Pittsburgh Penguin fans greeted the New York Rangers with a sea of white Friday night. The energy in the four-decade old Mellon Center was palpable.
The ‘Broadway Blue’ responded with the game’s first three goals – the last of which came just a little over three minutes into the game’s second stanza. The veteran club did what any road team desires: quiet the fans.
And the opportunity was there for the Rangers to take a playoff game on the road.
Then the wily Rangers turned wild.
First, Jarkko Ruutu tallied for the Penguins. 14 seconds later, Pascal Dupuis made it a one-goal game.
The Penguins scored twice in the first five minutes of the third period – taking the lead for the first time on Petr Sykora’s goal.
New York responded to tie the game.
The game remained tie until Evgeni Malkin put Pittsburgh ahead to stay in the game’s final two minutes.
On Sunday the upstart Sixers looked ready to grasp the opportunity to take a 3-1 in games over the Pistons.
On their home-court Philly held a ten-point halftime lead. But a resurgent Pistons buoyed by the emotions of Rasheed Wallace outscored the Sixers 34-16 in the third and finished with a 93-84 win.
Instead of a 3-1 series lead the Sixers find themselves tied with the Pistons.
Random Fact: Since joining the NHL for the 1917-18 season, the Montreal Canadiens have won a Stanley Cup in every decade. That is until now. The Habs have two more chances – this season and next – to keep this streak alive.
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