2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Game One: Penguins 3, Lightning 0

Sports fans are slaves to superstitition. Why is that? I believe it's because the rational mind resists getting wrapped up so thoroughly in something over which one has no control. The repetition of successful actions creates the illusion of control and reassures us that we aren't wasting our zeal on something random and absurd. Anyway, I spent the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Playoff seasons recounting to an audience of one the game-by-game exploits of my favorite bunch of skaters. The first year of my labors the Penguins fell a mere two wins short of the Cup. The second year they pulled off the first game seven road win in a championship round since the '79 Pirates. I took last year off and the team slouched to a second-round exit. So here we are.

Game One was only the second game I've watched end-to-end since the Winter Classic. I've caught periods here and there and highlights, but for reasons that will be later explained, I let the second half of the regular season slide by in my peripheral vision. I might come to regret that; there's so much to like about this team and the way they've responded to adversity. Game One reminded me quickly why playoff hockey does it for me so thoroughly, random or not. Game was scoreless for the first forty-six minutes until a missed slash-trip, a failed breakout, a turnover and a shot-pass led to Alex Kovalev one-timing a shot for the year's first playoff goal, and the first game-winner. I'd love to see Kovalev become this year's Bill Guerin. On the ice, anyway. I don't think he makes much noise in the locker room. He's the link, though, between the Crosby-Malkin-Fleury-Staal Penguins and the Lemieux-Jagr-Straka Penguins, and seeing him get on the board so early in the series, with a fantastic assist by James Neal, bodes well.