Canadiens 4 - 5 Penguins

Let me start off by saying, what a game. The first two periods weren't much for show, but the third period had enough action in it to compensate. Huge win for the Penguins, great confidence boost for the new coaching staff, congratulations Dan Bylsma on your first NHL coaching win.

Penguins got on the board first with a delicate shot over Carey Price's left shoulder by Petr Sykora, Minard and Malkin assisting. The Penguins skated into the 1st intermission with a 1-0 lead and only allowing Montreal 3 shots. The second period was more of the same, with a few more pucks crossing the line. Tomas Plekanec snapped a shot by Fleury in the second, only to be answered a minute later by Miro Satan who deflected a Ryan Whitney blast from the point. Again, however, Montreal came back to tie it 2-2 after a wicked slapshot by newly acquired Mathieu Schneider on the PowerPlay beating Fleury over the blocker.

The third period saw 5 goals in the first 7:18 of the 3rd period. Pittsburgh jumped right out and got a goal from Malkin after recieving a one-touch, cross-ice pass from Crosby. Malkin had to dive to make contact (and was impeded briefly) and tapped it by Price. The Pens went on to lead 4-2 after Max Talbot shoveled a loose puck in front easily past Carey Price while a scrum continued to the side of the net, only 3 minutes in still. Merely 13 seconds later Kostitsyn took a wrist shot that hit the bullseye, beating Fleury by squeeking it in on off of the far post. Three minutes later and Plekanec added his 2nd of the night, tying the game at 4-4. Not to be outdone, the Penguins were right back on the issue. Sergei Gonchar released a laser from the point just 47 seconds later and took the lead 5-4 for the Penguins. After that there were countless odd-man rushes and great chances at both ends, eventually the Penguins stood their ground and walked away with 2 points in regulation.

My three stars:
1 - Sergei Gonchar 1g-0a, GWG
2 - Tomas Plekanec 2g-1a
3 - Evgeni Malkin 1g-1a, +3

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