Game 2 Recap: Penguins win, 4-2 (again)

FU-MAN-CHU returns!!!

Penguins Center Maxime Talbot -- who most call "Mad Max", but who I prefer to call "Fu-Man-Chu" thanks to the one-of-a-kind moustache he was growing earlier in the year --- rejoined the Penguins lineup in grand style last night, one-timing a Gary Roberts pass from behind the Flyers net into the net for the game-winning goal in what ended up being a 4-2 Penguins win in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night.

Sidney Crosby, Marion Hossa and Jordan Staal (empty net) also contributed for the Penguins. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards (again) scored for Philadelphia. The Penguins now lead the series 2-0 going on the road to Philadelphia for game 3 Tuesday night.

The winning goal started when Flyers 4th line winger, Steve Downie -- inserted into the lineup for game 2 just like Penguins 4th liner Talbot -- turned the puck over in his own zone. Laraque helped chip it deep, where Gary Roberts beat a likely fatigued Derrian Hatcher to the puck, and backhanded a centering pass to a wide-open Talbot in the slot for the goal.

Penguins coach Michel Therrein certainly got the better of the lineup change there.

The club-foot, Hatcher, had been playing so much because Brandon Coburn, the Flyers best remaining defenseman following the news that Kimmo Timonen would likely be out for the series with a blod clot, took a puck to the eye 1 minute into the game, leaving him bloodied, swollen and off for approximately 50 stitches, and leaving the Flyers short another key defenseman.

According to Flyers coach John Stevens, Coburn had a pretty nasty gash on his nose and eye, and was extremely swollen. There is a legitimate question as to whether that swelling will subside enough for him to suit up in game 3 tomorrow night.

Anyway, as a result of Coburn's absence, the Flyers had to play the bulk of the game with 5 defensemen. Truth be known -- and believe me, I hate to give Philadelphia credit for breathing -- their defense played pretty well under the circumstances. The Penguins should have run circles around them offensively without both Timonen and Coburn. Although the Penguins could have done more, the Flyers defenseman deserve some credit for holding up and giving their team a chance to win.

Still, it wasn't enough. The Penguins again locked down defensively once they got the lead and held on to run their home ice winning streak to 7 in the playoffs and 15 games overall.

If the Flyers are going to have a shot at getting back into this series, they're going to have to start getting performances from several forwards who have been MIA. Send out the search party for the Flyers leading goal-scorer, Vinny Prospal, and leading point-getter, Daniel Briere. They haven't showed up in this series.

On the other hand, now that I think about it, who cares where they are?

How about the beating Penguins winger Tyler Kennedy laid on Flyers winger Scottie Upshall in their spirited bout last night? It looked like Kennedy was in a back alley just beating the tar out of him. His fight was the latest example of how tough the Penguins can play, as evidenced by none other than Philadelphia Inquirer writer Ray Parillo:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/20080512_Penguins_show_they_can_play_rough_as_well.html

If the Philly papers are crediting an opponent for how tough they are, you know they're in trouble.

And that's exactly where the Flyers will be if they don't turn around their fortunes in game 3 at home Tuesday night. The environment there will present the toughest road test of the playoffs for the Penguins.

Tomorrow I'll have game 3 notes, and talk a little bit about Michel Therrein.