It's a similar scenario to New York a couple of weeks ago, the Pens come in leading 2 games to none and into a city where they haven't won this season.  Coming in I heard the Flyers say all the right things--they'll feed off the home crowd, they haven't played their best and they even said they will quit whining about the calls against them.  

The Pens are 3-1 on the road this post-season and this will be the wildest crowd yet.  After more than 50 stitches for a cut around his eye, Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn is likely out for tonight's game, if he can't go, look for rookie Ryan Parent to fill his spot.  The first 10 minutes of tonight's game will be key to see where this series goes, if the Pens can get out to a lead and quiet the Philly crowd like they did at MSG--they could find themselves in a very good position by Wednesday morning.

Pens head coach Michel Therrien had to choose 3 of 4 guys to play in game 2 with Max Talbot returning from injury--Therrien picked Georges Laraque, Gary Roberts and Talbot to play on the 4th line.  That group combined on the game-winning goal with Talbot knocking it home as the Pens beat the Flyers 4-2 and lead the series 2-0.  Laraque controlled the puck, got it low to Roberts, who backhanded it to Talbot.  Sidney Crosby, Marian Hossa and Jordan Staal also scored as Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 30 shots.  Hal Gill also played quality minutes, playing what seemed like a couple of extremely long shifts.  Sergei Gonchar does not get enough credit for his defense, the power play quarterback plays solid defense.  Gonchar stopped a couple of Philly chances with his rock solid fundamentals.  Talbot said after the game, "if I never play again I can say I scored the game-winner in a playoff game."  Jarrko Ruutu adding Stanley Cup champion teams get solid play from all lines and that's what the Pens are getting.  Thankfully, the game didn't come down to the replay showing what appeared to be a Pens goal that was disallowed.  We move to Philly, talk to you from there.

Evgeni Malkin scored two huge goals as the Pens take a 1-0 series lead.  The players and Michel Therrien saying after the game the goal with 6 seconds left in the first period gave them a lot of confidence (and really ignited the crowd).  Malkin added the sick slapper past Biron for the cushion.  Crosby and Sykora also scored and the forwards did a great job of keeping Philly on their heels by keeping pressure on them.  Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots as the Pens take game 1, 4-2.  The Flyers lost the first game in each of their first 2 series wins.  Game 2 Sunday night at 7:30.  Watching Crosby and Malkin at the interview podium laughing together is a sight we'd all like to see for the next 15 years.

Evgeni Malkin with the last 2 goals, as the Pens lead it 4-2 in the 2nd period.  Malkin's first made it 3-2 with 6.5 seconds left in the first period.  Malkin then was caught behind short-handed after being drilled behind the Flyers net,  He got a pass from Ryan Whitney, wound up and blew one past Marty Biron to make it 4-2.  Petr Sykora and Sidney Crosby scored the other goals for the Pens.  Mike Richards has both of the Flyers goals on assists from R.J. Umberger.  4-2 Pens mid-way through the game.

The Flyers showed up in Pittsburgh on the eve of the Eastern Conference Finals.  The national media is growing especially from the Great White North who are left without a rooting interest.  Among the questions they asked, "How do the Pens compare themselves with the young Edmonton Oilers dynasty? (which most of the players weren't born to see) and "What kept you from quitting on Michel Therrien during times he called you out? (most players said they deserved the criticism and that he's not that bad, when you are winning).

Max Talbot did not practice again today, it doesn't look good for game one Friday night.  However Talbot is no longer wearing a boot on his foot.

We all can't wait for this series to start and I found myself asking a stupid question today, not that it was my first.  Like the fans and players, we want this to get underway.

Tomorrow morning on KDKA with Rob Pratte, reaction from the Pens to the series starting, plus you'll hear from the Flyers.

All but Max Talbot practiced at Mellon Arena today as we are getting closer to game one between the Pens and Flyers.  It was an intense workout with a series of conditioning drills.  Sidney Crosby brushed off concerns of him scoring in the playoffs.

It was interesting to hear the players talk about all the fan attention to Gary Roberts, the love the WWGRD.  Georges Laraque is the ring-leader hanging different sayings up in the back of the locker room.  Laraque says Roberts gets a kick out of it and Roberts says he wants Laraque to be his agent.  Laraque also said Roberts could take Chuck Norris-"Norris is just an actor, Roberts is the real thing."  A couple of the players favorite slogans... Ty Conklin-"Roberts could check a revolving door and the grass at Gary Roberts house is green on one side and blood, sweat and tears on the other."  Jordan Staal-"Gary doesn't wear a watch, he determines what time it is."  Ryan Whitney and Tyler Kennedy-"Gary Roberts marinades his steak with pepper spray" and Brooks Orpik with my favorite-"Gary Roberts doesn't push up, he pushes the earth down."  Conklin added it's fun for the players because Roberts gets embarrassed.

Thursday morning on KDKA hear from Sidney Crosby, the players talking about how their rivalry with Philadelphia started in the AHL and how Michel Therrien feels about former AHL counterpart and Flyers head coach John Stevens.

All but 3 worked out for about an hour at Mellon Arena today, Max Talbot, Petr Sykora and Hal Gill were the only players to miss.  Head coach Michel Therrien said Talbot is still day-to-day with a broken bone in his foot.  

The topic of the day was staying disciplined.  Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque and Jarrko Ruutu were among those saying the Pens must continue to play smart against Philadelphia and not get baited into penalties.

