October 6th: Game 1 Penguins @ Vancouver

(Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)


(Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)


Game 1
October 6th
Pittsburgh @ Vancouver.

Penguins had a long off-season after losing three playoff matches in a row and being eliminated by the Lightning in Game 7 of the first round last season. They were hungry for win.

While Penguins where eliminated, The Canucks beat the Blackhawks in a Game 7 Overtime in the first round and went on to beat Nashville and San Jose to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history. Last time they were in the Finals they lost to New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 7 1994. Fans were rioting in the streets of Vancouver that night.



17 years in the future. Stanley Cup Final 2011 Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins. Bruins who already had two game seven matches heading in to this series. After Bruins tied the Series 3-3 it was time for a Game 7 for the canucks this time, only diffrence. This one was in Vancouver. Vancouver lost Game 7 again. But this time they lost by 4-0. Fans were rioting again and it was like never before.



Canucks great playoff-run ended in a car crash. Under the off-season The Canucks lost one member of their roster. Rick Rypien, a 27 year old center for the team killed himself after battling depression for a while. The team was hungry for a win after losing Game 7 and want to give a tribute to Rick with a win. This wasen't going to be an easy game.


1st Period
05:04 1-0 PPG James Neal (1) (Evgeni Malkin (1), Kris Letang (1))
12:30 2-0 PPG Matt Cooke (1) (Pascal Dupuis (1))
16:20 2-1 Maxim Lapierre (1) (unassisted)

2nd Period
03:09 3-1 SHG Matt Cooke (2) (Jordan Staal (1), Kris Letang (2))
17:47 3-2 Keith Ballard (1) (Henrik Sedin (1), Daniel Sedin (1))

3rd Period
07:51 3-3 Daniel Sedin (1) (Henrik Sedin (2), Sami Salo (1)

OT:
(nothing)

Shootout:
Mikael Samuelsson.....SAVED BY FLEURY!
Kris Letang.....SCORES!
Alexandre Burrows.....SAVED BY FLEURY!
Evgeni Malkin.....SCORES!

Marc-Andre Fleury (33-36) saves
Roberto Luongo (25-28) saves

Penguins win 4-3 (3-3) in SO.

Nikman's Three Stars:
3. Kris Letang.
2. Evgeni Malkin.
1. Marc-Andre Fleury.

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*Marc-Andre Fleury was pure awesome. After letting in a goal he became the Classic Fleury that we all know and love.

*Evgeni Malkin with Game-Deciding Penalty Shot.

*Kris Letang with the Game-Winning Penalty Shot.

*Really great to get 2 points from the Stanley Cup Finalists.

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*Penguins let the Canucks come back.