Just as they had done in their previous two series (against New Jersey and Boston), the Carolina Hurricanes sought to rebound with a win in Game 2 after losing Game 1. When Carolina has won Game 2, they have prevailed in their last five series.
But the same held true for the Pittsburgh Penguins. One team would continue the trend in hopes of turning the series in their favor. On this night, it was the Penguins, as they roared back after being down in the first period to beat the Hurricanes 7–4 on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
It didn’t take long for Pittsburgh to get on the scoreboard. With less than two minutes into the game, Sidney Crosby put the home team up 1–0.
However, Pittsburgh fans wouldn’t have long to cheer as just over a minute later, tenacious Carolina winger Chad LaRose tapped it in a loose puck for the tying score.
But the same held true for the Pittsburgh Penguins. One team would continue the trend in hopes of turning the series in their favor. On this night, it was the Penguins, as they roared back after being down in the first period to beat the Hurricanes 7–4 on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
It didn’t take long for Pittsburgh to get on the scoreboard. With less than two minutes into the game, Sidney Crosby put the home team up 1–0.
However, Pittsburgh fans wouldn’t have long to cheer as just over a minute later, tenacious Carolina winger Chad LaRose tapped it in a loose puck for the tying score.
Evgeni Malkin scored his first of three on the night before Carolina turned up the heat. Dennis Seidenberg shot the puck with a crowd of humanity in front of the Pittsburgh net. With his view obstructed, Fleury never saw the puck coming and just like that, the scrappy Canes were up 3–2 at the end of the first period.
With second period just under way, Pittsburgh center Max Talbot tied the game with a precise shot off a breakaway. Crosby and Malkin got the assists.
Carolina managed to have an answer for everything Pittsburgh threw at them. Chris Kunitz put a quick shot past Cam Ward giving the Pens a 4–3 lead after two. But, with two minutes gone by in the third period, the Canes refused to go away and tied the game courtesy of fourth-line winger Patrick Eaves.
Then Evgeni Malkin took over the game. The energetic and talented young Russian was too much for the seemingly tired Carolina defense when he put a critical rebound past Ward. Pittsburgh was back on top 5–4 in what was turning into a bizarre game.
Less than four minutes later, Malkin would add another on a fine solo effort. Despite losing a face-off, he regained the puck, rounded the net and fired a backhand in the top corner making Ward look very bad. He earned a shower of baseball caps with the hat trick.
Despite all the news about Crosby and Ovechkin, Malkin is now the leading scorer in the playoffs with 25 points. Crosby is second with 24.
The series now shifts to Carolina for Games 3 and 4 where the Canes hope the crowd can help lift them to wins on home ice. Game 3 will be played at the RBC Center on Saturday night.
