But the Penguins did an effective job of executing their game plan to pressure Carolina by controlling the puck in the offensive zone and tiring them out, outshooting the Hurricanes 42-28. The tide started to swing in Pittsburgh's favor past the midway point of the second period, when star forward Evgeni Malkin and LaRose were at the center of a melee, an apparent response by Malkin to the Hurricanes' attempts to play him more physically. The Penguins went on to kill a 4-on-3 Carolina power play, dominated the period in shots, 16-6, then closed the frame with a hardworking individual effort from Kunitz — his first playoff goal since May 2007 — with 7.3 seconds left to take a 4-3 lead. That would have deflated a lot of opponents, but not the 'Canes, who again battled back to tie the game 2:35 into the third."I was really surprised," said Crosby of the number of goals scored, all at even strength "You're not going into the game expecting that It's not the kind of game the goaltenders really want to be a part of, and it's just not something you see very often in the playoffs But when there are games like that, you've got to find ways to win, you've got to respond". | 
Marina Fox