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The Detroit Red Wings have outscored the Pittsburgh Penguins 11-2 at home during the Stanley Cup Finals. The puck drops for the deciding Game 7 on Friday when Detroit squares off at the Joe against the Pens. Pittsburgh evened the series to force another game with a 2-1 win at the Igloo last night in a 60 minute toe-to-toe slugfest. The Penguins played with quaint physicality compared to Detroit‘s distasteful, distraught, fretful fashion. The Red Wings can’t be happy they missed a chance to close out Pittsburgh, but surely will find comfort when they return to home ice for all the marbles.
Goaltender, Marc Andre-Fleury was stout, Rob Scuderi and the defense were stern in holding a small lead and the Pens’ offense played well to summarize a tense Game 6. Last night’s game was a perfect example of Pittsburgh’s persistent and durable resistance. Scuderi was the cool clutch in support of a strapping Fleury and scrapy systemized scoring stream. Detroit’s Dan Cleary had 6 shots on goal but did not score in his 17 minutes of ice time. He had a late chance in the third period with his team trailing by one goal. Cleary jammed the puck into the pads of Fleury on a breakaway instead of tying the game, however and Pittsburgh prevailed to preserve the win. I don’t know how Game 7 will turn out, but I do know I’ve enjoyed this series.
The Pens were coming off a 5-0 Game 5 shellacking in Detroit. The team did not make excused but came out firing in the next game. A little home cooking was all they needed in sending the Stanley Cup Finals to a seventh game. Pittsburgh applied extreme intensity in the first period and were recipients of two power plays. They were unable to score as Detroit escaped unscathed by killing off all attempts. Jordan Staal scored in the second period and Tyler Kennedy added a goal in the third for the Pens. Kris Draper chipped in, poking one home for the only Detroit goal during the final period. The Wings too often gave up the puck in the neutral zone and found themselves defending their side of the ice more than they would have liked. Scuderi was stellar on defense and playing net minder during the frantic third period. He made a couple kick saves in front of Fleury with 13 seconds remaining in the contest. The game could easily have gone into overtime had Scuderi not stepped up beautifully at that moment. The two third line teammates Staal and Kennedy were both brilliant. An skater with excellent ability and size, Staal broke the scoreless game with his first minute goal of the second period. Staal clocked a little under 20 minutes, playing the shut-down defender late in the game. Kennedy somehow found the net while mooching around in the offensive zone in the third period. Tyler took advantage of a rare Nicklas Lidstrom miscue to sneak a shot by Osgood. The game winner came after his assist on Staal’s earlier shot. It was Kennedy’s fifth goal of the post-season and his second in the Pens’ last two home games. Staal carried Pittsburgh with the key short-handed goal in Game 4 and initiated the attack on Tuesday.
Fleury was yanked during the blowout Game 5 after allow four Red Wings goals in one period alone. He regrouped Tuesday with a 25 save effort, including the all-important Cleary flick in the third period. Fleury was outshined by Detroit goalie, Chris Osgood. He kept his team in the game but the Detroit offense showed up too late. Osgood stopped 23 of 24 shots in the opening 40 minutes. Staal’s deflected shot off Osgood’s chest was gathered for the rebounding goal and Kennedy pushed the puck through the net too. But Osgood was otherwise, fantastic. The Red Wings were not, despite out-shooting Pittsburgh 14-7 in the final period.
Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of Pittsburgh drafting Hall-of-Famer, Mario Lemieux. Perhaps the team was inspired enough by the moment to deny the Red Wings another silver trophy. Or, at least delay it. Detroit is still in the driver’s seat as they have home ice advantage for Game 7. Teams down 3-2 while hosting Game 6 have won 10 times out of 24. Only two teams have gone no to win it all. Although it was nice to see the Penguins win a game without a point from stars, Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, it will take more than two goals from third-line players to beat the defending champions in Detroit. Fleury was exceptional in bouncing back from a poor performance. Known as “Flower” he has been a very good goaltender for Pittsburgh during the post-season, and will have to bloom Friday. He did not allow the Wings a second goal last night even though they had their chances to score. Fleury’s given up 35 goals in 12 games on the road in the postseason and 27 goals in 11 games at home. Pittsburgh played with determination and discipline with a two goal lead. The defense neutralized Fleury’s deficiencies. They kept the Red Wings to the outside. Ruslan Fedotenko and Max Talbot pressured to keep the puck in the Detroit zone. They were credited with assists on Kennedy’s goal.
