Pens Handle Defending Champs In Convincing Fashion In Finals Opener
 Pittsburgh 5,  Anaheim 3 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | Final | | PIT (1) | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 5 | | ANA (0) | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
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,
Arrowhead Pond,
Anaheim, CA
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Shots PIT 26 ANA 22
Anaheim (AP)--
It would take until the Stanley Cup Finals for the Pittsburgh Penguins to finally open up a series with a victory as they would handle the Ducks with relative ease in a 5-3 victory tonight at Arrowhead Pond.
The scoring would start early for the Pens when
Sidney Crosby would tally his first of two goals just 1:20 into the contest when a rebound would come to rest at his feet with
J.S. Giguere down and out. Crosby would tap the puck home and would score again under 10 minutes later when a cross slot pass would deflect of
Scott Neidermeyers stick and into the net for a 2-0 Penguins lead.
The Ducks would claw back into the game with a pair of goals from
Jason King and
Rob Niedermeyer, tying the game 2-2 at the midway point of the contest.
The deadlock would be short lived as
Jordan Staal would tally his 9th goal of the post season just 2:59 later and
Chris Kunitz would extend the Pens lead to 4-2, scoring just 1:42 after Staal sending the Pens into the second intermission leading by two goals while the shots were tied at 14-14.
In the third period the Ducks would attempt a comeback when
Travis Moen would score his 6th playoff goal 14:14 into the frame pulling the Ducks to within one. The rally would be snuffed out when the Ducks would pull the goalie and cough the puck up to
Pavel Bure, who would race towards the Ducks net as
J.S. Giguere attempted to return to the net. Bure's shot would hit Giguere as he dove back into the crease a second or so too late as Bure's 11th marker of the postseason would seal the 1-0 series lead.
"That was as strange of a goal as you'll see...it should have an asterisk next to it since for all intents and purposes, that net was empty", said an upset
Chris Pronger who felt that Bure's celebration was out of line considering the positioning of Giguere on the play.
The two teams face off once again as the Pens look to take a 2-0 lead heading back to Pittsburgh for games 3 and 4.
Key Stats
Crosby 2 Goals (10), Assist, 7 SOG
Kunitz Goal (6), Assist
Staal Goal (9)
Bure Goal (11), 5 SOG
Fleury 19/22
O'Donnell/Kondratiev 2 Assists
R. Neidermeyer Goal (1)
King Goal (1)
Moen Goal (6)
Giguere 21/26