Half Way to Four - Pens win 3-2 in OT

It was one of the most intense 15 minutes I had ever witnessed in a hockey game. The first period of last nights game was filled with crushing hits, blazing speed and superb finesse by the Pens. Unfortunately the Flyers scored the opening goal to take the lead, otherwise this may have been an entirely game that it actually was. As it is the Penguins did not give up and they eventually came out on top at 18:29 of the first period by trade deadline pick-up Billy Guerin. Guerin also scored the Pens first goal in the second and Malkin added the game tying goal in the third with 4:37 remaining in regulation.

The idiocy of Flyers right wing Claude Giroux slashing penalty gave the Pens a 5-3 power play advantage which led to the game winning goal by Guerin.

All in all a very nice effort by the Pens. They now have a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Philadelphia. Game 3 has now become an absolute must win for the Flyers and the Pens are saying all the right things about going to Philly in hopes of splitting when every person listening to the media reports knows that what they really mean is they intend to win both games and end this series a week early!

Game 3 is Sunday afternoon at 3 pm on NBC.



The Idiot of the Week award goes whomever the executive is at NBC that made the call that the Penguins were not allowed to broadcast tomorrow's game on the outdoor big screen. The fact that the Pens do this is a tremendous idea for both fans and the team. Not only does it give fans a place to gather for away games and those that are unable to get tickets to home games, but it also gives the players a sense of how much they are appreciated by the large groups that come down to the arena just to watch the game on the outdoor screen. I would call for a boycott of all NBC programs but they kind of have us all by the balls since games 3 and 6 are scheduled to be broadcast. Some the bast I can say is don't watch anything on NBC besides the Penguins games.

Game One Goes to the Good Guys 4-1

Even as the game was near ending and the Flyers returned to their Broad Street Bully ways, there was never a doubt, from the opening face-off, that the Pittsburgh Penguins would emerge as the victor of game one. Philadelphia did their best to insure that the Pens would remember the last few minutes of the game by throwing as many punches and cheap shots as they could.

One win down! Three to go!

Pens goals by Crosby, Kennedy, Malkin and Eaton.

Here's my take - Pittsburgh was quick, offensive minded, they crashed the net, they finished their checks and played a nearly flawless game in front of Marc Andre Fleury. The Pens took advantage of Philadelphia's 35 penalty minutes, scoring the opening goal of the game at 4:41 of the first and wearing down the Flyers forwards with their speed and relentless offensive attack. The Flyers were very good at allowing all of the above to happen at the will of the Pens.

Biron looked rattled. The goals the Pens scored were all solid goals but Marty seemed nervous and even, at times, lackadaisical. I've no doubt that, despite if he turns in a solid performance in game 2, he will sit down for the rest of the series thereby seriously reducing his value on the open market this summer. Which is why I think that we will see Biron at the top of his game Friday night at the Igloo.

Game 2 will most likely be very different. Philly now knows what to expect - why they didn't after 6 regular season games I have no clue - and will be an entirely different game. The Flyers will be more aggressive, make better decisions to keep away from the sin bin and go to the net often and with purpose. It will be a much closer game this time as it should be since Philadephia needs to be more desperate.

But when the final seconds tick away Friday night, Pittsburgh will emerge with a win in game 2 and a 2-0 series lead to take to Philadelphia on Sunday.

Today's Penguins Links

Have the Flyers called it quits?

philly.com

Daniel Carcillo gets a time-out (or should Carcillo really have suckered Talbot with NHL Commish Bettman in attandance):

Yahoo Sports

Should the Flyers just give up?

Puck Daddy


Pens speed burying Flyers:

Yahoo Sports

Pens Streaking Under Bylsma

Since Dan Bylsma took over as head coach on February 15 the Penguins have compiled an outstanding record of 7-1-1 and have been able to move into playoff contention because of this. They have won 4 of 4 on the road - a huge win last night against the Florida Panthers, whom the Pens are battling for a playoff spot - and the last 5consecutive. They have not put this many wins together since a streak of 6 back in November. Bylsma has instituted his system, which encompasses aggressive playmaking by both forwards and defensemen, rugged stand-up defense at the blue line and the team has bought into it. Quickly and whole-heartedly.

