x1.

-As always, there's a ton of Penguins fans in Carolina. EN reader Damon Athens the jersey of the night, Ron Tugnutt:

-The Penguins' starters are Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Steve Sullivan, Kris Letang, Paul Martin and Marc-Andre Fleury.

-Their scratches are Dustin Jeffrey and Steve MacIntyre.

-The Hurricanes' starters are Chad LaRose, Eric Staal, Brandon Sutter, Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison and Cam Ward.

-Their scratches are Joni Pitkanen and Anthony Stewart.

-Root Sports provides your lines and defensive pairings:

-The Staals are brothers:

-Dan Potash's mustache is intense:

14:52: Eric Tangradi hustles after a puck behind the net and deals to Niskanen on the right half wall. Niskanen chops a one-timer on net. It sneaks through traffic. Ward is able to fight it off.

14:26: Niskanen swats a big slapper at the cage from the right point. Ward kicks it out with his right foot.

14:22: Adams thumps Zach Boychuk to the ice in front of the Hurricanes' bench.

11:56: A puck deflects out ot the right point. Niskanen chops it on net. Ward fights it off.

11:49: James Neal collects teh rebound, circles around on the right wing and chucks a wrister at net from the right half wall. Ward makes the initial save. Sullivan is there for the rebound but is robbed by the left leg of Ward.

10:50: Jordan Staal pushes the puck into the offensive zone and leaves a drop pass for Letang. Letang snaps off a wrister from the slot

10:28: Zac Dalpe hits Martin from behind in the right wing corner. He pretty much elbowed him in the back of the head. Elbowing, charging, roughing. Whatever you like. That's a minor. Stupid play by Dalpe. Neal, Malkin, Sullivan, Letang and Chris Kunitz take the ice.

10:13: Letang drives a one-timer from the top of the slot. Ward makes the inital save. Kunitz is right there for the rebound but can't beat Ward who dives to his left to fight off the chance. Kuntiz is hammered to the ice for his troubles. 

10:05: Sullivan controls the puck at the top of the slot and booms a slapper which clinks off a post. There's a scramble for the rebound but no one in a white jersey can get a stick on it.

9:03: Neal has a wrister from the slot deflected out of play. A massive scrum breaks out. Malkin slashes Jay Harrison in the legs. Harrison, Patrick Dwyer, Malkin and Neal head to the box for roughing. The Penguins stil have a power play for 35 seconds. Martin, Jordan Staal, Kunitz, Sullivan and Letang take the ice.

8:32: Martin chops a rising slapper from the top of the slot which hits a body in front and deflects out of play.

8:18: Bob Errey compares Steve Sullivan to potatoes:

  = 

-Sure why not?

7:38: Skinner gets loose on the right wing and goes one-on-one against Engelland. He tries to deke around him but Engelland goes stick on puck to break it up.

7:25: Asham slams LaRose to the boards on the left wing of the Penguins' zone.

7:04: LaRose releases a heavy wrister from above the right circle. Johnson punches it away with his blocker.

6:27: Off a faceoff win, Derek Joslin chucks a wrister at the net from the right point. Johnson knocks it away.

5:54: Malkin comes swooping in and steal a puck off Brandon Sutter in the Hurricanes' zone. That leaves Malkin one-on-one against Ward. Malkin goes with a wrister. Ward kicks it out with his right foot. Sutter owes Ward a beer.

3:46: Sutter has a clean chance off the left wing but snaps off his wrister wide to the far side. He has to get that on net.

3:09: Jordan Staal deals a pass from the right circle to Orpik on the left half wall. Orpik rips a wrister which Ward fights off.

2:52: Jordan Staal trip us Jokinen on the right wing wall of the Hurricanes' zone. Park, Cooke, Martin and Orpik take the ice.

2:44: And right away, the officials even it up as Jamie McBain is called for tripping Park in front of the Penguins' bench. Park sold it a bit. Four on four for 1:52.

1:42: Malkin has a chance in tight. He goes backhand-forehand and is denied by Ward's right leg.

1:36: Eric Staal pumps a slapper from the right wing. Johnson eats it up.

0:57: Orpik levels Jokinen with a check at the Penguins' blue line. Jokinen lose his glove but appears fine.

