After a hard fought and very close game one, the Pittsburgh Penguins were looking to even the series heading home with a game two win. They played well enough to win the first game but lost out on the bounces. Last night, though, the problem wasn’t plays off the boards so much as the plays in front of the crease.
Pittsburgh 1 @ Detroit 3 –It was deja vu all over again. Just like in game one, the Pens outshot Detroit. Just like in game one, a defenseman had Detroit’s first goal. Just like in game one, Evgeni Malkin scored Pittsburgh’s only goal. Just like in game one, Justin Abdelkader scored the third goal with slap shot on a loose puck. And just like in game one, Detroit picked up a 3-1 win over the Penguins.
However, unlike game one, it was the Pens who lit the lamp first. After a scoreless first 17 minutes, the Pens were able to strike on the power play. A scramble in front of the goal left Chris Osgood down and out. Kris Letang and Bill Guerin whacked at the puck but it came out to Evgeni Malkin who shot through a crowd, off Osgood and Brad Stuart, and into the net. It gave Pittsburgh their first lead of the series and gave them a 1-0 lead heading into the second.
Detroit wouldn’t stay behind for long. Four minutes in, Jonathan Ericsson blasted a shot from the point off the draw that found its way by a Darren Helm screen and Marc-Andre Fleury to tie the game at 1-1. It was only six minutes afterwards that Detroit notched their second marker. A Marian Hossa shot bounced off either Fleury or a screening Tomas Holmstrom and went straight to Valtteri Filppula who backhanded it home from an impossible angle. To make matters worse on the play for Pittsburgh, Malkin ran Holmstrom on top of Fleury as Filppula got the puck which took the Pens netminder out of the play.
Detroit would break the Pens early in the third. Justin Abdelkader skated up the right wing. As he crossed the Pittsburgh blue line, he cut across the ice and had the puck pokechecked off his stick by both Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi. That didn’t make a difference as he ripped a slap shot after the Scuderi pokecheck that found its way just over Fleury’s glove for the insurance goal. Pittsburgh would come close to scoring but Henrik Zetterberg sprawled out in the crease to deny a Sidney Crosby shot. Things would get chippy near the end. After Maxime Talbot speared Osgood, Malkin started punching Zetterberg from behind and got a couple of cheap shots in after teammate Miroslav Satan shoved Zetterberg off balance. Malkin would pick up an instigator penalty for his troubles and there was a question of if he will be available for game three.
The goalies played big again last night. Despite the loss, Marc-Andre Fleury 23 saves on 26 shots, most of which he wasn’t able to see. Chris Osgood was other worldly again last night. He made 31 saves over 60 minutes.
After battling hard and, arguably, being outplayed in the first two games, Detroit finally gets some rest. The back-to-back games favoured the younger and healthier Penguins. Despite being without Pavel Datsyuk or Kris Draper, the Wings were able to hold on to the first two games. The rest/travel day will give those two some much needed time to heal up for the rest of the Finals.
Going into game three, there aren’t many adjustments that Pittsburgh can make. They outplayed the Wings for some decent stretches. If anything, they should play more aggressively in front of their own net. Detroit forwards are just parking in front and not letting Fleury get a look at the puck.
I mentioned above that Malkin may have not been available for game three. His instigator penalty in the final minute of the game came with an automatic suspension. Within an hour of the penalty being handed down, Colin Campbell had rescinded the suspension, allowing Malkin to play in game three. This is a big boost for Pittsburgh who just got their best “bounce” of the Stanley Cup Finals with that announcement.
Detroit leads the series 2-0
Three Stars of the Night:
1. Chris Osgood (Detroit)
2.Valtteri Filppula (Detroit)
3.Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit)
Tuesday’s Schedule:
Detroit at Pittsburgh – Detroit leads the series 2-0 (TV: CBC, Versus)
The Lowdown 
You’re right. The Pens outplayed the Wings for stretches. But not for most of the game. Some of that shot imbalance was because the Wings were called for 2 almost back-to-back penalties and were on the penalty kill for 4 minutes in the first.
The Pens look like a much stronger team than last year with the exception of Fleury. He’s been both unlucky and bad when he needed to be good.
The Penguins aren’t a very mentally mature team but they are fun to watch. The Wings are gonna take the series despite the Pens’ talent.
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