Penguins 5, Flyers 4 – Game recap

What a comeback win for the Pittsburgh Penguins over hated rival Philadelphia on Thursday evening.

That’s mainly because the Penguins seemed doomed after the first period. They got absolutely dominated by the Flyers, who entered the first intermission with a 4-1 lead and a staggering 18-4 advantage in shots.

But there’s a reason games are 60 minutes, not 20.

The Penguins came out for the second period a completely different team, roaring back to tie the score 4-4 and outshoot the Flyers 12-3 in the frame. They played with energy, emotion and heart, working for every goal they scored. And the Penguins didn’t stop there.

They came out for the third period the same way they did for the second, dictating and controlling the game instead of the other way around as it so often is. As a result, Chris Kunitz scored his second goal of the game 27 seconds in to put the Penguins up 5-4 – which would stand as the final score.

That’s because the Penguins just shut it down. They clamped down defensively to protect their one-goal lead, with the defensemen blocking shots and closing off the middle of the ice and the forwards circling low to help out. The Penguins’ penalty killers came up with a crucial kill with 9:47 left in the frame and it got even hairier with under a minute left and Brian Boucher pulled for the extra attacker, but the Penguins dug deep and won the key battles to earn a backbreaking win over the Flyers.

An ugly first 20 minutes, but a beautiful remaining 40. >> Continue Reading <<

Media Links
Game Recap
Photo Gallery
Box ScoreVideos
Post Game: Coach Bylsma
Post Game: Chris Kunitz
Post Game: Sidney Crosby
Post Game: Brooks Orpik

Pictures