CBC-Sports

Guerin makes Shero look like a deadline genius

April 17, 2009 11:58 PM | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff  

This time, it was no laugher.

The Penguins grabbed a commanding 2-0 series lead on the Flyers Friday night, but if Game 2 is any indication, the series got a lot tighter than it seemed two nights earlier.

Bill Guerin continued to make Penguins general manager Ray Shero look like a trade deadline genius, scoring two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, in the Pens’ 3-2 win at Mellon Arena.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Games 2 and 3 Sunday and Tuesday.

Much like in Game 1, when the Flyers marched to the penalty box 10 times, penalties killed Philadelphia in Game 2.

Just 29 seconds after Danny Briere drew a cross-checking penalty on Penguins defenceman Hal Gill, Philadelphia’s Mike Knuble was whistled for cross-checking Rob Scuderi. And when rookie Claude Giroux’s one-handed slash severed the stick of Chris Kunitz, referee Brad Meier had no choice but to call a slashing penalty to give the Pens a 5-on-3 advantage with 17:25 gone in the first overtime.

Sergei Gonchar faked the shot and found Guerin at the left side of the net.

“At first I thought he’d attack right away and I tried to cover the short side,” Flyers goaltender Martin Biron said. “Then I thought he might try for a pass. He outwaited me.”

Fleury has Carter's number ... so far

The story was quite different at the other end of the ice, where Marc-Andre Fleury was sensational, especially against sniper Jeff Carter, who has now been stopped 13 times by Fleury in the first two games.

Fleury’s best save of the night might have tilted the game and the series in the Penguins’ favour. It came with 8:35 remaining in the third period on a 2-on-1. Carter tried passing to Joffrey Lupul, but Sergei Gonchar broke up the play. The puck kicked back to Carter at the side of the net and Fleury stretched back to his right and kicked out his right leg to make the save.

“Fleury’s got quick feet and he kicked his leg out on that one,” a bewildered Carter said.

The Flyers are 2-11 when trailing a playoff series 0-2. Their last comeback from an 0-2 deficit came against the Penguins in 2000 when they lost the first two games at home.

“It’s a seven-game series and we only have to win one game here,” Flyers captain Mike Richards reasoned. “We’re going back to a building we’ve had success in and we’ll need to come back full force in Game 3.”

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