Evgeni Malkin goes full Hanson brother in Johnstown

Being the first ever Kraft Hockeyville winners, the Cambria County War Memorial, the same place where a majority of the movie SlapShot was filmed, received money for arena renovations and the game between the Eastern Conference Champion Tampa Bay Lightning and of course the hometown team Pittsburgh Penguins.

The NHL’s official story is that Johnstown won the “Hockeyville” contest and, thus, the right to host the game. It did at least provide a few in-game entertainment between scene reenactments from NBC’s broadcasting staff as well as coach Jon Cooper and forward Ryan Callahan, who served as an alternate captain tonight along with Ondrej Palat.

Tonight was a test for each team’s goaltending depth. Sergei Plotnikov, one of the Pens’ many offseason free agency signings, stole the puck from Anton Stralman in front of the crease and backhanded it over Gudlevskis.

After Boyle tied it in the first period, Cole gave the Penguins the lead less than two minutes later on a wrist shot from instide the circle.

The second period didn’t see much improvement in play. Steven Stamkos had a close chance after a tic-tac-toe play from Tyler Johnson and Palat, but Murray flashed the leather.

Brian Boyle and Jonathan Drouin had goals for the Lightning. We talked about how Drouin made a nice stick handling move to get around the Pittsburgh defense and score a really nice goal, but his energy around the ice tonight impressed me more than anything. He was not greeted well. Poulin, who relieved starter Kristers Gudlevskis midway through the second, gave up a goal on his second shot (rebound by Evgeni Malkin). No matter what the play, Francois was in on it. He scored all the goals and even assisted on his own. The arena, which fits around 4,000, was sold out. And Stamkos isn’t happy how Tampa Bay (1-3-1) is clicking with two exhibitions to go, including 0-for-6 on the power play.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike “Doc” Emrick will illustrate the finer points of hockey, alongside Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire and analyst Jeremy Roenick.