Eager to polish off their downtrodden hosts, the Pens appeared to snag a first-period lead on a goal by the Russian rifle, Egor Chinakhov. Alas, Chinny was offside on the play and the would-be, game-opener was overturned on a coach’s challenge. To keep the ledger even, the Canucks had a goal waived off as well due to goalie interference by old friend Teddy Blueger.
Nonplussed, the (Semi)-Comrade Line got us off and running at 5:24 of the second period. Chinakhov slipped a short breakout pass to Tommy Novak, who flew head-up into the Canucks’ end before feeding Evgeni Malkin near the net.