- Joe Vitale line with Adams and Cooke to start the game for the Penguins. Michalek and Martin the starting D-pair. The Rangers are 21-1-1 when scoring first, thus the first goal in tonight's game is of the utmost importance.
- Some decent back and forth action over the first 2:30 of the hockey game. James Neal with a decent chance on Lundqvist at one end, and MAF has to make an early save on a trickling puck at the other end.
- Kunitz scores off a juicy rebound in the slot at the 3:16 mark of the period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead after Fedotenko misses a wide open net down at the other end of the rink just prior. Assists to Martin and Neal. Penguins are 16-6-3 when scoring first.
- Gaborik driving to the goal, tries to stuff the puck past MAF shortside just past the 4-minute mark of the first period. Deceptive little move from Gabby, but Fleury hugs the post and freezes up.
- Again Craig Adams and Tangradi are BEASTLY in their cycle-game, the Penguins fourth line has a relatively easy time maintaining pressure in the Rangers zone about 5 minutes into the period.
- The Penguins have outshot their opponent in the last 11 Games played since December 23, 2011. As of the 6:38 mark of the 1st Period, the Penguins hold a 5-0 advantage in SOG.
- Sullivan with a deceptive wrist shot from the boards just past the 7 minute mark of the period, Lundqvist is able to make a save and push the puck out of danger. The King looks pretty good early on in this game. He has been tested.
- Eric Tangradi and Stu Bickel drop the gloves at the 8:56 mark of the period. A couple of guys right here trying to establish themselves as full-time NHL players try to beat each other up, a pretty uneventful fight though.
- Dubinsky and Malkin exchange some cross-checks / punches / shoves right off the ensuing faceoff. This game is starting to get more physical, and dare I say a bit chippy. No penalties on the play.
- Dubinsky has a glorious chance out from behind the net in the slot near the 9:10 mark of the period, but MAF is up to the task. Moments later, Staal on the center drive [Marc] deflects a puck toward the Penguins net, and Fleury makes another big save.
- Rangers are dead-set on getting under Malkin's skin but I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Bruce Boudreau said on 24/7 last year that was the best way to play Malkin, but lately Geno has been a force when pissed off. Natural hatty incoming?
- Unsportsmanlike penalties for Michalek and B. Boyle at the 9:48 mark of the period and the clubs will skate 4-on-4. MAF with a couple big saves early in the 4-on-4 on Derek Stepan, and apparently a block from Letang with his glove around the 9:15 mark.
- Penguins - Sullivan's line - getting some good pressure down-low past the 13 minute mark of the period. Engelland has a couple big shots from the point, but Lundqvist keeps the Penguins from scoring.
- With 4:19 to play in the 1st Period, the Penguins lead 1-0 and hold a 10-6 advantage in Shots on Goal. Kris Letang shot right off the ensuing faceoff, and the Penguins add another shot; Lundqvist again freezes up.
- The Penguins have been trending in the right direction recently with their responsible play. Through better defensive structure, the Penguins are creating more turnovers and it's leading to more offense. Also of note is the fact that the Penguins continue to out-shoot opponents by a large margin. All good signs for this Pittsburgh Penguins club - whom about a week and a half ago had a lot of negative buzz surrounding them.
- Martin and Prust exchange some punches behind the Penguins net just past the 18:00 mark of the period, after Prust checked Martin into MAF while playing the puck. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this game.
- Rangers with some maintained pressure near the end of the period. Near the 19:30 mark, MAF manages to freeze the puck in a goal-mouth scramble with Gaborik looming. The Penguins clog up the ice, and will go to the 1st Intermission leading 1-0.
- Evgeni Malkin leads all Penguins forwards with 6:59 TOI, and had 1 SOG and was +1 through the first 20 minutes. Chris Kunitz registered 1 Goal, 2 SOG and +1 rating in 6:25 TOI. James Neal had 1 Assist, 1 SOG and was +1 6:28 TOI. Kris Letang led all Penguins defensemen with 8:29 TOI, registering 1 SOG. Zbynek Michalek fired 2 SOG, had 2 PIM and a +1 rating in 7:46 TOI.
First Period Totals:
Penguins 1 - Rangers 0
SOG: 14-8 PIT
HITS: 16-16 tie
FOW: 11-8 NYR
BLKS: 5-2 NYR