Game 1

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In retrospect, the Red Wings probably did deserve to win this game, as they were the better team and the Penguins had a lot of trouble sustaining any pressure in the Detroit zone…but the way they ended up claiming the victory and taking the first lead in the series was kind of lame…

Detroit’s struck first midway through the opening period. Defenseman Brad Stuart took a long shot that went wide of the net, bounced off the lively endboards of Joe Louis Arena, and banked in off Pittsburgh netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. It was an unassisted tally for Stuart and ugly goal for the Penguins to allow, especially for the first scored in the series. It was a tough pill to swallow for Pittsburgh, but to Detroit’s credit, the Pens did turn the puck over twice in their zone shortly before that… It took almost exactly five minutes for Pittsburgh to respond with a tally of its own. This time, it was Detroit that turned the puck over in its own territory. Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin took the puck, wound up, and shot a one-timer that Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood had trouble controlling. The Pens’ Ruslan Fedotenko got ahold of the rebound and backhanded it in to tie the game up at one.

Unfortunately for the Penguins, that would be the first and last time they beat Ozzie in this game. The Red Wings, meanwhile, struck again late in the second period, with just under a minute to go. It was another lucky bounce in their favor as Johan Franzen banked the puck in off the back of Fleury’s leg from behind the net. Brian Rafalski and Henrik Zetterberg were credited with the assists. Clearly the hockey gods favored the boys in red on this night… Then early in the third period, Detroit got the insurance marker from Justin Abdelkader, who made a very nice, heads up play. His initial shot bounced up into the air off Fleury’s pads. Jordan Staal, the nearest defending Penguin, had no idea where the puck had gone, but Abdelkader spotted it in the air, caught it, dropped it down towards the ice, and shot it into the top far corner just before the puck hit the ice, while it was in midair! It was a surprise considering Abdelkader isn’t too well known and it was refreshing considering how lucky Detroit’s previous two goals were. Rookie Ville Leino, another surprise in this series, earned the only assist on the play… And thus Detroit claimed a 1-0 lead in the series with a 3-1 win in Game 1.

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.

Game 2

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The Penguins once again had trouble generating sustained offense in Detroit. It would take a power play late in the first period for them to (surprisingly) draw first blood in this one. It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but the Penguins needed anything they could get. There was a mad scramble in front of Osgood, only one of many pileups that would occur in front of a goal-mouth in this series. Somehow, Malkin managed to finish the play and sneak the puck by Osgood. Kris Letang and Bill Guerin notched the assists. Once again though, one would be all Osgood allowed. After a woeful regular season, Ozzie was doing exactly what Coach Mike Babcock was expecting: shining in the postseason. The Pens went on to hit a couple posts, and that would basically be it offensively…

The Detroit offensive began early in the second period. Off a faceoff to the right of Fleury, Darren Helm went right to the net and screened the Pittsburgh netminder well. I don’t think Fleury even saw the shot that came from Jonathan Ericsson. Jiri Hudler and Helm earned the assists on the tying goal from Ericsson… Midway through the middle frame, the hockey gods once again intervened. Instead of bouncing pucks, their medium of choice this time was that of the NHL referees. Infamously former Penguin Marian Hossa got away with a penalty, which could have gone for either a hook or a slash, right beforehand, so the goal that came shortly thereafter from Valtteri Filppula (assisted by Tomas Holmstrom and Hossa himself) should have never happened. The refs had been allowing a lot of stuff to go uncalled throughout these playoffs, but especially during this and the previous round. However, they still tended to call the obvious ones, with the exception of this though. The stick of the Penguin (I believe it was Pascal Dupuis) that Hossa hooked/slashed broke! The evidence was right there, but nothing was called! So Detroit’s go-ahead goal came courtesy of a blatant non-call…

Early in the third period, Abdelkader scored another impressive goal when he walked into the Pittsburgh zone and beat Fleury from distance on a shot taken as the puck was bouncing around a bit. It was a nice shot by Abdelkader, but it was also an all around terrible defensive play by the Penguins. The defense just let Abdelkader have the blue line uncontested, and then Fleury really should have made the save. Holmstrom and Hossa were once again awarded assists…and so the Red Wings would claim another 3-1 home victory and take a 2-0 series lead.

