PITTSBURGH-- It isn't a true Pittsburgh sports game let alone a hockey game without a heart attack and blown leads. The crowd in Pittsburgh live in person from my point of view was vibrant for the team and the longest tenured trio in North American sports history.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were introduced on home ice as they are playing their 21st season together as a trio which is the longest in current North American sports history and running.
Pittsburgh after going down 1-0 early stormed out and dominated the Canadiens after an Evegni Malkin power-play goal in the first period and continued to push, potting four second period goals. Montreal was skating circles around the Penguins in the first period but that power-play changed the game for Pittsburgh and woke them up.
Montreal completed the four goal comeback with two late goals from Kreider and Demidov that forced the Penguins into OT. Last season was not a strong season when a game went to overtime for the Penguins. They are now 1-0 in OT with a winner off a Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak two on one.
Here are my takeaways from the game that has Pittsburgh at a 2-0 start.
Special teams had a really strong outing that helped big time
2/4 on the PP and 2/2 on the PK was a solid night for special's team work and the power-play got some solid looks throughout the hockey game which is something that Dan Muse preached on helping become consistent. Evgeni Malkin and Ben Kindel both had PP tallies in the game en-route to the win.
Sam Girard and Declan Carlile score firsts in Pittsburgh black and gold
Two defenseman goals from Girard and Carlile show just how much it means to score in the NHL and in a big game like this against a team that just went to the Eastern Conference Finals this past spring.
Sammy Girard spoke to media during practice on Friday and confirmed that he was playing with the Penguins on a broken foot after being acquired from Colorado and also played through the first round series on the broken foot. He looks back to his confident self that Kyle Dubas was hoping he would be getting when he acquired him last season.
Declan Carlile is someone Kyle Dubas brought in to essentially be the new Parker Wotherspoon and he scored his first of the season with a snipe from just below the blue line as the trailer in a Penguins rush. Carlile has seemed very confident in his role with Erik Karlsson so far and there's 82 more games to go to see how it works out.
Le Magnifique appears to be back in good shoes with new ownership and around Penguins again
One thing is for certain and that is Mario Lemieux doesn't age. As the ceremonial puck drop was set to commence, he was introduced and dropped the puck on the new era of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey with new owners and 60 years of Penguins hockey this season.
Mario is so well loved by every fan and every person in this city and it was a loud ovation when he walked from the bench to centre ice. His work around the city with his foundation and previous history he has as a player and former owner of the team is never overlooked.
Dan Muse spoke post game about his team surrendering a four goal lead and doesn't seem worried going forward.
""I'm confident that this group will work to correct the misplays from tonight.""Dan Muse on PIT collapse in third period
Arturs Silovs stopped 20 of 25 shots on goals and secured win two of the season. He made some solid saves and even had a meme potential photo after a big save early in the game.
Pittsburgh takes on Former Penguins goaltender Stu Skinner and Winnipeg who will be coming off the second of a back to back on Monday.
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