Game Photos: Pens vs Bolts 2/25/12

The Penguins played Saturday afternoon. Tampa Bay was scheduled to appear, but didn't. The only real competition was between Geno and Staal to see who would net the hat trick first. Photos and video after the jump.

With Johnny out, Thiessen was in to back up Fleury.



This was not the look of confidence Bolts fans wanted to see in the pregame interview.

Warm-up. I took a ton of shots of Tampa players but they were mostly for Wikipedia, though this one of J.T. Wyman captures the sort of confused aggression the Lightning played with much of the game.

Either that or he was doing his best Jimmy McNulty impression.

After the warm-up, Iceburgh was presented with a hand knit scarf courtesty of the Knitting Lady.

He loved it.

Even Tiny Iceburgh got his own scarf.

Back to work for the NHL's busiest mascot.

Anthem:

SHOWTIME!

This was the last we would see of Z as he spent the rest of the game in the box.

The Pens let Tampa think they were in the game before pouring in three goals in less than four minutes, beginning midway through the period.

Jordan Staal capped off the first period scoring with a shorthanded breakaway. Staals has become such an artist on the breakaway that this one is presented as an oil painting.

Woooo!

2nd period:

Staal picked up his second goal of the game.

Geno added one not long after that before Teddy Purcell finally got Tampa on the board. The Pens led 5-1 going into the second intermission.

Geno got his second goal early in the third. With he and Staal both on the cusp of a hat trick, the race was on to see who would get there first.

In the meantime, Lightning coach Guy Boucher had another strategy.

"This is how we will stop them!"

Tampa's plan B didn't work. Geno melted the ice on his hat trick goal.

Uh...okay.

Oh dear God.

Boucher scanned the Pens bench for any sign of Sidney Crosby.

Dupuis added a late goal that was supposed to be Staal's hat trick.

Time for the Stars of the Game.

With 33 saves, 3rd Star of the Game Marc-Andre Fleury!

2nd Star: Jordan Staal

1st Star of the Game: Evgeni Malkin

Up next, Mark Letestu and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

We'll be back with more photos after that one.