The Pittsburgh Penguins survived a wild first period to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 7-4, on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. Evgeni Malkin knotched his first career postseason hat trick, capped off with a wicked turning backhander that snuck between Cam Ward's head and the crossbar to provide the Penguins with an insurance marker at 6-4.
The game ended with a lengthy series of skurmishes that amounted to a staggering 44 penalty minutes. Kris Letang and Tim Gleason dropped the gloves, as did
Sidney Crosby opened up an offensively loaded first period at 1:51 when Chris Kunitz found him cross-crease for a layup. After Chad LaRose tied it for Carolina, Malkin's first goal of the night restored the Penguins' lead. Jussi Jokinen and Dennis Seidenberg each scored softies on Marc-Andre Fleury to flip the lead to the Carolinian side.
Max Talbot beat Ward with a slapper three minutes into the second period, and Kunitz followed on with a fine individual effort for his first goal of the playoffs with seven ticks on the clock, giving the Pens the lead again.
After Patrick Eaves tied it once more thanks to some shoddy work by Phillipe Boucher and Sergei Gonchar, Malkin took over. He banged home the game winner on the right post prior to his filthy backhander.
Tyler Kennedy tacked on an empty netter before the line brawl occured.
Notes-
-Colin Campbell will be a busy man tomorrow.
-Malkin had four points.
-Matt Cooke had three assists.
-Again, Chad LaRose was impressive for the Hurricanes.
-Malkin's parents are quietly becoming celebrities in Pittsburgh.
Go Penguins
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