The quick pace between the Flyers and Penguins continued in the second period of Game 2 on Friday night, as Philly tallied three goals to tie it up at 4-4 heading into the second intermission. Philadelphia converted early on special teams to get back in it and quickly cut into the Pittsburgh two-goal advantage.
Claude Giroux has wreaked havoc in Game 2, setting up the Flyers' first chance on a shorthanded breakaway which led to a Maxime Talbot goal. In the second period, he quickly pulled Philly within one goal, scoring his first goal of the playoffs with a power play strike. Giroux's goal was set up by a pretty pass from Jakub Voracek, who dropped it back through the legs of the Pittsburgh defense. Giroux quickly buried it before Pittsburgh's defense could react:
Giroux then added another goal, pulling Philly even yet again and bringing back nightmare visions for Pens' fans from Wednesday night. This time, it was Giroux again on special teams, combining with Talbot on the penalty kill as they did in the first for a shortie. Giroux brought the puck into the zone again, centering it to Talbot and streaking to the middle of the ice. Talbot then dropped it off and Giroux fired a rocket past Marc-Andre Fleury from almost the same spot where he scored his first goal just six minutes earlier:
Pittsburgh would answer momentarily when Chris Kunitz put the Pens back in front with his second goal of the night. As was the case with his first goal, Kunitz was there to take advantage of a James Neal play. He swooped in from the left wing to slap home a big rebound that Ilya Bryzgalov gave up, putting the Pens up 4-3. Video of the Kunitz goal below:
But Philly would even it up before the period was out. Pittsburgh scored with just seconds remaining in the first period but in the second it was the Flyers' turn. Sean Couturier skated in from the left wing and dunked in a rebound with just three seconds remaining to tie it up at 4-4. It was an unfortunate bounce for the Pens, but Couturier was there to capitalize on the chance:
Buckle your seatbealts as we're in for yet another dramatic third period between these two rivals.
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