Penguins Pushed To The Brink

The Penguins played better in Game Four, twice taking a one-goal lead, but still end up on the sour end of a 4-2 loss after the Crunch took the lead in the third period.

"We have to win the next game," head coach John Hynes said. "That's what we are focused on, not necessarily a comeback, the fact that you have to win one game."

"Tonight was 50-50. Unfortunately for us we made some ill advised errors and that's what cost us the game basically," Hynes added. "We beat ourselves."

Scott Harrington made his professional debut tonight and made his presence felt, scoring his first pro goal on his first pro shot 13:40 into the contest. Olli Maatta, who made his debut last night, won't get an assist on his teammate's first goal but was responsible for making the play happen.

Maatta carried the puck through the neutral zone and weaved his way into the offensive zone, getting The puck down low to Dominik Uher. Uher found Riley Holzapfel, who got it to Harrington at the point for the shot and goal.

"It was pretty crazy," Harrington said of his pro debut and first goal. "I wasn't sure, I definitely saw it change direction so I figured one of the forwards tipped it but I guess it went in off their team."

The Crunch tied the game on a point shot from Brendan Mikkelson just 1:17 after the Penguins took the lead.

The Penguins re-gained the one goal lead in the 2nd period, after a forecheck by Warren Peters freed up the puck along the boards. Peters found Jayson Megna, who returned after missing the last three games, and Megna went forehand to backhand and over Cedric Desjardins' glove and into the net.

But again the Crunch responded, tying the game at two just 1:32 later. This time a point shot from Matt Taormina was tipped past Brad Thiessen by Brett Connolly.

The Crunch jumped out for a goal early in the third period and never really looked back, adding an empty net goal in the final minute to seal the Game Four win and bring a 3-1 series lead back to Syracuse with a chance to advance to the Finals tomorrow night in Game Five.

The Penguins came back to win four straight against Providence in the last round and certainly know that it's not over until the handshake line begins at center ice.

The Penguins and Crunch will travel overnight up to Syracuse for tomorrow night's Game Five.

I'll leave with this quote from Chris Collins:

"I think we felt the same feeling we are feeling right now. Like we said last series, You take it one game at a time. You got to win four games no matter what the series is at. If its 2-2, you still got to win the next one. Just take it one game at a time. We have the character in the room to do it.  We did it last series and if any group of guys is going to do it, it's going to be the guys in this room."