jagr gets a minor penalty for hooking Jordan Staal!
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A faceoff in New York's end on the power play.
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Ryan Malone gets a prime scoring chance in front of New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
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After about ten attempts, I finally get a real smile out of Kim!
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New York's Chris Drury decides that his blood would look good on the ice, courtesy of Ryan Malone's stick. "Clean up in aisle ten, please!"
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Jaromir Jagr gets his second hooking penalty of the game. Tisk, tisk.
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New York's Michal Rozsival is slapped with a minor penalty for tripping Evgeni Malkin...
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...on the ensuing power play, Ryan Malone takes a shot from the high slot. This one misses, but just seconds later...
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...GOAL!!!
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Marian Hossa scores off of a seamless feed from Ryan Malone!!!
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The crowd is deafening!
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Pens lead, 1-0!
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Woooo-hooooo!!!
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Scoring chances don't get any better than this.
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Just a few minutes later, Evgeni Malkin single-handedly carries the puck in from center ice and scores a mind-blowing, spin-o-rama, backhanded, top-shelf goal!!!
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WHAT A GOAL!!! WOW!!!
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What is this? Is Kim actually excited at a hockey game?!? My master plan is working...
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Penguins lead, 2-0!
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The crowd intensifies!
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Evgeni Malkin attempts a cross-slot pass to Sidney Crosby.
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Marc Staal skates away from his brother, Jordan Staal, after checking him hard into the boards.
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Kim and I pose during intermission.
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The cave. When does the new arena open??
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After New York scores two goals in the third period to tie it up at 2-2, the game goes into sudden-death overtime.
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Sign of the Game: After losing Game 4 in New York, there's no place like home. The crowd completely neutralized Jaromir Jagr with its incessant booing whenever he touched the puck.
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The Penguins "division champions" banners, soon to be joined by the 2007-08 edition!
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Kim tries to calm me down with a smile.
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In overtime, Marian Hossa tries to stuff one in on New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist. This one fails, but just a few minutes later...
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Moment of the Game: Marian Hossa scores the game winning goal!!! Yup, the picture itself is terrible, but what can I say? I was just a tad excited!
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PENGUINS WIN THE GAME!!!
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PENGUINS WIN THE SERIES!!!
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EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS, HERE WE COME, BABY!!!
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WOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
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LET'S GO PENS!!! LET'S GO PENS!!! LET'S GO PENS!!!
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The crowd goes absolutely insane!
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The teams line up for the traditional handshake line.
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The Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000-01! The opponent? None other than our hated cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers.
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Honorable mention for sign of the game: "Bring on Filthadelphia!"
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2nd Star: Evgeni Malkin (1 goal, 10 shots, and a minor penalty for interfering with Jaromir Jagr!).
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1st Star: Marian Hossa (2 goals, including the overtime game winner!).
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What a beautiful sight.
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Final score: Pens 3, Rangers 2. Shots on goal: Pens 40, Rangers 22.
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Kim and I are happy to have survived the stress of this one!
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The crowd spills out onto the street, still chanting "Let's go Pens!"
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Fan of the Game: Kim enjoyed her first-ever NHL playoff game and actually seemed excited to be there (gasp!), so she gets the nod for this one!
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Back at the car, Carol twirls her towel through the sunroof!
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Good game, eh?
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Even John enjoyed this one!
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See you all next Friday... LET'S GO PENS!!!
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