Faceoff Factor

The Penguins Love Playing On NBC

Justin Maffei | Pittsburgh Penguins

May 18, 01:58 AM | Hype this story!

Are you looking for even more of a reason to believe that the Penguins will be victorious in Game Five? Besides the fact that only 8.4% of Stanley Cup Playoff series that start off 3-0 make it to a sixth game (13 out of 155), the Penguins are undefeated this season when playing on NBC. In games televised by NBC, the Pens have gone 8-0-0 this season. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to look at the Penguins games on NBC this season.
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Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at Buffalo Sabres
Penguins Win 2-1
The Winter Classic was an amazing game. Colby Armstrong scored 21 seconds in to give the Penguins the lead. Brian Campbell would answer back at the beginning of the second. After battling through difficult conditions, the game went to a shootout. Sidney Crosby plowed through the snow to give the Penguins the victory.

Sunday, February 10, 2008 at Philadelphia Flyers
Penguins Win 4-3
Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins would love a replay of this game. Malkin scored four points with a goal and three assists. This game was the tenth game after Sidney Crosby went down with a high ankle sprain. Kris Letang netted the game winner with less than 10 minutes left.

Sunday, March 2, 2008 vs. Atlanta Thrashers
Penguins Win 3-2
In Marc-Andre Fleury’s first game after returning from a high ankle sprain, he stopped 31 of 33 shots, not including stopping all three shootout attempts. Malone and Talbot scored the regulation goals for the Penguins. Kris Letang would be the only shooter to find the back of the net in the shootout, giving the Penguins the victory.

Sunday, March 9, 2008 at Washington Capitals
Penguins Win 4-2
Who can forget the rookie getting the game winning goal? Nicklas Backstrom buried a rebound with authority. Unfortunately, it was in his own goal. Crosby was credited with the goal, since he was the last Penguin to touch the puck. Crosby also scored a second period goal. It was his third game back from his ankle injury and those were his first two goals since his return.

Sunday, March 16, 2008 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Penguins Win 7-1
Alright, I retract my previous statement. Malkin and the Penguins would like a replay of THIS game. The Malone-Malkin-Sykora line teamed up for 10 points. Malone had two assists, while Malkin and Sykora each had two goals and two helpers. The win pulled the Penguins within one point of New Jersey for the lead in the Atlantic Division. Marian Hossa scored his first goal as a Penguin in this game. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 of 25 shots faced.

Sunday, March 30, 2008 vs. New York Rangers
Penguins Win 3-1
The Penguins were victorious in Game One of a home-and-home series. The victory allowed the Penguins to reclaim the Atlantic Division lead. Hossa, Malkin, and Talbot all scored for the Pens. Marc-Andre Fleury played another solid game, stopping 26 of 27. It was Fleury’s tenth game since returning from his ankle injury and he improved his record from that time to 9-1-0.

Sunday, April 27, 2008 vs. New York Rangers
Penguins Win 2-0
In Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots to record his second shutout of the playoffs. Jordan Staal was the only player to get the puck past a goalie when he scored on a powerplay halfway through the second period. Adam Hall would score an empty netter to ice the game with only 17 seconds remaining.

Sunday, March 4, 2008 vs. New York Rangers
Penguins Win 3-2
The Penguins won Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinal in overtime. Marian Hossa scored twice to give the Pens the victory. The win allowed Pittsburgh to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
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If the Penguins continue to draw luck from NBC, they will claim their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since last winning the Cup in 1992. They would also get at least a day of rest longer than their Stanley Cup opponents, as Dallas and Detroit will play Game Six on Monday.