The trade deadline moves that GM Ray Shero put together could prove to be the difference maker. Shero traded for the New York Islanders veteran Bill Guerin on Wednesday and earlier traded Ryan Whitney to the Ducks for forward Chris Kunitz. Both Kunitz and Guerin played on the first line with Sidney Crosby last night. This line combination looks to be formidable and immediately made a difference in the game. Guerin assisted on the Pens first goal by Crosby and Kunitz has made a difference with his ability to play in front of the net as well as being an aggressive playmaker on the boards. Guerin should prove to be able to play with Sid as very few others are capable of once the two play a few more games with each other.

Whether or not the Penguins will make the playoffs remains to be seen. If they can continue performing at the high level they have in the past nine games it could be inevitable.

Fedotenko vs. Armstrong

This one is from last week but it's a keeper!



The best thing about this fight was Armstrong broke Fedotenko's hand...WITH HIS FACE!

Too rich.

Thanks to our friends at Hockeyfights.com for this one.

Time to start Blogging again...

After nearly a two month absence, and about as much inspiration to write about the Pens as their on ice performance has merited, I have decided it's time to put the fingers back on the keyboard and spew some garbage that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Pittsburgh has lost something like 15 of the last 18 or so games (I'm not much of a stickler for stats but if it's not correct it's pretty damn close). There are plenty of reasons, all of which have been thoroughly dissected in the press and on various blogs and sports sites, so if you want to go there and read them then go ahead. But I think the real reason the Penguins are losing is....



(dramatic pause)



The team players have all stopped eating their ritualistic game-day meal of SAUER KRAUT!

That's right. Sauer Kraut.

Some of you may remember back to the mid nineties. Marty Straka played for the Pens at the time and was in a terrible scoring slump. Straka went to one of the teams veterans (perhaps Rob Brown or Robert Lang...not really sure since the memory gets a bit foggy) and asked how to break the slump. Straka was told to eat Sauer Kraut. Plain and simple. So here I am calling for a team bonding, of the greatest of German delicasies. Save the season now! EAT MORE SAUER KRAUT!

Here's some suggestions:

Dogs and Kraut.
Roast of Marian Hossa with braised Sauer Kraut.
Jaromir Jagr on a stick. (no kraut needed since he is a sour, sour man)


And another thing. Didn't the start of this losing skid coincide with Mark Madden returning to the air on the X? I don't know but that seems a bit coincidental...

Or quite possibly I have decided to put my words into the realms of immortality today because tonight is simply the best possible night for this team to turn around their losing ways and get this season back on track.

Or maybe part of my malaise about blogging has come about due to the fact that I was pretty sick and tired of regurgitating the same spew that could be read on any dozen web sites or blogs. So, as they say, Enuff Z'Nuff. In the next few days I will be unveiling a new format that will concentrate less on the day-to-day hockey news and more on the lighter side of the sport. If you've liked this previw then remember to check back around the end of the week to see if you like it....Hello? Anyone out there?? Is this thing on?

One last thing. I would like to lament the passing of one of my favorite hockey sites...

puckthathit.com has gone the way of the dodo. At least I think so since the dreadful 505 error always displays on my browser.

The site provided a weeks worth of humor each and every day and finally enabled to world to see, and vote for, the beauty of the NHL's Ice Girls!

Puckthathit.com...Thanks!

All Star Voting

Make sure you vote for your Pittsburgh Penguins during the open balloting period. Got to NHL.com to vote.

On a side note: Puck Daddy Blog at Yahoo Sports (click here)is reporting that the NHL has invalidted thousands upon thousands of All Star votes made by Montreal fans due to the votes being improperly registered using electronic means. Hmmmmm, so that's how Obama did it...

Anyway it seems as if Canadiens fans are spamming NHL.com to get their guys in the game. Doesn't quite seem fair until the fact comes up that Pittsburgh fans can do the same thing. LET'S GO GET 'EM!!!!!

What's Wrong with the Penguins?

Analysis

I've had quite a few people walk up to me in the past two weeks and ask that question. My typical answer is an abrupt "Nothing!" and then I will walk away in frustration.

There seems to be an expectation that the team would pick up where they left off in June and go on a tear through the league naturally ending up with the Stanley Cup taking a tour of Pittsburgh next summer. Well I hate to crap on everyone's victory parade down Fifth Avenue but it is way too early to start celebrating. And, like the optimist that I am, it is also premature to count the flightless birds out at this point in time.

I have had that feeling of watching Evgeni Malkin on a breakaway only to stop and take a slapper from 10 feet out. In other words, it's just not natural. Pittsburgh is sitting at 4-2-1 with 9 points, in second place behind the Rangers who went on a tear to open the season. Nothing is wrong with that. They are in a much better position this early in the season then, ummm, maybe the FLYERS!

