Fleury vs. Varlamov, of course.

Still 0-0 after 5:15 of play. Varlamov with a good save a minute ago.

Orpik: 2 minutes for roughing
Semin: 2 minutes for roughing and 2 minutes for high sticking

Pens on the PP.

Game Summary
http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20082009/GS030222.HTM

Event Summary
http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20082009/ES030222.HTM

And Crosby scores on the doorstep! 1-0 Pens. That was quick. That was their first PPG in a long time.

Seconds later, Jordan Staal gets called, and the Caps have an opportunity to come back, but with Semin still in the box. Fleischmann is replacing him on the PP.

Good save by Fleury, going post to post, on a shot by Ovechkin.

Penalty killed.

Steckel with a chance, tripped down, Caps will get another PP. It could have been a penalty shot.

Guerin to the box for slashing, and apparently Letang gets on Clark's nerves, and Clark is called for elbowing.

4-on-4 hockey.

Nothing happens, back to full strength.

Poti to the box for interference, and now Green for tripping, and the Pens have a 36-second two-man advantage.

Two great saves by Varlamov on Crosby and Gonchar! Exactly what we needed now, but still, Caps should be more disciplined.

And the first period ends with the Pens up 1-0.

Shots: 13-11 Pens.

Caps only missed one shot, and got only one blocked. Total attempts are 24-13 Pens.

Hits are 10-5 Caps.

Faceoffs are 10-6 Caps (63%), thanks to Steckel's 3-0 and Talbot's 0-4.

And I restart the radio just as they announce Ovechkin's tying goal, from Kozlov and Fedorov!!! 1-1. At even strength. Good.

Dupuis to the box for sending the puck over glass.

3 shots denied by Fleury, then 3 blocked (Ovechkin with 4 of the 6 attempts). Good PK by Fleury and the Pens. Back to even strength.

3-on-2 for the Pens, Ovechkin backchecking to make it a 3-on-3, and Varlamov makes the save, no rebound.

Caps unable to clear, several giveaways, and Crosby scores!!! 2-1 Pens.

Steckel ties the game!!!!! What happened to this guy? He's been big in the playoffs so far. 2-2.

Assists to Sloan and Pothier. It's Sloan's first playoff point, on his first playoff game (Erskine is not playing).

Ovechkin draws a penalty, Kunitz to the box, Caps on the PP for the second time in this second period, in which no Cap has been called so far.

I left very early tonight, realizing that no matter what happens, there's at least one more game at VC- Pens win there's a game 5, Caps sweep there's Game 1 of the Conference Finals.

I thought it was excellent hockey tonight (but work demands I need some rest before the morning), and for once, the 3 seats to my left- no Pens'/Rags' fans, tonight it was 3 guys from Moscow on their spring break- went to NY to see the sights, and came down to see the Russian players in this game (at least 8, by my count).

Nice.

2-2 end 2nd, we shall see who wants this game more.

2-on-1 for the Caps, with Fleischmann and Semin, Fleury with the save and he freezes the rebound.

Next goal is HUGE, as friend TAK would say.....

Delayed penalty against Jurcina. Whistle. Caps on the PK after the break.

Pens' PP....

Good PK work by the Caps so far. First half OK, Poti and Morrisonn replacing the first pairing.

Caps back to full strength and Malkin goes to the box immediately for tripping. Could be the turning point. 4th penalty drawn by Steckel in this game according to Kolbe...

and OVECHKIN SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!!!

Huge goal, hehe, like you said.

Killed, and the caps get the PP

OVECHKIN! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Green and Backstrom for the assists. It's not over, though, gotta be strong in the end. 7 long minutes left.

Caps ahead for the first time in this game, but at the best moment.

Fans giving it to Fleury.... "FLEUry.... FLEUry....."

Less than 5 minutes to play...

That would be huge to win this second game. Caps would go to Pittsburgh with no pressure, to try to win one of two, and have a chance to win the series at home.

OVECHKIN WITH THE HAT TRICK!!!! Told you he would be big in the second round, hehe. Awesome. 4-2!!!!

HAT TRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OVECHKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Assists to Kozlov and Fedorov, like on his first goal.

Don't know if it's you or The Peerless who said that, but Malkin transparent in the first game: only a meaningless assist on the goal where Varlamov missed his glove save.

And in this game, nothing but the penalty that led to Ovechkin's go-ahead goal, off the faceoff.

I'm finally believing this team might go a LOOOOONG way this year.......

Pens' PP.....

Yes, and there's no unbeatable team in the entirely league. See what happened to Bruins and Red Wings. All series are tied but the Caps-Pens one.

This bunch of talented kids react very well to the huge pressure.

Must have been fjc noticed it-  certainly wasn't me. Ovie just gets in Geno's head....

And Crosby completes the hat trick too!!!! Damned PP. Jurcina with the Caps' two penalties in the third period.

Final score!!!! Caps win! Woohoo! Playoff hockey is really what matters.

5th consecutive win, if I'm not mistaken. Varlamov leads the league alone, now, with 6 wins. His GAA and save percentage have been hurt again, but only wins count.

misto's all down, but I wouldn't count the Pens out yet- 2 one goal games on the road, and got a little mo to take home on that hat goal by SC. Yeah, Malkin's been Mr. Invisible, but that may not last; and the Caps have had some nice contributions by lesser guys that may be done for the series.

We shall see.

I'm optimistic, though. It was very important to win these first two games at home, because it would have been almost impossible to come back against the Pens, who are not the Rangers. Now that it's done, they are in the best possible situation to beat the Pens. They are very strong when they're under pressure, so that should be good.

Also, the Pens played two good games, Crosby had a hat trick in this one, Fleury was good, but they still lost, so it must be very frustrating. They just don't know what to do to win, because they're already doing everything right.

My guess: the Caps win one of two in Pittsburgh, and win the series when they come back home.