In another exciting match up, the Pens take Game One from the Canes 3-2. Before you get TOO excited, the Canes lost the first game of each of the prior two series, both of which they obviously won......however, 12 teams have lost game 1 of their first two series and won them both, but NONE have lost the first game in three series that they came back to win. This game was evenly played in terms of hits, faceoffs, shots on goal and was THIS CLOSE to overtime......The Pens seemed a bit rusty at times, but did what they had to do. Interesting story line one is the fact that the Pens stars, Malkin, Crosby and Fleury had their fingerprints all over this one, with Malkin getting a goal and an assist, Crosby an assist on the game winner, and Fleury making numerous great saves......BUT the real story is the continued contribution of once banished Miroslav Satan, who scored a brilliant goal on a breakaway, and my VERY least favorite Penguin Philippe Boucher getting an assist and the game winning goal. Talk about secondary scoring!
One other factor in this series may end up being depth.....in a playoff season and series that is often a war of attrition, the Pens superior depth both with forwards and defenseman could factor in.
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