Pens general manager Ray Shero talked about growing up the son of former Flyers coach, Fred Shero.  Fred was the head coach the last time the Flyers won the Cup.  Shero said Philadelphia is still obsessed with his father's Braodstreet Bullies and now understands the rivalry better being in Pittsburgh.  The Pens G-M said his only hatred of Pittsburgh hockey growing up was of the youth hockey team who used to beat the teams he played on.

Hear from Plum native R.J. Umberger tomorrow on the KDKA Morning News and some of the players, from both sides, talk about Umberger tomorrow afternoon.

Here is the schedule for the Pens-Flyers series-all games except Sunday, May 18th (3:00) are 7:30 starts.

Friday, May 9         at Mellon Arena                                        Versus
Sunday, May 11    at Mellon Arena                                        Versus
Tuesday, May 13  at Philly                                                      Versus
Thursday, May 15 at Philly                                                      Versus
Sunday, May 18     at Mellon Arena (if necessary)              NBC
Tuesday, May 20   at Philly (if necessary)                            Versus
Thursday, May 22 at Mellon Arena (if necessary)               Versus

Coming up Tuesday morning on KDKA you'll hear the players talk about facing the Flyers.  Ryan Malone says he expects a little of everything, including blood in this series.  The Pens are 0-3 all-time in playoff series against the Flyers, including some memorable games.  But as FSN hockey analyst Bob Errey told KDKA's Bob Pompeani, Philly is playing well, but they haven't faced a team like the Pens.

A couple of great story lines as the Pens move on to the Eastern Conference finals beating the Rangers 3-2 in overtime.  First, Marian Hossa finally buries some opportunities including the gamer.  Hossa kept a power play alive in the 2nd period diving to keep the puck in the zone and eventually was rewarded with the goal--those plays often go overlooked, but despite struggling with his scoring, Hossa continued to work hard.  

Second, the undervalued play of Jordan Staal.  His play on the penalty kill and the little things he does go unnoticed by many.  

Third, let's give some credit to Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.  He stopped a ton of great Pens chances, a lesser goalie and this series would have been a rout.

Fourth, Evgeni Malkin and his spectacular goal to make it 2-nothing.  He has become the Pens most electric goal scorer.

Fifth, the Pens poise.  Despite their youth, they never got rattled even when the Rangers tied the game.  Credit to Michel Therrien for having them well prepared.

Sixty-eigth, Jaromir Jagr.  Jagr played like a superstar in this series.  His yapping at Sidney Crosby drew deserved boos from the Mellon Arena crowd, but he is the second best player in Penguins history.  One day he will be celebrated here.

We'll talk more about the Pens-Flyers series coming up.  Ben Roethlisberger was at the game and was the 3rd best Pittsburgh play-maker in that building. 

Jaromir Jagr scored twice, including an empty net goal, as the Rangers stay alive with a 3-0 win.  Brandon Dubinsky added the other power play goal which made it 2-zip early in the 3rd.  New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29 shots as the series moves back to Pittsburgh Sunday with the Pens holding a 3-1 series lead.  Head coach Michel Therrien says they need to think of the big picture and they have a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win at Mellon Arena.

41-year-old Gary Roberts is back tonight filling in for Max Talbot who is officially day-to-day with a foot injury, but it looks like he'll need a week of rest after taking a shot of it killing a penalty Tuesday.  Roberts is ready to go in possibly his final shot at winning a Stanley Cup.  Rob Scuderi will play tonight.  Scuderi has the same injury as Talbot for the same reason, just not as severe.

Rangers head coach Tom Renney says they're going to make history winning the next four games.  To their credit, they've been in all the games, but the Pens right now have an answer for anything thrown at them.  Michel Therrien says his team is ready.

I took the "E" train to the World Trade Center this afternoon.  That train used to service the buildings and now that line comes to an end just before the on-going construction.  Walked up the stairs and taking a first look at Ground Zero I couldn't help but think of the video of the building coming down and what it must have been like that day.  My eyes watered thinking about what happened, then my emotions turned to anger when I think about what those cowards did to the innocent victims and their families.

What a strange morning, upon arrival at Madison Square Garden this morning the early news out of some of the New York tabloids was that Sean Avery's life was in danger.  As it turned out, Avery was never in any life-threatening situation, but he has a ruptured spleen which will means he's out.  Interesting to watch Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and Max Talbot, each of whom have confronted Avery, show genuine concern for his welfare.  Not that they wanted to play against him, but when they found out he was in trouble the brotherhood of pro hockey players was stronger than any team bond.

Max Talbot had a boot on his foot, he and Rob Scuderi may miss tomorrow's game 4 after getting hurt blocking shots.  Head coach Michel Therrien said he'll have to wait and see.  Meanwhile the team seems focused on winning tomorrow and not rest on a perfect post-season.  

The Rangers will come hard for their injured emotional leader and the Pens need to be ready for that.  I talked to a couple of New Yorkers today and asked them what they knew about Pittsburgh.  Here were there responses--Steel town, old mills, doesn't care about Pittsburgh, smog and the final one simply-Steelers.  I'll update the blog after morning skate with the latest on Talbot, Scuderi and if Gary Roberts returns. 

On the day Evgeni Malkin was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy, the night was even better.  Malkin with a pair of goals including a crucial power play to make it 4-3 going into the third, turning the momentum and giving the Pens a commanding 3-0 series lead.  Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 36 shots and the penalty kill shutout the Rangers again, 0-5 tonight.  Marian Hossa started the scoring with his 3rd of the playoffs, Ryan Malone and George Laraque also scored.  Laraque saying in the locker room the Pens were lucky.  Lucky or not, they're a win away from the Eastern Conference finals.