GETTING BACK TO THEIR GAME: Pens Win 3-2. Take 2-1 Series Lead

Recap after the jump.......

Just your typical playoff game getting goals from Max Talbot, Aaron Asham, and Tyler Kennedy.....

Every goal these days feels like such an accomplishment, or a miracle. Yet still, somehow someway, this Pens team is finding a way to fill the net just enough to pull out wins. After a horrendous Game 2 the Pens came out all business. They were able to silent the "raucous" St. Pete Times Forum crowd who most of which most likely came out for their first hockey game of the year. That's right...we just slammed all hockey fans living in Florida...all 15 of them. The Pens got back to the play which carried them the entire second half of the season. Great team effort, solid goaltending, and a refuse to lose attitude.

In the 1st Lovejoy goes around the net to play the puck and gets completely destroyed by Downie who left his feet to try to take Lovejoy's head off. Pens get numbers though on the play and Talbot walks into the slot and goes roof on Roloson. 1-0 Pens.

Less than a minute later, Rupp makes a sweet little move at the blue line and shuffles the puck over to Asham who one-times it home. 2-0 Pens. Gotta love how the Pens are coming out on their next shifts after goals.

Later in the 1st a scrum ensues around the net. The puck comes to Neal who has all net, but we all know what happens. He appears to get taken down, misses the net, and Kovy ends up getting called for a BS interference call. NEAL WILL SCORE A HUGE ONE AT SOME POINT AND IT WILL BE A GAME WINNER.

On the Tampa PP the puck gets knocked around the slot, goes to St. Louis and he pots in his 2nd of the series. 2-1 Pens. Stamkos gets an assist but celebrates like he won the cup. Welcome to the series Steven. You're only 130 minutes late to the party. 

Nothing really happens in the 2nd. Back and forth hockey. Fleury = solid.

Early in the 3rd the Lightning go back on the PP. Lecavalier deflects a point shot. Fleury makes the save but the rebound goes right to St. Louis blade and he puts home his second of the game. Tied 2-2. 

31 seconds later the Pens win the draw in the Bolts zone, puck gets to Letang who actually hits the net. Roloson makes the save but his rebound comes right out to the slot, where TK is there to clean up the garbage.

Oink Oink. 3-2 Pens.

17 minutes of nail biting ensues. Tampa comes close a couple of times but Fleury says no. Orpik kills some people. Rupp gets a penalty for giving Malone the business. Malone is hurt and cant channel his inner yinz. If he does he'll score this series, but probably not.

Fleury makes some saves, Michalek sacrifices his body for everything.

Tick Tick Tick Tick.....

GAME.

Three Stars:

3rd - M.A. Fleury - PIT

2nd - M. St. Louis -TAM

1st - T. Kennedy - PIT

Highlights:

Pens regain the lead in the series. The Pens did give up two more PP goals against though, showing just how important Matt Cooke is to this team's PK. Chris Kunitz made a pretty bad play on Gagne sticking his elbow out going for the head. Suspension likely on the way. Both Kunitz and Downie will be meeting with NHL officials today to discuss their actions.

LETS GO PENS