It’s worth noting though that in the final minute of this game, Malkin instigated a fight with Zetterberg. It was largely an uninteresting fight as no solid shots were landed by either pugilist, but the interesting part was when it happened. Since it came late in the game, according to the letter of the law, Malkin should have been suspended for starting the fight. However, he wasn’t. At first, I was surprised by this, but one local newspaper columnist convinced me that not suspending “Geno” was the right move. The spirit of the law is more important, and that rule is meant to prevent known goons from starting unnecessary fights when a game is clearly lost. Malkin is no goon, and while the game was lost, his sudden surge of emotion and fisticuffs did send a message to the Red Wings. The Penguins weren’t going down without a fight, and more importantly, Malkin wouldn’t be disappearing in this series the way he did in last year’s Final…

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.

Game 3

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In the first game in Mellon Arena in the Steel City, Pittsburgh was the better looking team from the outset, and it paid off for them quickly. Their first goal came within the opening five minutes. Future hero Max Talbot made a nice play to keep the play alive in Detroit’s zone and then eventually scored off a centering feed from Malkin. Letang earned the secondary assist on the play. So once again, the Penguins struck first, but this time, the Red Wings responded very quickly. Only about a minute and a half after Talbot’s tally, Detroit’s Leino attempted a wrap-around, Pittsburgh defenseman Sergei Gonchar swiped the puck away, but it went right to Zetterberg, who put it between the pads of a sprawling Fleury. Johan Franzen received the other assist. Detroit had been playing well just before this too and got even more life from the goal… Just over five minutes later, the Mule got one of his own. A Pittsburgh defender slowed a centering pass from Zetterberg, but it still found its way to Franzen, who beat Fleury in the top far corner. Niklas Kronwall also assisted on the play… Four minutes and change after Detroit’s go-ahead goal from Franzen, and with about four minutes left in the opening frame, Pittsburgh got the equalizer from Letang on the power play. He beat Osgood five-hole from the right faceoff circle after a failed attempt at a cross-ice pass and one-timer. I was surprised Osgood allowed this one as he looked like he was in position to make the save. He might have been screened by Kronwall… At one point during the opening period, Pittsburgh apparently got away with too many men on the ice, for as long as 20-25 seconds according to one of the commentators’ estimates! The cameraman never zoomed out or anything, so I don’t recall personally seeing six Penguin skaters on the ice, but I’ll take the commentators’ word for it. It’s absolutely shocking no referee noticed that, especially considering how long it apparently lasted…

After a surprisingly active first period featured four goals, the same total as each of the previous two full games, the teams played through a scoreless second period… In the third, Pittsburgh’s power play converted again. Osgood was partially screened on the play, but it looked like he had a good enough view of a point shot from Gonchar. I think Osgood could/should have snagged it with the glove, and based on his reaction to the goal, I think he thought the same thing. Sidney Crosby and Malkin assisted as Pittsburgh once again took the lead… In the final minute of the game, with Osgood pulled in favor of the extra attacker, Talbot scored his second of the night on the empty net, from right on the center ice line too… Pittsburgh then finished the game strong and defended its lead well, although Detroit still generated some chances. However, the Penguins held on to claim a 4-2 victory in Game 3 and narrow Detroit’s series lead to 2-1…

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.

Game 4

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Pittsburgh had another impressive start, thanks mostly to an early power play, and once again drew first blood within the opening few minutes. About two and a half minutes into the game, Malkin capped a series of chances by the Penguins by backhanding a rebound by Osgood from near the goal line. Staal and Letang, each of whom had chances of their own right beforehand, earned the assists on the play… The teams exchanged several chances throughout the first period, but both Osgood and Fleury were up to the challenges. Detroit didn’t manage to tie the game until late in the period, when Pittsburgh defenseman Rob Scuderi turned the puck over right onto the stick of the speedy Helm, who promptly beat Fleury short side from the left faceoff circle. The goal was unassisted…

Within the first minute of the second period, Zetterberg circled around behind the Pittsburgh net and tossed the puck back to Stuart at the point. His seeing-eye shot made its way through traffic and into the top far corner. I don’t think Fleury saw it until it was too late. Brian Rafalski notched the secondary assist… While Pittsburgh was shorthanded, and shortly after a partial breakaway opportunity for Malkin that Osgood foiled, Talbot sent a pass up-ice to Staal, who sped up the middle, around the Detroit’s Rafalski, and beat Osgood along the ice to tie the game at two. Mark Eaton also assisted. Staal’s shorthanded goal here was inarguably one of the biggest in the series, as the momentum it generated would ultimately lead to a Pittsburgh victory…

