Game 2 roundup - Pens 4, Flyers 2

The Penguins took a 2-0 series lead with another win over the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2. Pens goals scored by Crosby, Hossa, Talbot and Staal chipped in an empty netter to seal the victory. Marc Andre Fleury saved 30 of 32 for his 10th playoff victory.

The big story of the game was the grit and determination of the fourth line. Max Talbot, in his first game back after missing the past 4 games with a broken foot, got the game winner at 8:51 of the third. Talbot even being in the game brought about much controversy before the play even started. Pens head coach, Michel Therrien made the decision to scratch forward Adam Hall so Max could start the game. There was much talk about this decision since it is generally accepted that a winning line-up should stay on the ice. Once again, Therriens decision was the right one when Talbot put the game away in the third.

Another big question is why was the fourth line on the ice in the third period of a tied hockey game? When asked about this in a post game interivew, Talbot responded, "Scoring goals...Coach Therrien really trusts us on the ice."

There have been several moves that Therrien has made in the playoff run that could have turned the course of the game for the worse, but have not. His moves have all worked out as he expected and, in lasts night's case, even produced a game winning goal. I, for one, am becoming much more of a Therrien fan than I was before these playoffs began. I felt that he was easily out coached in last season's short playoff run and really expected much of the same this time around, but his team has really bought into the system and they play it as designed.

Talbot was named the NHL # 1 Star of the Night while Marc Andre Fluery got #3.

Next up - Tuesday night at Philly, 7:30 pm on Versus, WXDX or listen here.