The Red Wings were out hustled and squeezed on offense. An undefended Draper grabbed Jonathan Ericsson’s rebound in the left circle for Detroit’s only pass of Fleury. Henrik Zetterberg was called for goaltender interference in the first period, for one of two Red Wings penalties. Pittsburgh also had a pair during the overall clean and crisp hockey affair. Zetterberg had a chance similar to his accidental goal in last year’s final during the second period. This time, Fleury covered up the puck instead after it bounced off the left post. Detroit’s best chances were on power plays but Scuderi whacked whatever puck landed near the crease out of the way during the waning seconds. Marion Hossa was a non-factor for Detroit and seems to be pressing. He took just one shot last night. Hossa has no goals and three assists through the first six games. He has spent most of his time on the perimeter and has not been the dangerous or lethal player he is known as. Marion dumped the Penguins for the hotter team a year ago. If he intends on proving his decision correct, Hossa better start becoming a bothersome scorer for his new team.
It’s vital the pure Penguins draw first blood in Detroit. The Pens have done so in nearly all of the games during this series. They cannot allow the Red Wings to gain the momentum by scoring too many goals too soon. Pittsburgh needs to come out flying, leave breathing room for their goalie and give the defense a chance to show they can hold leads on the road. The Red Wings effectively blocked passes and shots in the first period to keep the Pens at bay. Pittsburgh was not overpowering offensively because Osgood was outstanding. The Detroit goalie’s efforts held the Pens to just two goals and they will probably need more if they are to win the last game of the NHL season.
Pavel Datsyuk returned for the Wings in Game 5 and his presence was immediately felt. Last night he was a hard-charging skater, but his team seemed overwhelmed by the swarming Penguins. The fore checking paid dividends. Datsyuk, the gifted puck handler, sprung the pass to Cleary that could have changed the game’s outcome. Fleury was chief of Pittsburgh as he made the biggest save of the series with the stopper. He endured a rash and flurry of firing Red Wings, kicking aside shots to blank the opponents through two periods. You have to also credit the Pens’ defense for holding on by their fingertips to a one-goal lead. The defense bailed out the Penguins with board-rattling checks. Veteran right-winder, Petr Sykora interceded a slap midway through the second period by Brett Lebda. The block helped Pittsburgh fend off yet another Red Wings standing surge. It was the first time Sykora was in the Pittsburgh lineup since May 4th. He replaced Miroslav Satan. Brooks Orpik had six blocks and four hits, and Mark Eaton made big advances on competitive plays. The penalty killers Talbot and Hall Gill aided the Pens in surviving the power plays. The Pens reinforced the idea they are a legitimate threat despite their underdog status.
When the Red Wings are roaring, they play their best hockey. Detroit quickly re-established themselves in the third period with more passion. Much remained the same on the scoreboard despite the increased intensity. Mike Babcock’s Wings kept it a close contest but did not seem in control of the game at any time. Pittsburgh played with nothing to lose, knowing if they did, there would not be a tomorrow. They gave it all they had in Game 6 and it did not even require Lemieux-like efforts. Special teams, great goaltending and abrasive defense was most responsible. The Penguins enter enemy territory and a hostile environment where they have yet to win a game in the 2009 playoffs. Detroit and Pittsburgh both play well in front of their fans. I can’t see the Wings falling asleep in Game 7 the way they did last night. If they play smartly, they will fittingly win the Stanley Cup again. Pittsburgh will require a mega effort all around from their precious Penguin players.

Parting points:
Random thought: I love the smell of new tennis balls.
Random tune: Nsync’s “God Must Have Spent (A Little More Time On You)”

In local hockey news, Brent Sutter resigned after two years of coaching the NJ Devils. It’s too bad. The Devils won a franchise record 51 games with Sutter.

And, an update on the USC recruiting scandal: Tim Floyd has apparently resigned his duties as head coach.