0:52: Jordan Staal's penalty is killed. The Penguins will have eight seconds of power-play time.

0:44: The McBain minor is killed.

0:00: End of period. Hurricanes 1, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-Lots of skating. Lots of hitting. Lots of shooting. Lots of fun.

-If not for a leaky goal allowed by Johnson, this is a 0-0 game.

-The Penguins were the better team that period. They had the bulk of quality scoring chances. The difference was Cam Ward. He came to play.

-The Penguins' power play didn't score that period, but it looked dangerous. It's a refreshing change.

-The Penguins have a 10-5 lead in shots.

-Malkin leads the game with three shots.

-None of the Hurricanes has more than one.

-Tim Gleason leads the game with 8:51 of ice time.

-Letang is right behind him with 8:50.

-The Hurricanes have a 16-10 lead in faceoffs (62 percent).

-Sutter is 6 for 7 (86 percent).

-The great Joe Vitale is 2 for 3 (67 percent).

-Gleason leads the game with three blocked shots.

-None of the Penguins has more than one.

SECOND PERIOD

18:54: Letang pushes the puck up the left wing and backhands a centering pas to Sullivan in the left circle. Sullivan then passes it along to Neal in the right circle. Neal chops a shot on net.

18:31: Skinner is denied on the right side of the cage on a wraparound attempt by Johnson. Niskanen then high sticks Skinner. Skinner takes a tumble. Niskanen gives him grief, presumably for selling the high stick. Martin, Orpik, Adams and Cooke take the ice.

17:41: Cook chops the puck down ice. Adams races after it and fires a backahnder on net. Ward fights it off.

16:31: The Niskanen minor is killed with little threat from the Huricnes.

16:16: Malkin trips over the net. Harrision is called for interference. Kind of a ticky tack call. Malkin, Letang, Sullivan, neal and Kuntiz take the ice.

16:07: Letang wires a one-timer from the left half wall. Ward kicks it out. Kunitz is there for the rebound but can't get a stick on it.

16:00: Dwyer is off on a breakaway. He attacks the net with speed and snaps off a wrister. Johnson swats it away with a glove hand. Big save.

15:42: Tim Brent trips up Malkin. This call is a little bit more legit. The Penguins will have 1:28 of a two-man advantage. Kunitz, Neal, Sullivan, Malkin and Letang take the ice.

15:03: From the right half wall, Malkin deal a pass to Sullivan to the left of the slot. Sullivan's shot is kicked out by Ward.

14:39: Malkin booms a slapper from above the right circle. Allen challenges blocks it. Oof.

14:16: The Harrison minor is killed. The Penguins will have 32 seconds of a one-man advantage.

13:58: Letang chops a slapper from above the right circle. Ward eats it up. Tangradi is down low and gives Ward a smack with the stick. The Hurricanes take exception and give Tangradi the business.

13:51: Martin fires a slapper from teh top of the slot. Sutter flops down to block it.

13:42: Brent's minor is killed. That was missed opportunity for the Penguins.

13:16: Jokinen has a chance in tight off a centering pass by Skinner from the right wing corner. Jokinen taps it wide to the right of the cage.

11:16: After some hard work behind the net, Kunitz tries a wraparound from right of the cage. Ward kicks it out.

10:30: Kunitz drps Harrison with a low hit in front of the Penguins bench. No call.

9:07: Niskanen enters the offensive zone with speed on the right wing and rips a wrister. Ward punches it away.

6:22: Kuntiz has a wrister from the left wing blocked.

6:06: Niskanen snaps off a shot/pass from the left point. Dupuis is there and re-directs it wide of the cage.

5:02: Malkin lifts a backhander from the right circle. Ward fights it off.

4:40: Martin snaps off a wrister from deep on the left wing. Ward gloves it.

4:31: Kaberle grips and wrips a wrister from the left circle. Johnson kicks it out. Skinner is on the back door for the rebound

4:09: Skinner sneaks up the right wing behind Orpik. He draws in Engelland and creates an opening for Ruutu. Skinner flips a backhanded pass to Ruutu who punches in an easy one-timer from the left circle by the blocker of a helpless Johnson. Bad play by Engelland there. Skinner and Jokinen each get assists. Hurricanes 2-0.