I think the bottom line of what's been going on is just the fact that half of the forwards on the roster had never skated together before the first game three weeks ago. Hockey is a game of intensity, skill, knowledge, sight and chemistry. The Pens have all of that, but the chemistry is still developing. Chemistry takes time. Chemistry takes effort. Most of all, chemistry comes only after experience. The lines have to stay together, play together and most of all lose together before they can win.

Milestones

Sid Crosby scored a milestone hat trick of sorts on Saturday against the Leafs. He marked his 200th assist and his 100th goal giving him 300 career NHL points. What a way to do that in style!

Evgeni Malkin racked up his 200th career point as well this past week. Way to go Geno!

Dare I say...both Sid and Geno will top 400 and 300 points respectively by the end of this regular season.

Injury Update

Gonchar and Whitney are both still out indefinitely. Speedy recovery to both!

News of Note

After starting out the season 1 for 18 on the power play after the first two games in Sweden, the Penguins power play has found new life. Since coming back from Europe, Pittsburgh has converted on 11 of 46 opportunities. That's a 20% rate. Much improved!

The Igloo continues to be sold out for all home games. They have recently topped seventy consecutive sellouts with no end in sight. While this is terrific for the team and it's fans, there are many fans that no longer have the opportunity to pick up tickets at reasonable prices. Small price to pay, I guess, for having a successfully team to watch.

Godard vs. Cote

This is one of the absolute best hockey fights I have ever seen.

Peace, Alexei Cherepanov

New York Rangers first round draft pick, Alexei Cherepanov, collapsed and died Monday during a Continental Hockey League game in Moscow, Russia.

See Yahoo Sports story here.

Pens Drop Last Two...Looking for Power Play

The headline says it all. Two for Eighteen on the power play so far through three games. That's 11.1%. Truly pathetic for a team that looked to lead the league before play started last week. And where is the offense in general. Two goals per game average through the New Jersey game on Saturday.

Not looking a whole lot better on defense either. The Pens are tied for 27th in shots per game at 37. If not for the stellar play of Marc Andre Fleury they may not have any of the three points they have earned so far.

Don't get me wrong, I am not calling for the Michel Therrien's head on an over sized puck - he is famous for starting out slow. But for a team that was expected to compete, from the beginning, to get back to where they were last season, this effort has been lackluster, even downright discouraging.

Now, while all of these issues are glaring at this time, all is not lost. The trip to Europe had to have a bad effect, as well as nearly a week off after. Training camp was shortened due to aforementioned trip. And there is the fact that nearly one third of the roster was not on the ice for game 6 of last years Stanley Cup Final. So, while the Penguins have stated out in an unexpected situation all is not lost. More effort on D, a renewed concentration on converting power play opportunities into goals and an overall improvment in team chemistry can go a long way to righting this ship before it is too late and they are looking up from the bottom

The Sweden Bowl - Game 1

The Pens won game one of The Sweden Bowl, and the first game of the season, 4-3 in overtime. Pittsburgh will take on Ottawa again today at 2:30 pm EDT. Pens goals scored by Scuderi (that's right!), Malkin got a shorty and the #1 star of the game, Tyler Kennedy, got the opening goal and the OT winner.



The Pens showed no glaring team deficiencies. They did play a solid two-way game and looked like they picked up where they left off last season. Therrien's line combinations could use some time to gel but the promotion of Tyler Kennedy to a scorning line looks like a stroke of genius this morning.

What really astounded me is the level of aggressiveness that both teams played with. Ottawa was an entirely different team than the one the laid down for the Pens to tramp over on their was to the Finals last spring. My guess is that this still stings with the hold over Senators players. Ottawa's Chris Neil made a general pest of himself with several cheap hits on Penguins players.



All of this physical play raisies the overall enthusiasm ofr this afternoons second game. Tune in on Versus or FSN for game 2 at 2:30.

Training Camp is Open!

All you die hard hockey fans can finally be happy. The Penguins have opened their training camp yesterday as players reported in for their physicals. Practices have started this morning with several sessions throughout the day at the Igloo.

See camp schedule here.

And, in an unusual twist due the the Pens trip to Europe this fall, the first pre-season game will be this Saturday (9/20) at home against Tampa Bay.

