It's problematic when only one team shows up.
This isn't meant to discredit the Detroit Red Wings, who allowed a couple early flurries, but were otherwise nearly flawless Saturday night. Instead, it's one of those mysterious things that happens once in a while in sports. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was an awful time to play a very poor game.
It wasn't about Pavel Datsyuk making his return to the lineup. It wasn't about the Red Wings getting more sleep the last two days than they did previously. It wasn't about Pittsburgh players claiming that Detroit players were "bickering" or "worn down".
It was simply a good ol'-fashioned and completely thorough butt-kicking.
You can blame Marc-Andre Fleury if you want, but it would be just as fair to blame Pierre McGuire. Fleury may have set a Cup Finals record for "Most times hung out to dry". Only the first-period goal by Dan Cleary could reasonably be put on the Penguins' starting netminder.
Four goals in the second period by Detroit, all against Fleury, put the game away decisively. Three of the four came on the power play, and between beautiful Detroit setups and awful Pittsburgh defense, Fleury just didn't have a chance. When Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma pulled Fleury after a Henrik Zetterberg one-timer made it 5-0, it was out of mercy, not anger at Fleury's play. It's not like Fleury needs rest, since the teams have two days off before their next game.
But why subject your young goaltender to such an awful, dreadful, nearly non-existent effort in front of him?
Latest NHL Images
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, left, talks with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after a goal by the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Mathieu Garon has his facemask knocked off by Detroit Red Wings' Marian Hossa, of Slovakia, during third period of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Frank Gunn)
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Fans cheer as Detroit Red Wings players, including Pavel Datsyuk, of Russia, left, and Nicklas Lidstrom, of Sweden, right, celebrate a goal by Brian Rafalski against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk, (13) of Russia, upends Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby during third period of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Saturday, June 6, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Frank Gunn)
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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Mathieu Garon #32 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save on Marian Hossa #81 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Five of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mathieu Garon;Marian Hossa
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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Evgeni Malkin #71 and the Pittsburgh Penguins stands in front of his bench after giving up a goal against the Detroit Red Wings during Game Five of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Evgeni Malkin
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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck up ice in front of Johan Franzen #93 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Five of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Evgeni Malkin;Johan Franzen
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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Tomas Holmstrom #96 of the Detroit Red Wings battles for position in front of Hal Gill #2 and Mathieu Garon #32 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during Game Five of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tomas Holmstrom;Hal Gill;Mathieu Garon
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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Tomas Holmstrom #96 of the Detroit Red Wings takes a shot on Mathieu Garon #32 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during Game Five of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tomas Holmstrom;Mathieu Garon
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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings turns up ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during Game Five of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pavel Datsyuk
NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins weren't playing terrible hockey during the first period, when the action stayed mainly five-on-five. They actually outshot Detroit 10-8 in the first, with the Cleary goal being the difference in a 1-0 game. Pittsburgh was not without its chances, especially in the first few minutes.
In the second, a series of undisciplined (read: dumb) penalties by the Penguins completely turned this game on its ear. Frustrated with their inability to do anything with the puck, the parade to the sin bin started with a dubious Chris Kunitz goalie interference call in the final seconds of the first. Five consecutive Pittsburgh penalties -- every one of them warranted and well-deserved -- followed. One of Pittsburgh's more egregious offenders was star forward Evgeni Malkin, who was clearly off his game all night. It was a performance that reminded many of his 2008 Finals, when he was nearly useless for much of the series. The difference was that he took some stupid, unnecessary penalties Saturday night.
The third period could have been played in running time with no loss to anyone. Players, coaches, officials, broadcasters, spectators and viewers would probably all have been better off. In the end, it was quite the uneventful stanza, outside of a high hit on Niklas Kronwall by Pittsburgh's Pascal Dupuis. There were a couple skirmishes, but nothing terribly newsworthy, and referees Paul Devorski and Dennis LaRue should be credited for handing out 10-minute misconducts for chippy play in the closing minutes. Getting troublemaking players completely out of the game is a smart move.