Two minutes after Staal’s shortie, Malkin broke a play up at the Pittsburgh blue line which turned into a 2-on-1 break for the Penguins. It was basically a worst case scenario for the Red Wings, as the other guy streaking with Malkin was none other than Crosby. Malkin’s initial pass was blocked by a sprawling Ericsson, but on a second effort, he managed get the puck across to Crosby, who beat Osgood cleanly for his first of the series… Fedotenko had a great chance shortly thereafter but was robbed by Osgood. A little while after that, within four minutes of Crosby’s goal, a strong forecheck and tic-tac-toe passing by Crosby and Chris Kunitz led to an easy goal in close for Tyler Kennedy… Malkin had a clean breakaway in the dying seconds of the middle frame, but Osgood took that away. Detroit had a number of scoring chances late in the second and throughout the third period, but Fleury stood tall and the Pittsburgh defense was considerably better than it had been in Detroit. The Penguins held on for a huge 4-2 win that evened the series at two.

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.

Game 5

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As one of the commentators aptly pointed out late in the series, in this Stanley Cup Final, home ice was everything (for the first six games, anyway), and momentum was nothing. All the momentum generated by Staal and the surging Penguins must have been left on the plane when they traveled to Detroit for Game 5, as they again struggled at the Joe. As the final score indicates, this one was all Detroit, thanks partly to a complete breakdown by Pittsburgh…

One key piece to Detroit’s overwhelming victory in this one was the return of superstar Pavel Datsyuk, who set up the opening goal. After several opportunities throughout the opening period, midway through, Datsyuk carried the puck into the Pittsburgh zone and dished a backhand pass over to Dan Cleary. Cleary then used Penguin defenseman Brooks Orpik as a screen to beat Fleury with a long, knuckleball-like shot to make it 1-0. Rafalski notched the other assist. Despite the circumstances, I think Fleury could have stopped that one…

In the opening two minutes of the second period, Osgood made a great, heads up play. Both teams were in the midst of a line change, so most players were at center ice off to his left, near the benches. Hossa, meanwhile, was camped at the Pittsburgh blue line on the right wing. Ozzie sent a long pass up to Hossa, who carried the puck in and centered it to a streaking Filppula. Filppula backhanded it by Fleury to make it 2-0. If the two-line pass was still in effect, this play would have never happened. Kudos to the NHL on that rule change made after the lockout.

Detroit’s final three goals came on the power play thanks to a remarkable Pittsburgh parade to the sin bin. The Penguins would go on to take 48 penalty minutes in Game 5, which is astonishing considering they only took a total of 37 penalty minutes in the first four games combined! Early in the second, with Gonchar in the box, Kronwall stepped out in front from behind the goal line and beat Fleury on a strong drive. Franzen and Zetterberg got the assists there… Less than two minutes later, with Malkin in the box, Rafalski unleashed a long shot that had eyes, traveling through traffic and bouncing in off the iron. The assisters there were an ailing but ever present Datsyuk and the Captain, Nicklas Lidstrom… Seven minutes later, with Kunitz in the box, Zetterberg scored in close just to the left of Fleury thanks to a nice setup from Hudler at the point. Mikael Samuelsson also assisted on the tally… At this point in the game, the Red Wings were an unbelievable 3-for-4 on the power play. They would go on to finish the night 3-for-9, which was still a huge improvement with the man advantage. In the previous four games combined, they had gone just 1-for-10…

Not surprisingly, after Zetterberg’s goal, Fleury was pulled, and backup Mathieu Garon, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline, stepped in. Despite having five more power plays, including a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage, the Red Wings failed to beat Garon on 8 shots…not that they needed to though. After taking so many penalties throughout the second and third periods, the Penguins couldn’t muster up any offense. Detroit easily won 5-0, Osgood earned a not-so-common postseason shutout, and the Red Wings were poised to win their fifth Stanley Cup in 12 years, now having a 3-2 series lead…

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.