After being two wins away from winning the Stanley Cup last season (and only about 100 days), expectations are high for this team. There are quite a few questions that will be answered in the next few weeks. Among them are:

- Will Satan be a suitable replacement for the departing Marian Hossa?
- Can Letang step up and fill some of the responsibilty vacated by Ryan Whitney?
- Since Sid turned 21 last month can we still call him "The Kid"? Or even, should we since he has been "The Man" the past few seasons?
- Will Jordan Staal "see the money"?
- Can Michel Therrien adjust to a team that is becoming more of a veteran team? His coaching style has always been geared toward getting younger players to produce at levels much higher than their experience.

News of Note: Single game tickets for the upcoming season will go on sale Saturday morning (9/20) at 10 am. There will be a limited number of seats avialable for all home games so get them fast! Tickets can be obtained at pittsburghpenguins.com, at the Mellon Arena box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 412-323-1919.

They're back!

Summer ESPN Power Rankings

Welcome back to all of my loyal readers. I've taken the last few weeks off for some well needed rest and relaxation!!

ESPN has released their Summer Power Rankings courtesy of Scott Burnside:

here

As expected the Penguins are in the top spot in the East. What really catches my eye though is not where the Pens are ranked, but is actually how many teams from the Atlantic Division are in the top 6. Yep - 4 out of 5. Obviously there is some carry over here from last years playoff rankings - I don't think that the Rangers or Devils should be ranked that high - but that speaks volumes for the level of competition in the division.

And then there's the Islanders. Not at the bottom spot, but at 14 only surpassed in futility by the Thrashers. Somewhere, this morning, Garth Snow is weeping in his Wheaties. That is a team that is in disarray. A new coach and a roster that could probably lose regularly to many AHL teams. Hmmmmm.

Tampa Bay being ranked an 8 is mostly believable. They were, however, dead last at the end of the previous season and with a new coach behind the bench - MELROSE! - could have a tough time out of the gates. I think they will hit their stride and probably make the playoffs but it may be a struggle with a long streak needed to wrap it up.

Burnsy didn't go out on much of a limb with any of these. But I'm going to. Here is my Eastern Power rankings:

1. Pittsburgh - I am a yinzer!
2. Montreal
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
5. New York Rangers
6. Carolina
7. Tampa Bay
8. Buffalo
9. New Jersey
10. Boston
11. Toronto
12. Ottawa
13. Florida
14. New York Islanders
15. Atlanta

That's right. New Jersey out of the playoff picture. I don't believe that their defense first strategy has room in this NHL any longer. They will need to produce offense to win games and will be hard pressed to do so.

Free Agency Analysis

I won't bore all of you loyal readers with a recap of what has happened so far in free agency as all of you probably are well aware. I will, however, add some analysis and how I feel the changes to the team are going to play out.

First and foremost I do not think the Penguins are a less explosive, talented team than they were on the day the season ended. Losing Hossa was not the outcome that many Pens fans wanted to see but in the end it was not a shock. Think about it. When Hossa was acquired at the trade deadline, all speculation pointed to the fact that he was a rental player added to the roster for a playoff push. And that is exactly what he was. And he performed admirably in that role.

The signing of Fedotenko and Satan more than makes up the goals that were lost when Hossa and Malone signed elsewhere. Both are proven team players that can provide goals when most needed. Jordan Staal is more than capable of taking Malone's spot on the power play by providing traffic in front of the net.

The Pens have been able to wrap up their core players, with the exception of Jordan Staal, with long term deals at less than market value. Is this not what was most expected by the majority of fans before the team made their spectacular playoff run? It seems as if expectations were raised by their appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

And who is to say that the current roster is going to be the same roster that takes the ice in October? It probably won't be. And it can be guaranteed that it is not the same roster that will exist the day after the trade deadline in 2009 either. That is how the current NHL works. Teams change yearly and will be doing so as long as the current CBA is in place. Besides, isn't this what we all wanted anyway??

The Pens are still an elite team in the East. With or without Hossa that is a fact. They will still contend for the Conference Title and if they come together and play as a team on a mission as they did this past spring, no one really knows the potential.

