Penguins-Flyers

Hello all.

I am going to provide a real-time analysis of tonight's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Philadelphia enters with 97 points. Pittsburgh has 92. To say this is a big game would be an understatement.

7:08 p.m. The puck drops in Philly. The orange has never shown so bright. I predict a very physical game with lots of penalties. Marc-Andre Fleury in goal for Pittsburgh. Sergei Bobrovsky for Philadelphia.

7:13 Tyler Kennedy with a nice shot. Bobrovsky with a good save. Pittsburgh needs to get traffic in front of Bobrovsky.

7:19 The Flyers draw a penalty. First call for either team. The Penguins struggled without Matt Cooke on the penalty kill during Monday's win against Detroit. No big hits to report... yet.

7:24 Pittsburgh kills the penalty. Philadelphia has one shot on goal, but several chances to the left of Fleury.

7:26 With 7:37 remaining in the first period, the Penguins are outshooting the Flyers, 6-5. Not too many chances. Both teams playing a tight, defensive game.

7:32 Philadelphia's Mike Richards scores at 15:18 of the first for a 1-0 lead. The play is being reviewed, but should count. A possible high stick above the crossbar. The goal counts. Flyers score on their sixth shot.

7:41 One minute remaining in the period. With 22 seconds remaining, the Penguins' Ben Lovejoy draws a penalty. Pittsburgh on the PP. James Neal attempts a weak shot with one second left.

7:42 End of the first. Flyers 1, Penguins 0. Pittsburgh will have a power play when the second begins. The Penguins had a decent period, but still trail. The PP has to get going, or they'll not go far in this game, or any for that matter.

7:45 I'm at work putting together tomorrow's sports pages or I'd grab a beer and some pretzels. Instead, I'm going to use the restroom, grab a Pepsi, and yes, I can partake in pretzels. See you in a few. BYU-Florida, UConn-San Diego St. on right now if you want to watch something during intermission. I don't know the channels. Find them yourself. It's either CBS, TNT or TBS.

8 p.m. The second period should be underway. I am, however, at work and not controlling the TV. Sorry. I should be commended for doing two things at once. Plus, I'm expecting a call from a baseball coach, so I may leave for a few.

Sometime around 8 and 8:06 p.m. The Pens have tied the game at one. I believe Kennedy got the goal. I don't know if it was a PP goal or not. I will let you know later. Pittsburgh holds a 13-8 lead in shots on goal.

8:08 p.m. Big save by Fleury on a Jeff Carter shot with 15:12 remaining in the second.

8:11 p.m. Thanks to penguins.nhl.com, I found out Kennedy (18) scored at 1:01 of the second on a wrist shot. Chris Kunitz (23) and Kris Letang (40) pick up the assists. Power-play goal. They must have heard me.
With 6:35 into the second, Matt Niskanen headed to the penalty box and the Flyers are on the PP.

8:15 Pittsburgh kills the penalty. Philadelphia is 0-for-2 on the PP. The Penguins' PK has been strong, and will need to remain strong. Special teams are necessary in post-season play.

8:18 Commercial break. Game tied, 1-1. I smell a shootout, which wouldn't be good for Pittsurgh. They need a regulation victory.

8:21 With 8 minutes remaining, Kennedy with a nice shot that seemed to fool Bobrovsky, but the Russian is up to the task. The Penguins cycle the puck well down low. Constant pressure for about 45 seconds.

8:23 A great shot by Alex Kovalev, but Bobrovsky is up to the task, again. Geez, why do these young Russian goalies play out of their minds against the Pens?

8:27 Claude Giroux takes a penalty that puts Pittsburgh on the PP.

8:30 The Flyers kill the penalty. The Pens are 1-for-2 on the PP.

8:54 Sorry to leave for so long. Got a call from Albert Gallatin's baseball coach. That's Fayette County for all of you that don't know. Nice guy. I hope they do well.

The two are tied at 1 after two periods of play. Penguins hold a 20-15 edge in shots.

8:56 Arron Asham sent to the penalty box. Flyers on the PP. Not a good penalty. You have to stay out of the box boys.
Shorthanded chance for Pittsburgh's Max Talbot, but Bobrovsky makes a pad stop. The Penguins deny the Flyers' PP again.

9:13 With 6:54 remaining, the score is still 1-1. The Penguins need to win this in regulation. Pittsburgh needs to bury some of these chances.

9:21 The Penguins' James Neal is stopped by Bobrovsky with a nice glove save. This young kid is keeping his team in it.

9:23 One minute remaining in regulation. A point is nice, but doesn't do the Penguins any good in winning the division and the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.

9:24 Let's play five more minutes. Game tied at 1-1 after 60 minutes.

9:26 Overtime starts. Both teams have grabbed a point. I predict a shootout. I am very surprised that nobody dropped the gloves. I thought fights were inevitable when the Pens and Flyers get together.

9:31 Unbelievable puck control by the Penguins. Unfortunately for the flightless birds, no real chances were taken.

9:33 I was right. Shootout time. Flyers get several chances around the net as time expires in OT.

9:36 Philly's Ville Leino stopped by Fleury. Leino goes for the five hole. Pittsburgh's Letang stopped by Bobrovsky. Fleury stops Giroux. Alex Kovalev scores on the forehand to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the shootout. Danny Briere answers for Philly to tie it at one. Briere finds the fivehole. Neal stopped by Bobrovsky. Richards stopped by Fleury. The Penguins can win it.

9:39 Chris Kunitz beats Bobrovsky as the Flyers goalie can't block the five hole. Kunitz continues to impress in Sidney Crosby's absence.
Final score: Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 1, SO. The Penguins (94) pick up a point on the Flyers (98).

NOTES: Briere's goal was only the second time in Fleury's career that he didn't stop a game-winning attempt in the SO.