Game 2 Recap: Penguins - 2, Rangers - 0

Another game ... another win.

This time the Penguins beat the Rangers at what most observers feel is "their game" -- a defensive gem, which in this instance resulted in a 2-0 shutout and a 2-0 series lead for the Penguins going into game #3 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

The Penguins were great in their zone all night. They didn't give up many quality scoring chances and Marc-Andre Fleury closed the door on the ones that did come through -- including a great stop on Jaromir Jagr in the 2nd period as he broke down the slot alone. The Penguins don't get enough credit for their defensive play. They won a number of close games this season, and finished 3rd in the East in goals against average per game.

Their penalty killing also continued it's strong run of late, knocking off all 6 Ranger power plays, including 4 minutes worth in the last 6 minutes of the 3rd period when New York failed to get off a single shot on goal, making Jordan Staal's 2nd period power play marker stand up as the game-winner. The Penguins have scored on the power play in every playoff game this post-season so far.

There was an interesting scrum at the end of the game, which started off with Avery, Fleury and Todd Gill. Fleury said Avery was hacking at the back of his legs (although all the video I saw of the incident didn't capture that), which caused him to lift his stick and whack Avery either in the backside or you-know-where, just like what he did to Ottawa Senators winger Martin Lapointe in the first round. Anyway, Avery took offense to that and retaliated by spearing Fleury in the chest. Gill immediately went aver Avery aggressively, first pushing him, then dropping his gloves and going after him. By then, the game was over and eveyrone on the ice joined the scrum. Big George Laraque's presence on the ice probably kept the Rangers shenanigans to a minimum, and Penguins coach Michel Terrein deserves credit for putting him out on the ice in that situation. No penalties were handed out.

At first, I was worried in the aftermath of the Penguins win and series lead that the Rangers would use Fleury's stickwork on Avery as a rallying point, since they need something to try and get the momentum back going into game 3. However, I didn't hear anything inflammatory about that incident from the Rangers side in the post-game or this morning.

The Penguins are in a good position going to New York, but it's important they come out of the gate in game 3 with a lot of intensity. The Rangers are going to be fired up and will have energy because of their home crowd. If the Penguins can match that desire early on, and perhaps even get an early goal or two, the Rangers could start pressing and get out of their game. If the Penguins prevail in the next game, they'll have a stranglehold on the series. If the Rangers do, they'll be right back in it, since most series' that aren't going to end in a sweep are 2-1 after 3 games anyway.

Regardless, the Penguins excellent play in the series so far has given them the chance to go to Madison Square Garden and, if nothing else, try to get a split, which would give them a very favorable 3-1 series lead coming back home for game 5. They will have to overcome some poor play in New York so far this season, but with them playing as well as they are now, and playing as confidently as they are at the present time, I don't believe there is any significance to their 0-3-1 record in The Garden earlier this year. To a man, I'm sure the Penguins have every reason to think they can go to New York and not only win game 3 but sweep their second straight series if they stick to their game plan and at least match the Rangers intensity.

More pre-game-3 notes tomorrow, including some thoughts on Marion Hossa.