3:10: Ward just won't give up. From the left circle, Neal deals a pass to Malkin above the circle. Malkin hammers a one-timer. Ward reads the play well and fights it off.

2:12: Dupuis takes a pass above the left circle and cranks a one-timer. Ward says no.

0:56: The Hurricanes - specifically Jeff Skinner - have taken over. Alexandre Picard is forces into a turnover in the left wing corner. Skinner has the puck in the left circle. He's thumped to the ice by Niskanen and Asham. Ruutu picks it up and backhands it under Johnson's legs and into the cage. Skinner caused that goal by pressuring Picard. Skinner gets the only assist. Hurricanes 3-0.

0:00: End of period. Hurricanes 3, Penguins 0.

SECOND INTERMISSION

-The Penguins looked like they ran out of gas that period, especially in the last five minutes. They were running around in their own zone and allowing the Hurricanes to dictate play.

-Ward is just tuned in tonight. He's not going to allow any softies.

-The Penguins' bottom three lines aren't really generating much offensively.

-Just when you want to feel good about the power play, it fails to get anything going on a two-man advantage.

-Brandon Sutter looks like a Smythe Trophy candidate.

-The Penguins actually have a 23-13 lead in shots.

-Letang and Malkin each lead the game with five shots.

-Ruutu leads the Hurricanes with two.

-Letang leads the game with 17:46 of ice time.

-Gleason leads the Hurricanes with 17:07.

-The Hurricanes have a 23-21 edge in faceoffs (52 percent).

-Sutter is 6 for 9 (67 percent).

-The great Joe Vitale is 3 for 5 (60 percent).

-Allen leads the game with four blocked shots.

-Orpik leads the Penguins with three.

THIRD PERIOD

19:40: Right off the hop, the Penguins allow a breakaway chance to Eric Staal. he race sin on net with Letang trailing. He shoots a wrister Johnson makes the initial save. Staal chops at it and sort of pushes Johnsoninto the cage. The puck crosses the line. He celebrates. The goal horn goes off briefly. But an official immediately waves it off.

18:25: Malkin whips a backhander from the right circle. Ward fights it off.

18:20: Malkin controls the puck near the left wing corner. He deals a pass to Staal in the slot. Staal grips and rips a wrister which clinks off the post and into the cage. They finally figured out Ward.  Malkin and Neal get assists. Hurricanes 3-1.

18:15: Broadcaster Bob Errey mentions that Sullivan is not on the bench. That's why Staal was on a line with Malkin and Neal.

15:29: Skinner forces his way through the Penguins' defense and draws a slashing penalty against Asham. A big kill is needed here by the Penguins. Jordan Staal, Cooke, Martin and Orpik take the ice.

15:17: And the Penguins get a big goal. Staal is sprung loose on a breakaway by Cooke. he attacks the net. He fakes wrister then draws the puck to his backhand tucking it through the five hole of Ward. Wow. What a shot. Cooke and Orpik get assists. This is a completely different game. The healthy contingent of Penguins fans on hand are getting vocal:

Hurricanes 3-2.

14:08: Johnson has a Marc-Andre Fleury moment as he plays a puck from behind his own net. It hits Jokinen and bounces loose in the slot. Eric Staal is there with a wide open net but Johnson is able to recover and kick it out. Yeeeesh.

10:47: Richard Park is loose on a mini breakaway. He goes deep to the backhand then snaps to his forehand. He has Ward beat but the puck rolls of his stick.

13:29: Asham's penalty ends. He tries to line up Jiri Tlusty. Tlusty dodges the "meat" of the hit and Asham takes a tumble to the ice. That could have been ugly.

13:06: x2

12:01: Stutter tires to jam in a wraparound attempt from the right side of the cage but Letang holds it out with his stick.

11:30: Malkin roars off the right wing corner and attacks the net. His low wrister is held out by Ward.

10:13: Neal circles around the back of the net and lifts a wrister from the right circle. Ward appears to fight it off.

9:56: Skinner is tripped up by Orpik at center ice. Skinner sold that one again. Jordan Staal, Pascal Dupuis, Letang and Martin take the ice.

