Dupuis Sends Flyers Crashing in OT: Penguins Win 3-2

Jean Beliveau he isn't, that's for sure.

But Pascal Dupuis showed a similar flair for the dramatic, scoring on a laser slap shot from the left wing circle into the top corner over Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki with 11 seconds left in overtime to give the Penguins a 3-2 win and send the Flyers out of Mellon Arena still winless this year.

With the win, the Penguins raised their record to 2-1-1 on the season and helped bring some optimism to a team that hasn't been feeling all that good about itself since Saturday's lifeless loss to the New Jersey Devils.

In all frankness, Dupuis owed the rest of the boys on the bench. His center last night, Sidney Crosby -- you might have heard of him? -- set him up for 3 glorious scoring chances on one shift earlier in the game. Each time he hit Niittymaki in the Flyers logo.

Where's Marion Gaborik when you need him?

(F-Hossa).

I promise a post talking more about Gaborik sometime soon.

Anyway, the Penguins played a much better contest last night. They probably had the better play for more of the game. The second period in particular was one of their best. That's when they got their 2 goals.

Not from Crosby.

Not from Evgeni Malkin.

Not even from Petr Sykora, who was making his first appearance in a game this season.

Nope.

Instead, Mike Zigomanis scored his first goal in a Penguin uniform. And if that couldn't be topped, Brooks Orpik also scored. It was Orpik's 5th career goal.

With him and Scuderi scoring already this year, who needs Gonchar and Whitney?

Okay. I'm kidding.

That said, Orpik's goal came on a nice power-play slap shot that went far side passed a screened Niittymaki, while Zigomanis wasted no time whipping a snap shot to the far post passed the Flyers goaltender after nicely slipping into scoring position in front of the net and one-timing a good pass from winger Matt Cooke.

Zigomanis sure looked like he knew what he was doing there.

The Penguins had a brief lapse late in the second period when the Flyers scored both of their goals to tie the game -- one resulting from a bad bounce that Jeff Carter made the Penguins pay for, and another on a tip from a point shot. Hard to fault Fleury on either one. He again played strong and made 28 saves.

Other notes from the game:

The power play went 1-6. It continues to be a work in progress, but the Penguins had better scoring chances on the man-advantage in this one. They continue to use Goligoski as the only defenseman on the first unit and, in truth, he still looks good out there. He did a good job distributing the puck last night and kept it in the zone several times when the Flyers tried to clear. He also has shown a patience under pressure that all good point-men must have.

Eric Goddard and the Flyers Riley Cote had a spirited bout in the first period last night. Goddard got the decision 65/35. See for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbjdd_wHsXw



The Penguins need to try and build some momentum from this game. They won without meaningful contributions from Crosby or Malkin, and that's a good sign. But they have to get those 2 guys and some other members of the offense going. There's no better time with Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals coming to town for the next game Thursday night. A.O. usually brings out the best in Crosby and Malkin, so we'll see.

I'll be at the game, so should have even more insight than usual when I post my game recap.

Let's Go Pens.