Grant Leads Pens to 5-2 Win

It was Brad Thiessen vs. Keith Kinkaid in net. Jason Williams was held out of the game for what radio broadcaster Tom Grace called a maintenance day. Paul Thompson took his place on the top line with Bryan Lerg and Cal O'Reilly. Brandon DeFazio replaced Williams in the lineup.

On defense, Simon Despres came back to WBS and replaced Philip Samuelsson.

WBS jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two goals by Alex Grant. His first of the game was a power play shot that evaded Kinkaid at the 15:49 mark of the first period. Grant's second of the game came 1:41 into the second on a tough angle snipe.

But the Devils made a game of it, answering back with two goals of their own in the second period. First, Mike Hoeffel fired a puck past a screened Thiessen to cut the WBS lead in half 3:39 into the second period, less than two minutes after Grant had scored. Then Matt Taormina tied the game at two with a power play tally midway through the period.

The Devils played well in the second period, outshooting the Pens 14-6 in the period but never took the lead. Paul Thompson gave the Pens a lead they would never look back on, beating Kinkaid in a similar fashion as Grant did, high and in tight.

Ryan Craig tapped a rebound past Kinkaid in the third period and Nick Petersen iced it with an empty net goal. 5-2 final.

Next up for the Pens is a visit to the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia to take on an Admirals team that hasn't lost since SuperBowl Sunday. Contemplating a trip down south for Tuesday night's game.

GO PENGUINS!