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

9:02: Marc-Andre Fleury may be really close to making the jump too actually.

I have trouble believing I actually said that. A lot of trouble.

9:04: Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire just had a huge conversation over the fact that Penguins’ assistant GM Chuck Fletcher and Pierre topped it off with “Now I get to stay with you for a little longer” which was met with a seemingly sarcastic “Yay” from Gord.

The only way this is funny is if this is actually how he feels. Otherwise, I’m not sold on Miller’s acting ability.

9:08: I really want people to stop calling Evgeni Malkin “Geno”. Seriously. I don’t care if it’s “the Americanized” version of his name—he’s Russian. No one called Sergei Fedorov “Stevie” did they? Give it up.

On an unrelated note, apparently Gord and Pierre have been staying in the same hotel as Dan Bylsma. Bylsma however, has been there for three months. I wonder if he’ll steal the towels when he leaves?

9:15: After a very dominating few minutes in the Carolina zone, Chris Kuntiz wheeled out of the corner from a scrum, flipped from backhand to forehand, and fired it high-blocker side on Cam Ward. With the second period coming to an end, it’s 4-3.

9:34: The third period’s now underway, and I’m not going to lie: The intermission wasn’t really that exciting unless you’re curious about Pavel Datsyuk’s injury. And even then, we really got no new information on it.

9:36: Note to self—calculating baseball stats during hockey game, despite me not missing much (aside from what I thought was an attempt at “Dream On” by the Pittsburgh organist), isn’t a good idea.

9:39: Patrick Eaves' first goal in the playoffs in two years has the game tied again, and the 'Canes could capitalize on a flat Pens team right now. The assist goes to Ryan Bayda on the Eaves goal, and Carolina has the momentum early in the third.

9:42: After a brief room transplant, I’ve found out that Windsor won today’s tiebreaker in the Memorial Cup and that my dad thinks Taylor Hall is “really good”. Good to know.

9:43: Chad LaRose just drove to the Pittsburgh net shorthanded. During these playoffs he’s really reminded me of Darcy Tucker during the Leafs’ 2002 run where, he was still very much an energy player, but he got big time minutes and important minutes, and made the most of them.

I think LaRose has made himself a lot of fans in these playoffs.

9:46: Who would win in a fight? The Most Interesting Man in the World or Chuck Norris? Maybe the better question: Who has the better beard? Would they sit outside to watch a hockey game? Probably not, but a whole bunch of Penguins fans are outside watching it, which reminds me of hearing stories of people sitting outside Wrigley Field with radios waiting for home run balls.

OK, so it’s not quite the same, but it’s still cool. Speaking of Penguins fans. They’ll be happy. Evgeni Malkin makes it 2-1.

If it makes Carolina fans feel any better, it took him three tries to get it past Cam Ward as Malkin’s dad smooches his mom in triumph.

9:54: I know I’ve joked around about McGuire a bit today, but I really do admire him because he identifies “Non-calls” by a referee. In the playoffs, everyone thinks everything is a penalty.

Good for Pierre for acknowledging and telling people that not everything deserves a penalty. Speaking of beards…Mario Lemieux should probably shave his. Then again, if Crosby still lives with him, it offsets the fact “Sid the Kid” can’t grow one.

9:57: A monumental turnover in the Carolina zone almost led to Jordan Staal scoring for the Pens. As soon as I say that, Malkin gets a hat trick.

A play-by-play: Malkin wins the faceoff and plays it ahead of him into the corner, he picks up the puck and works to the right side of the net inbehind Cam Ward. He comes out front of the net on the forehand, flips to his backhand, and sticks it behind Cam Ward.

Gord Miller just said that if “anyone in Pittsburgh is wearing a hat, they should be ashamed of themselves”. But what if it’s a nice hat? Matt Cooke just called the goal “sick”.

I wonder if Crosby’s unhappy with this delay for hats.

10:03: Erik Cole and Chris Kunitz are getting a lot of attention—physical attention—out on the ice. No matter what direction this series goes, it’ll be interesting to watch how the games escalate.

10:05: Marc-Andre Fleury may have a two-goal lead, but he’s not slowing down at all as he makes an outstanding cross-crease save and covers up for the faceoff…and another commercial break. On the bright side, it’s that enjoyable Telus commercial with Timone from Lion King. I want one.

10:10: Apparently Sidney Crosby tied an NHL record tonight with his sixth game-opening goal in the playoffs while McGuire lauds the linesman again (which I still can’t get enough of).

10:11: Empty-net goal Tyler Kennedy. 7-4 Pens, game essentially over. Random question though: What happens if the Igloo in Pittsburgh didn’t shut off the spot lights after a Penguin scored? Is it a penalty? A forfeit? Probably not, but there’s more important things on the ice right now: Kris Letang didn’t use the tie down on his jersey (or it broke) after getting a high-stick to the chops and Miroslav Satan was absolutely FEEDING Patrick Eaves in a big late-game scrum.

Reportedly Satan’s other fight was with Petr Sykor. No. 81 sure knows how to pick’em don’t he?

Pittsburgh gets a five minute power play, but even more players are getting tossed now for cross-checking and pot shots, so I think it’s safe to say that (as Joni Pitkanen and Bill Guerin nearly fight) that there are no more warm and fuzzies in this series (that is, if this game ever ends).

10:21: Minutes later, the game finally ends after a flourish of penalties that would make the gang from Slap Shot proud.

There were goals aplenty and bad blood boiling all game long, so it’s hard to imagine Saturday being anything different. It’ll just be interesting to see if either team can stay out of the box early-on in game three.

After this, it looks like the Penguins really are entering the eye of the storm.

Bryan Thiel is a Senior Writer and an NHL Community Leader for Bleacher Report. If you want to get in contact with Bryan you can do so through his profile, and you can check out all of his previous work in his archives. He can also be reached via email at bryanthiel74@hotmail.com.

Bryan also writes for www.hockeybarn.com.

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