On this date in Penguins history: Bill Guerin’s big overtime goal

Eleven years ago today, the Penguins took on the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 during the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs

After a 4-1 victory in Game 1 in which the Flyers took 12 penalties, the Penguins were looking to get a stranglehold on the series in Game 2 at Mellon Arena.

A low-scoring game early on, Scott Hartnell gave the Flyers a lead with a power-play goal in the first period before Bill Guerin would tie the game at 1-1 late in the second period.

Darroll Powe would give the Flyers a 2-1 edge early in the third and they would hold that lead for most of the period before Evgeni Malkin would tie the game late in regulation with a power-play goal of his own.

The game would go to overtime, with the Penguins getting a power play late in the extra frame. They would go to a 5-on-3 overtime, and that’s where it was the veteran Guerin’s time to shine.

Goodness gracious, the calm poise of Sergei Gonchar out at the point. Drawing two of the three defenders on the ice, the fake shot, the pass, and Guerin with the finish.

The Penguins power-play has had its scoring abilities and talent over the years, but this unit was something special.

Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar, and Bill Guerin. Phew.

The Penguins would take the series lead to their advantage and split the two road games in Philadelphia before dropping Game 5 at home and clinching the series in Game 6 back on the road.

And that was just the start of things to come for this team.