Hossa Update

Here is the text of an email I recieved today. Not sure how much of this information is true or not so take with a grain of salt:

"* Apparently Ritch Winter spent yesterday trying to find anybody in Pittsburgh market that would go with the statement that he made yesterday. My sources were told that early in the day Winter was trying to convince Dan Potash and KDKA to run with the story. They wouln't do it and Molinari wouldn't touch this story as he stays away from rumors. According to a source "The market has been set at about $7 million for his client, and he's ticked."
* Looks like we could have an A-Rod/Scott Boras situation on our hands. My sources continue to tell me that Hossa really likes the offer but Winter is in the background pressuring Hossa to enter the free agent market. I could care less what the PG reported today. There is a 7yr - 52 million offer on the table.
* As I wrote yesterday, sources indicate Ray Shero has had lengthy discussions with LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi and Florida Panthers GM Jacques Martins. There is a lot of speculation going around about the Penguins/Kings pulling off a blockbuster. All I'm going to say is the two sides are talking but thats as far as I'm going to go on that issue until I actually receive some legitimate info from sources close to the Penguins organization
* The Penguins are prepared to make a 5yr - 16 million offer to defenseman Brooks Orpik later this week.

Rob Rossi of the Tribune-Review has contacted me this morning and has told me directly that everything Ritch Winter is saying is a lie. According to Rossi, behind the scenes Winter is telling people he never spoke with Rossi. A lie according to Rossi. He's telling people he never spoke with Ray Shero about a contract. A lie according to Rossi. He's telling people no parameters have been discussed. A lie according to Rossi. Rossi has been in contact with Ritch Winter on numerous occasions and even said "this guy sent emails between he and I to very high-ranking officials."

Rumors and Speculation

It's that time of the year when the media has nothing to talk about except what they think is going to happen in the draft and upcoming free agent period. Much speculation has occurred in the past few days surrounding Penguins Ryan Malone, Marian Hossa and Evgeni Malkin.

Malone: Penguins try to trade negotiating rights to Columbus so the Blue Jackets can sign Ryan before he becomes a free agent on July 1st. Media is reporting that the Penguins offered Malone an embarrassing 3.0 million contract for an undisclosed number of years. Malone says he will not negotiate with Columbus, or any organization, until after the free agent period begins.

Too hard to tell what is really going on here. Ryan deserves his big payday after setting a career high for goals this past season as well as his outstanding performance in the post season. Would Shero offer him a paltry salary to get him at a home town discount? Possibly. My guess it that Ryan wants to see what he can get on the open market with hopes that he can negotiate a better deal with the Pens. Would he be willing to leave a Stanley Cup Finalist for a last place team. That remains to be seen...

Hossa: The Pens reported have offered a seven year $50 million contract to Hossa. Except Hossa's agent, Rich Winter, says those rumors are way off base and that both he and the Penguins have agreed not to talk about any contract offers to the media.

So what does this really confirm? That negotiations are taking place and the Pens have made a significant offer to Hossa. The cash is probably somewhere in the ballpark - just because that is what Hossa expects to make. And he will surely allow a smaller contract to play for a winner than a team like, say, the Thrashers.

Malkin: I've saved the juiciest for last. Bruce Garrioch of Sun Media is reporting that the Pens are in negotiations with the Kings to trade Malkin for their #2 pick in this weekends draft and Kings center Mike Cammalleri.

If Shero is as committed to signing Hossa as it appears, that definately leaves little cap room to sign Malkin to a long term deal. The Kings are in need of a star of their own and Malkin would surely fit that bill. Malkins performance in the Finals was below expectations. Quite possibly Shero wants to avoid this type of letdown in the future and is willing to part with one of the best players on the planet for a chance to keep Hossa and get yet another high draft pick as well as a proven young center. Not such a bad thought process...

In other news - the Penguins have filed for salary arbitration with Marc Andre Fluery. While this does not come as a major surprise it is a bit strange. Fleury was outstanding in the playoffs and will be a Penguin for many years to come. And this certainly does not mean that they will even go to arbitration as there is more than a month remaining before that will happen and a contract can be signed before such time to avoid the confrontation. But salary arbitration always brings out the worst in between a player and a team. Will this hurt Marc Andre's confidence? Quite possibly. I believe that Shero will sign him to a long term extension before the arbitration judge ever hears the arguments. This is all about posturing between both parties and allows plenty of time to get a deal done.

As this is my first post since the Finals ended I would like to extend my thanks to all of my loyal readers for continuing to visit. Please surf back throughout the summer to get all of the team news as well as my reaction. Don't forget to visit Home of the Penguins advertisers!!

