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.