Game one was a shootout. Game two was a brawl.

When Peter Regin (2) scored for the Senators just 0:18 into the game things looked bad for the Penguins and Fleury was once again beat high glove side which seems to be a recurring theme. But the Penguins responded. That goal was Ottawa’s only of the game and the Penguins unleashed Hell on ice amassing 52 hits with Brooks Orpik leading the way with nine. While Andy Sutton may have had the head shot that knocked out Penguins defenseman Jordan Leopold it was not enough.

Sidney Crosby (1) tied the game at 8:45 of the first fighting for a loose puck in the paint and it was His Sidness that helped cap the scoring late in the third. Crosby danced with the puck behind the Senator’s net defended diligently by Sutton. The sequence featured several starts and stops with Sid changing direction multiple times and looking to get to the front of the net. Unable to do so he pushed out from behind the net and from his knees fed the puck to the blue line and Kris Letang.

Letang took the shot and it beat Ottawa’s rookie goal tendeder to make it a 2-1 game in favor of teh Penguins.

Oh, and before I forget, I cannot not mention that Sidney Crosby made a great save too. An Ottawa shot trickled by Marc-Andre Fleury and was headed for the goal line but Sidney dove through the paint and cleared the puck slowed by late period snow accumulation on the ice. That play saved the game from the Penguins and Fleury who played much better than in game one.

The series is now tied at one game each and heads up to Ottawa from game three on Sunday.

It could have been Montreal’s last visit ever to the Igloo last night. Baring an always possible playoff meeting between two Eastern Conference foes, Montreal will have to deal with that potentially last visit being a loss. With last night’s 3-1 victory, thanks to lots of on the ball … uh puck … saves by Fleury, the Penguins have pretty much trounced the Canadians this season by a goal total of 9-2. They have now won four straight against the Habs.

The Penguins took advantage of a Montreal squad that had to come from behind the night before and limited them to just 17 shots on net. Had there been more, the score might have turned out differently as Fleury definitely saved the Penguins bacon with several great plays and a little bit of luck. The Penguins accomplished the low shot total on Fleury by pressing the attack in the Montreal zone for most of the night.

The Penguins received goals from Crosby (12), Guerin (6) and Gonchar (3) to stake out a 3-0 lead heading into the third period that they would not relinquish. Crosby scored on a rare shot from high at the left circle that surprised Carey Price. Guerin bashed a loose puck between Price’s pads in the second and Gonchar took a puck right up the middle and opened up Price for the Penguin’s third goal.

The win was the Penguins 17th in 25 games this season and ties a team record. The club also won 17 of its first 25 in 94-95 and 95-96.

After last night the Penguins held on to first place in the East with 24 pts just ahead of Washington who also has 24 pts but fewer wins also in 25 games. Montreal sank to 12-12-1 and are still struggling with injuries.

The Penguins however must face a back to back test this week on Friday and Saturday. On Friday the Pens have to travel to Long Island for a 2:00 PM scrum with the 9-9-7 Islanders and then return home Saturday to host the 13-10-1 Rangers.

After loosing four games in a row as the Penguins injury situation looked bleak, the Penguins have since been getting more healthy and have gone 5-1 in their last six games.