Diary Time: Pens and Canes Score Early and Often in Game Two

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

It’s 30 degrees outside and apparently the heat is getting to everyone.

James Duthie is referring to himself in the third person (as “Jimmy”), Simple Plan is playing for the NHL on TSN, Duthie referred to an answer on the quiz as “question number c”, the situation in Phoenix is being referred to as “Coyotes Ugly”, and we may have t-shirts coming soon reading “That a baby Bobby.”

All of this happened during the pregame show, so I’m worried about what’s going to go down.

Bill Guerin’s kids are front row and ready, and so are we: It’s game two between the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins!

7:30: We’ve already heard the phrase “Cardiac ‘Canes” (Put a one on the counter). The Pens are pumped up and the ‘Canes are wounded, and Eric Staal hasn’t scored a goal in four games.

7:32: It’s Pierre McGuire, The man who lost out on the GMship (Yay for made up words) in Minnesota to Chuck Fletcher—Cliff’s son! Take note that Pierre McGuire just said that this is going to be a “hard, slick, hard game”. Take note: this is twice as hard as a normal game.

Erik Cole is back in the lineup, and apparently Tuomo Ruutu is out. Possibly more important than this, Cam Ward has never lost a game two. Interesting.

7:39: The fact that it’s a “white out” at the “Igloo” isn't very entertaining. I always like it when there’s a color involved in the crowd decoration.

White seems kind of…easy.

7:41: The Canes have the first shot of the game with a bouncing puck on Fleury as the Penguins broke out and really opened up the ice.

7:42: I’m surprised Pierre McGuire didn’t call that a “Superman Save” by Marc-Andre Fleury. Maybe the Canes have something here.

7:42: Nevermind. 1-0 Penguins. Jokinen knocked Crosby down, and then simply left him to go to the net unattended, slamming the cross-crease pass home.

7:44: “Fleury doesn’t like the puck behind him”. Frankly, I’d assume most people don’t.

That’s unfair to Pierre though, it was actually good insight. He was identifying how the dump game affects Fleury and how, when the Canes play the puck out from behind M-A Fleury, he doesn’t like it.

7:45: TIE GAME!!! A scramble in front of Fleury after Eric Staal drove (behind the icing line) around the net, and Chad LaRose has his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game.

7:46: I think with Pierre McGuire placed between the benches, teams could very well be listening to his analysis of the games and how Fleury “hates it when the puck is behind him”. The Carolina forwards seem to be making a beeline for the ice behind the net.

Things I like behind me: The lady who cuts me hair. Her name is Deb. I trust her.

Things I don’t like behind me: Richard Simmons, a rhinoceros or bull, and Brooks Orpik—You’re not slamming me face first into the boards!!

7:51: Cam Ward is 5-1 after a loss in the playoffs. Probably a good thing because Steve Yzerman is here tonight—the question is: Is he here with Team Canada or the Detroit Red Wings? Or both? Apparently there’s a wealth of possible answers to this question.

7:53: How I know that a Penguins fan didn’t jump on the “Crosby-Malkin bandwagon” (As Bill Guerin rubs out Ryan Bayda off the puck): They’re wearing jerseys from 1993-1999.

Even so, with things like eBay and second-hand shops, nothing is guaranteed. You’re all being held for further questioning so we can determine who is authentic and who isn’t.

First Penguins trivia question: In 1991, which players were included in the team photo with the Stanley Cup, but didn’t have their names engraved on the trophy.

7:57: Steve Yzerman and Cam Ward won’t be happy. Evgeni Malkin scores to make it 2-1 on a puck that dribbled out front after a chance in tight. Not the prettiest goal he’ll ever score, but it counts nonetheless as Malkin gets a salute from his parents.

7:58: Apparently I’m not allowed to type without anything happening as Jussi Jokinin (victimized by Crosby earlier) is allowed to score the tying goal from “behind the icing line”. And yes, Pierre MacGuire noticed.

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