One Down. Three To Go. Pens WIN

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1 Down. 3 To Go. Bylsma and Shero have preached all year that it's just a race to 4. The Pens opened up the race with a dominating win.

A little drama occurred pre-game when no one knew who was in between Beau Bennett and Tyler Kennedy.  During the pre-game skate, the Penguins official twitter account said that TK was on the 4th line, but then shortly after, Pittsburgh media members said that Beau was in.

Pens opened up the game with a video that had pretty much all of us ready to run through a wall.  What an opening.  Consol was electric.

Pens opened the game buzzing.  Matt Cooke got inside the Islanders heads early and was exchanging blows with one of the Islanders players.  Then former Penguin Brian Strait jumped off the bench and basically ran Cooke over, stupid penalty.  Pens get a PP.  First unit was buzzing and then Iginla almost killed Nabokov with a slap shot off the top of his mask.  Shortly after that, Pens got Bennett on the ice.  Islanders cleared it but it hit the linesman near center ice.  This could be the hockey gods repaying the Pens from missing Danny Briere's offsides in last years playoffs.  Martin dished it to Malkin who passed it to Bennett, Bennett came with speed and sniped Nabokov with 10 seconds left on the Powerplay. 1-0 Pens.

We 100% support Beau Bennett playing, this goal probably solidified his spot in the lineup, what a performance by #19.

Couple minutes later, Iginla-Adams-Dupuis had some shit going on the rush, Nabby made a few big saves but Craig Adams kept the play going.  Adams got the puck to Iggy in the slot, Iggy fired but Nabby made a big save but the puck still was free and Dupuis tipped it in. 2-0 Pens.

This is Pascal Dupuis' world, and we're all living in it.

Pens killed a penalty late on a questionable interference on Cooke.  Pens got a late power play because Mark Streit gave up on a play and Brandon Sutter gained speed through the zone.  Pens had a powerplay carry over to the 2nd of 1:14.

The second period was much like the first.  Pens ended up with a 5 on 3 early in the 2nd for like :36 seconds.  Key note:  During the 5 on 3, Hamonic hit James Neal on the boards and Neal seemed to come down on his ankle wrong.  Puck eventually got to Letang, who sniped it past Nabokov.  3-0 Pens.

Pens could do no wrong, but the first penalty expired, so it was a normal powerplay goal.

40 seconds later, Jussi dished it to Eaton, who shot it off Nabokov's pads and Pascal Dupuis was all over the puck and put it behind Nabokov. 4-0 Pens.

Nabokov exit stage left, enter Kevin Poulin.  Nabokov gave up 4 goals on 15 shots in less than 22 minutes.
Only second time he's been pulled all season.

Poulin was sharp to start the period when he came in, but the Islanders couldn't generate much offense.  The offense that they did generate, either the Pens defense were blocking shots or MAF was there to answer the call. James Neal left after the 4th goal, and did not return the rest of the game.

With about 7 minutes left, Jussi got the puck to Tanner Glass who innocently shot the puck on net, 5 hole. 5-0 Pens.

When Tanner Glass is scoring goals, as an opponent, you probably know it's not your night.

Later in the 2nd, Morrow destroyed Tavares, Matt Martin wanted to fight but no dice.  Matt Martin sucks.  Matt Martin also cross checked Tanner Glass in the back 30 feet away from the puck but no call.  Big thing to take away, Islanders tried to goon it up and gain some momentum but the Pens were not interested at all.

Third Period was nothing to really get excited about.  The Pens held onto the lead and just dominated some more.  Morrow and Murray were hitting anyone wearing a white jersey.  Late in the 3rd, Marty Reasoner clipped Jussi Jokinen with what appeared to be a knee, ended up being skate on skate.  Still dirty hit and probably should be hearing from Shanahan.  A couple people were ejected, Pens finished game on a PP with basically their 4th line and 3rd D pair on the ice.  Fleury shutout. 1-0 series lead.

Papa Fleury is 2-0 since Baby Estelle was born.

1. Marc-Andre Fleury

2. Pascal Dupuis

3. Jarome Iginla

Other notes:

- Pens won special teams battle (Pens 2/4 on PP, NYI 0/4)

- Jarome Iginla 2 assists

- Dupuis 2 goals

- Bennett 1 goal 

- Jokinen 2 assists

- MAF 26 saves

- Mark Eaton 8 Blocked Shots

- Tavares was invisible, 0 shots on goal (4 total by that line)

- Morrow, Murray, Letang hit everyone in sight, including multiple times on Tavares

- Not sure the extent of Neal and Jokinen injuries, Bylsma said no update and he's not giving one

- Pens dominated every aspect of this game

Game 2 is Friday at 7 at CEC.

#RemembertheIgloo

Go Pens