9:50: x3

8:55: Cooke backhands a puck down ice from the right wing boards of the Penguins' zone for a clear.

7:56: The Orpik minor is killed with little threat from teh Hurricanes.

7:42: Tie game. The Dupuis leaves a drop pass fro Kunitz in the right circle. Kuntiz kneels down and snaps off a wrister to the far side which beats Ward by his right leg. Dupuis gets the only assist. It's Kunitz's 300th career point. Hurricanes 3, Penguins 3.

7:32: Ward races up the left wing and snaps off a wrister. Ward kicks it out.

7:11: Malkin gets loose on a mini-breakaway. He tries to tuck a forehand shot in the five hole. Ward holds it out.

6:24: Niskanen chops a slapper from the left point which gets slapped.

4:50: Malkin snaps off a backhander form the right circle. Ward kicks it out.

4:34: And the Hurricanes get it back. LaRose snaps off a wrister from the left circle. Johnson makes the save and allows a rebound. He's about to cover it but Staal is Johnny-on-the-spot and taps it into the net. LaRose gets the only assist. Hurricanes 4-3.

2:30: Martin gets trapped up ice and that creates a breakaway for LaRose. He attacks the net down the slot. Just as Letang pressures, He lifts a wrister over he blocker of Johnson. That's the game. Eric Staal and Harrison get assists. Hurricanes 5-3.

1:56: Kunitz chops a slapper from above the right circle. Ward kicks it out with his left leg.

1:29: With a faceoff in the Hurricane's zone, the Penguins pull Johnson for an extra attacker.

1:05: Staal, Malkin and Kunitz each have a chance in tight. Ward and everyone else in a red jersey hold it out. The Penguins all time-out to get organized. And:

x4

0:58: Malkin pumps a slapper on net from above the left circle. Ward eats it up. And:

x5

0:45: Letang snaps off a wrister from the slot. It's wide to the right of the cage. Malkin tries to jam it inside the post. Ward stretches out and holds it out with his left foot. Wow. Tough save.

0:29: LaRose hooks up Letang in the Penguins' zone. That's two minutes. Neal, Malkin, Kunitz, Letang, Dupuis and Jordan Staal take the ice.

0:20: Dupuis cranks a one-timer from the right point. Ward fights it off.

0:00: End of game. Hurricanes 5, Penguins 3.

POSTGAME

-Well that was a real tease. Just when you figured the Penguins would complete a comeback, the Hurricanes slam the door shut and take a win. It sure was fun to watch though.

-This was a classic trap game. The Penguins were coming off a solid win Friday night and probably feeling a little too comfortable. The Hurricanes were coming off a thumping Friday night and were hungry. They played desperate for most of the night.

-That was probably the worst defensive game the Penguins played all season. They allowed way too much time and space for the Hurricanes to work with in the offensive zone.

-He might have slipped a little in the third period, but Cam Ward was the star of this game. He just stole goals.

-A potential injury to Steve Sullivan might have prompted it, but it's amazing how much the Penguins seemed to wake up once Dan Byslma had to shuffle his lines.

-After a few average games, Jordan Staal came back with a strong effort in all three zones.

-Jeff Skinner is dangerous. He just gave the Penguins fits all over the ice.

-A power-play goal could have helped the Penguins' cause.

-The penalty kill was outstanding once again.

-Sullivan left the game due to a "lower-body" injury.

-The Penguins led in shots, 40-26.

-Evgeni Malkin led the game with 12 shots. Holy hell.

-Eric Staal led the Hurricanes with five.

-Kris Letang led the Penguins with 25:56 of ice time.

-Jay Harrison led the game with 23:22 of ice time.

-Faceoffs were even, 33-33 (50 percent).

-Sutter was 10 for 16 (63 percent).

-The great Joe Vitale was 4 for 7 (57 percent).

-Bryan Allen led the game with five blocked shots.

-Brook Orpik led Penguins with three.

-Kunitz scored his 300th career point.

-Orpik (95 points) moved past Paul Baxter, Wally Boyer and Ulf Samuelsson (94 each) for 87th place on the franchise's all-time scoring list.

-Game summary.

-Event summary.