Game 6

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Thankfully for Penguin fans, the dreadful group that was wearing the Pittsburgh uniforms in Game 5 didn’t show up again in Game 6. As expected, they fed off their home crowd and played a much sounder game…

There was a surprisingly bad penalty called against Detroit early on in this one, just three and a half minutes into the game. Zetterberg was assessed two minutes for goaltender interference. Strange thing was that it was called by the referee out in the neutral zone. The other ref was standing right next to the goal, just a few feet from Zetterberg and Fleury, and he didn’t call anything… In that case, the ref who was closer and should have seen the play better should have overruled the opinion of the other ref… But thankfully for the Red Wings, nothing came of the power play for the Pens…

The first goal didn’t come until the first minute of the second period. Pittsburgh set up a 2-on-1 break, partly thanks to Jordan Staal, who carried the puck on the rush and chose to shoot instead of passing. “I’m a shooter, not a passer,” he later bluntly explained. The rebound came almost right back to him, and he just barely got it by the glove of a sprawling Osgood to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Kennedy and Scuderi assisted the opening goal… The Pens struck again early in the third period. Talbot reversed it along the endboards to Kennedy, who made a strong drive toward the front of the net and beat Osgood on his second try. Fedotenko was credited with the other assist. It also helped that Samuelsson, the nearest defending Red Wing, didn’t really play any defense and let Kennedy in… Two and a half minutes later, Detroit’s Kris Draper gathered in a rebound to the right of Fleury, who at that point was on his stomach and in no position to make a save. Draper took it in on the backhand, switched it to the forehand, and lifted it over Fleury to cut Pittsburgh’s lead in half. Ericsson and Lidstrom were awarded assists on the play…

There was great goaltending throughout the night on both ends, as indicated by the low final score. Osgood made a couple of dandies in the final minute of the second period, and with just about 30 seconds left in regulation, Fleury made a huge stop on a breakaway for Cleary. The Penguins also played much better defense in front of Fleury than they had for most of this series, highlighted by Rob Scuderi, who saved not one…but two goals during the game, including one with just 10-15 seconds left in regulation! After withstanding that late frantic surge from Detroit, Pittsburgh managed to hang on and win 2-1 to force an always exciting…Game 7!

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.

Game 7

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Detroit played a very physical game at the beginning of this deciding Game 7, and it generated some great scoring chances for them. However, Pittsburgh also generated chances of their own, but once again, both Fleury and Osgood were on top of their game, and neither allowed a goal during the first period…

The first tally came just over a minute into the second period. Stuart (who had a pretty bad game) attempted a dangerous pass up the middle from the corner to the left of Osgood. It was a play Red Wings had made numerous times in this serious, so Malkin was wise to the maneuver. He got his skate in front of the pass, and it deflected right to Talbot, who waited momentarily and then beat Osgood cleanly to give the Penguins just their second lead at Detroit in this series… Midway through the period, Crosby went down with an injury after he was guided awkwardly into the boards by Franzen. The Detroit bench was crying for a holding penalty on Crosby, but it looked to me like Franzen could have been called for interference. Not surprisingly, nothing was called on the play. Crosby slowly limped to the bench and would only see one or two more shifts later in the third period… Shortly after Crosby hobbled off the ice, Kunitz broke up a play near the Pittsburgh blue line and tossed the puck up to Talbot, who rushed up the ice on a 2-on-1 break, thanks to an ill-advised pinch by Stuart. I don’t know who the other Penguin was, but it didn’t matter. Talbot walked in and beat Osgood high glove side with a quick wrist shot, one that Osgood probably should have stopped. Scuderi also assisted on the play that gave Pittsburgh its first two-goal lead at Detroit in this series.

With all the scoring chances in this game, it was inevitable that the Red Wings would at least get on the board. Late in the game, with just over six minutes left in regulation, Ericsson beat Fleury with a one-timer from the point to finally cut the Penguins’ lead in half. Lidstrom and Hudler assisted on what would be Detroit’s only goal of the game, despite continued pressure and opportunities for the Red Wings, highlighted by Kronwall ringing one off the crossbar with just over two minutes to go. But Fleury continued to be rock solid and stopped everything else, including an opportunity for Detroit Captain Nicklas Lidstrom with just two seconds left! But after Fleury shrugged the puck away with his left shoulder, and it dribbled into the corner, the buzzer sounded. Time had expired. The Pittsburgh Penguins had won the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals!

Fleury’s epic save with two seconds left:

To watch the highlights from this game, go here.