Stanley Cup Finals

Stanley Cup Finals:

(2) Pittsburgh vs. (1) Detroit
Detroit wins series 4-2
1. 5/24/08 Pens 0, Red Wings 4 at Detroit
2. 5/26/08 Pens 0, Red Wings 3 at Detroit
3. 5/28/08 Pens 3, Red Wings 2 at Pittsburgh
4. 5/31/08 Pens 1, Red Wings 2 at Pittsburgh
5. 6/2/08 Pens 4, Red Wings 3 3OT at Detroit
6. 6/4/08 Pens 2, Red Wings 3 at Pittsburgh


Conference Finals

Semifinals

Quarterfinals

Thank you, Pittsburgh Penguins, for a fantastic season...

In a way I am relieved that it is over. The past 9 months have been tremendous for a hockey fan that has longed for the days of the early nineties to return but seem to have taken much to long to get here.

Well, those days have returned. The Pens were within 2 wins of skating with the Cup this season and I completely expect another deep playoff run next season in a few more following.

The heartbreak of losing in the Finals is still fresh in my mind but I am genuinely thankful for the many memories that this season has given me. Looking back at the beginning of the season I would have been ecstatic having the knowledge that my team would be competing for the Cup in June. But along with the achievements that Pens have accomplished comes hope. Hope that they will win the last game they play. Hope that I can see that victory parade marching down 5th Avenue downtown. Not this time though...


So now begins the free agent process. The Pens have many players to sign, if they can. Ray Shero has his work cut out for him in the next few weeks trying to stay under the cap and getting a couple of these guys signed for less than market value with the hopes that another Cup run is inevitable. Guys like Malone, Hossa, Gil, Ruutu, Orpik, Laraque are all set to accept any offer they wish. Young stars, Malkin, Fleury, Staal will be signing long term, big money extensions. Obviously, not all of these guys will be on the roster come training camp in September (only 3 more months!) so the team will have to make some tough choices. But that is part of the new reality of the NHL. With a salary cup in place, even the teams with the highest revenues must pick and choose who to sign and who is replaceable.


During the upcoming months I will keep up on all of the news for signings and draft and anything that happens with the new arena project. But for the next few weeks I am taking some time away from the Blog and concentrating efforts on other endeavors. So until then...

Game 5 roundup - Pens 4, Red Wings 3 triple OT

Recap - The Penguins managed to stay alive in their Stanley Cup Finals series by beating the Red Wings, 4-3, in a memorable triple overtime game last night at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Marian Hossa kicked off the scoring at 8:37 of the first with a power play goal. It was Hossa's 11 of the playoffs. Shortly thereafter Adam Hall was credited with his 3rd of the playoffs when Detroit's Nick Kronwell shot a clearing attempt into his own net. Thanks for that by then way...

The Red Wings turned up the heat and scored 3 unanswered goals to seemingly wrap up the series. However, on a gut feeling, Pens head coach Michel Therrien, inserted Max Talbot into the line-up for the final shift. With Fleury on the bench and an empty net left behind, the Pens managed to tie up the game with 34.5 seconds remaining in regulation when he jammed one past Detroit goalie Osgood.

That's when the fun started.

Marc Andre Fleury stood up tall in goal through the 2 overtime periods allowing Petr Sykora to snap a shot past Osgood at 9:57 of the 3rd overtime.

Analysis - Losing a game that goes as deep into OT as last nights often has a dramatic disheartening effect on the losing team. It can be pointed to as a series turning point in usual circumstances. Can Detroit overcome the devastating loss? Tomorrow night shall tell.

Fleury was fantastic. He stopped 55 of 58 shots as was named the #1 star of the game. His presence in goal was the major factor in keeping Pittsburgh in the game through several Detroit barrages of shots. This was, by far, the best performance of his career.

With long games come injuries. Ryan Malone was struck in the face by a Hal Gil slapshot. Good thing it hit him on his already broken nose. He returned shortly after with his nose stuffed full of cotton. Sergei Gonchar took a nast spill getting back on a backcheck and went shoulder and head first into the boards behind the goal. He left the game for nearly three periods but returned in the third overtime just in time to get the primary assist on Sykora's goal. His status remains unknown for game 6.

Interesting Facts - Last night's game was the 5th longest game in NHL Finals history.

Petr Sykora jokingly called his goal in the locker room between the second and third overtime periods. Will try and get that audio posted later.

Sykora is not new to scoring game winners in OT in the playoffs. He also scored one in the fifth overtime when he was a membeer of the Anaheim Ducks. His Ducks were playing the Dallas Stars in that playoff series. The Ducks were coached, at the time, by current Detroit head coach, Mike Babcock.

Next Up - Game 6 tomorrow night at the Igloo. 8pm on NBC, WXDX or listen here.