Party on Fifth Ave.

[redsox907]

Fuck McDavid. Get that trophy brodie

[Captain Canada]

3 vs. 5 PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA Boeser pots two as Crosby-less Pens slip past Oilers, claim Game 1 on home ice GAME SUMMARY As soon as the puck was dropped between Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Pittsburgh Penguins star veteran center Evgeni Malkin, it was known that the league was in for a riveting and action-packed Stanley Cup Finals. The two teams battled to a deadlock in the first period, trading chances that were swept aside by goalies Stuart Skinner and John Gibson. Malkin would take two costly penalties early, tripping up McDavid on his second shift of the game, but the Pens' ever-improving penalty kill unit proved stout. The opening goal wouldn't come until more than halfway through the game when Oilers' depth forward Travis Dermott snuck one past Gibson after a clever feed from veteran Corey Perry, going low blocker side on Gibson after a defensive lapse. Less than a minute later, PPG Paints Arena would be back on their feet after Rickard Rakell ripped up the right side into the Oilers' defensive zone and sniped one past Skinner, tying the game up. It wouldn't be tied for long as the goals continued to come in droves, as former first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins regained the lead, taking a feed into the slot from Viktor Arvidsson and putting one past a floundering John Gibson, who couldn't get across in time. About four minutes later, Brock Boeser tied things up once again, scoring his eighth goal of the playoffs, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush feed from Trevor Zegras. Defenseman Matt Grzelycyk would give the Pens' their first lead of the game with only two seconds to spare, sniping one from the point after a point-to-point feed from defensive linemate Jack St. Ivany. "We showed no quit whatsoever," commented head coach Mike Sullivan. "We've seen so many times that when we get pressed against the wall, we fold. We didn't do that today. We walked into the third period with our heads high, knowing another wave was coming. I'm proud of our sense of fight." After killing off Malkin's unfortunate third penalty of the night, the Oilers would knot things up once again with Nugent-Hopkins' second of the game and sixth of the playoffs. Boeser would give the team the lead once again, proving why he was such a clutch acquisition at the trade deadline, tipping a Matt Grzelcyk-slapshot from the point past Stuart Skinner. Evgeni Malkin would ice the game with an empty net marker, putting to bed a game he would ultimately like to forget after three unfortunate penalties. "Need to keep more disciplined, and lead a bit better. I can't do anything from the penalty box." Malkin commented after the game. The Penguins managed to stay alive without their captain Sidney Crosby and survive the waves of the Oilers' speedy and relentless offense behind an outstanding effort from goalie John Gibson. The team has remained quiet on whether Crosby will in fact be available for Game 2. Rookie forward Rutger McGroarty will be a game-time decision for the Penguins after not finishing the game with an upper body injury. SCORING SUMMARY 1st Period NO SCORING 2nd Period 10:47 - Travis Dermott (1) Assisted by: Corey Perry 11:30 - Rickard Rakell (7) Assisted by: Boone Jenner & Bryan Rust 12:18 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (5) Assisted by: Viktor Arvidsson & Evander Kane 15:41 - Brock Boeser (8) Assisted by: Trevor Zegras & Erik Karlsson 19:58 - Matt Grzelcyk (2) Assisted by: Jack St. Ivany & Boone Jenner 3rd Period 6:29 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (6) Assisted by: Evander Kane 7:09 - Brock Boeser (9) Assisted by: Matt Grzelcyk & Trevor Zegras 19:19 - Evgeni Malkin (7) Assisted by: Brock Boeser & Matt Grzelcyk Goaltending Matchup vs. Stuart Skinner - 25 saves on 29 shots | John Gibson - 31 saves on 34 shots

[Captain Canada]

1 vs. 5 PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA Crosby returns, teams up with Boeser as Pens take strong 2-0 lead in dominant Game 2 effort GAME SUMMARY "We're playing like we've never been here before - enough is enough." Those were the sentiments of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid after the Oilers dropped Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-1. The Oilers, in their second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, will hope to right the ship and steal at least one game when they return to Canada for Game 3 in Rogers Arena. The Oilers hoped to split the series' first two games with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby out for the first game with an upper body injury. Crosby returned to the lineup for Game 2, slotting back in between wingers Trevor Zegras and Brock Boeser. He didn't miss a single beat, collecting two assists in his first game of this year's Finals. "It wasn't fun watching from the press box, but I knew I would have been a liability out there had I forced it," Crosby commented during the Penguins' post-game press availability. "I trusted the guys to hold down the fort until I could feel good enough to be a contributing member of the team. We're feeling good where we're currently at, but the job isn't finished yet. This is a really talented team that has overcome a lot of adversity that we're playing, so we can't let out foot off the gas just yet." Evgeni Malkin opened the scoring late in the first period, beating Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner off a narrow-angled shot that clanged off the post and then off his pad before sneaking past the red line. Malkin struggled in Game 1, drawing three different penalties that the Oilers were unable to capitalize on. Brock Boeser picked up his 10th goal of the playoffs, as well as his third of the Finals thanks to a slick, backhanded pass from Crosby to set Boeser up perfectly to rip one past Skinner. Not even a minute later, Blake Lizotte was sprung for a breakaway, sneaking behind the Oilers' defense and capitalizing with a perfectly placed shot to push the Penguins' lead to 3-0. The Penguins capitalized on one of their few powerplay opportunities of the Finals so far after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was called for a slashing minor. Crosby found Boeser yawning in front of the net, giving him his second of the game and his playoff-leading 11th marker of the game. The Oilers had some life breathed back into them after their pair of superstars - McDavid and forward Leon Draisaitl - linked up for a goal to cut into the Penguins' lead late in the second period. This would end up being their lone goal of the game. Erik Karlsson would open the third period by racing up the right side into the Oilers' defensive zone, sliding a slick forehand-backhand shot past Skinner to push the Pens to a 5-1 win. The team is expecting to show the same lineup for their first game on the road for Game 3, although injured forward Rutger McGroarty is expected to travel to Edmonton with the team. SCORING SUMMARY 1st Period 19:50 - Evgeni Malkin (8) Assisted by: Bryan Rust & Erik Karlsson 2nd Period 12:42 - Brock Boeser (10) Assisted by: Sidney Crosby & Erik Karlsson 13:34 - Blake Lizotte (2) Assisted by: Sam Poulin & Erik Karlsson 16:21 - Brock Boeser (11) Assisted by: Sidney Crosby [PP] 17:36 - Leon Draisaitl (6) Assisted by: Connor McDavid & Zach Hyman 3rd Period 0:48 - Erik Karlsson (3) Assisted by: None Goaltending Matchup vs. Stuart Skinner - 28 saves on 33 shots | John Gibson - 25 saves on 26 shots