The 5-0 final score marked the largest margin of victory in a Stanley Cup Finals shutout since 2006 --when Carolina beat Edmonton 5-0 in Game 2. Colorado beat New Jersey 5-0 to open the 2001 Finals. Before that, the biggest blowout/shutout in the Finals was way back in 1991, when Pittsburgh beat Minnesota 8-0 in its clinching Game 6.
Detroit's chance to win the Stanley Cup comes Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. Should there be a Game 7, it would not be until Friday night back in Detroit.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-06-2009 @ 10:52PM
Joe said...
Great job wings! Horrible play by the Pens. Need to do better at home. Still have faith in them though! Dumb Dumb penalties!
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6-07-2009 @ 12:00PM
Frank Thompson said...
Cause they did nothing you whiny ass
6-07-2009 @ 1:27PM
Joe said...
Um, excuse me Frank...whiny? Don't think so. Some of you idiots honestly need to learn how to read. At least look up the word whining. Don't really think saying great job to the other team is whining. Grow up please. You won game 5 & it's been a great series so far. Pens were frustrated last night and made lots of DUMB penalties. I admitted that - Didn't blame the refs, call your players names, or say there is a conspiracy in the NHL like most of the Wing fans did after games 3 & 4.
6-06-2009 @ 10:58PM
darci said...
Congrats on the win Wings! See ya Tuesday!. Sad day for the Pens. Cleary lots of frustration!
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6-06-2009 @ 11:07PM
Josh said...
You know... I'm usually one to cheer the Wings craazily after a victory like this. But... tonight, it's not even worth it. The Pens went into the locker room after the first period and... they never came back. That second period was just so bad it isn't even funny. And the third, it was just a game of keep away for the Wings. They hardly were even making an effort to score.
It's nice that Ozzy is 4th all time in playoff shutouts though. Two more and he passes up Joseph (unless he manages to get another, though I think he'll end up retiring this summer). Ozzy won't be passing up Brodeur or Roy though. I can settle for third all time.
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6-06-2009 @ 11:08PM
#1 Steeler Fan! said...
Hopefully we will get the calls for us in Pittsburgh, like Detroit did tonight. That was about the most one-sided affair I have seen in a long time. It didn't help that we looked absolutely flat out there tonight. Maybe with our fans behind us Tuesday we will look sharper. We took a lot of needless penalties and need to play more composed the next game.
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6-06-2009 @ 11:18PM
Joe said...
Steeler fan,
don't really wanna sound like the whiny wings. The Pens were so frustrated and just played dumb. The score should have been a lot worse since we played almost 20 minutes short handed. Do agree though that nothing was called on the Wings.
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6-06-2009 @ 11:31PM
william said...
Joe and Steeler fan also. Could you please tell me what game you watch.Every penalty Pitt had except the first one was a right call. Even the announcer's said it. So quit your crying the Wings came out and played a better game.
6-06-2009 @ 11:21PM
qongquest said...
wow, wings are back, the surprise and change is the pen fans that have posted, no whining. good going. wing fans know its going to be tough for the wings in pittsburgh. this series is not over. but we will be confident despite our wings going into pittsburgh. go wings...........
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6-06-2009 @ 11:25PM
mike said...
Hope the Wings finish them off Tuesday at mellonhead arena.
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6-06-2009 @ 11:41PM
Joe said...
William,
Do you know how to read? No where in my post did I say the penalties on the Pens shouldn't have been called. I said the score could have been a lot worse since we played 20 minutes short handed. Also, pretty sure I said the Pens played dumb and were frustrated. Please don't confuse my post with most of your cry baby fans after games 3 & 4. you as well as most of the Wings fan think everytime we talk, we are crying!
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6-07-2009 @ 12:11AM
dannknee said...
I felt that no matter who won game 5, the other team could win the series. So this one isn't over yet IMO. I liked having Pavel back in there for obvious reasons. If he's getting 20 minutes a game, that's maybe 7 less minutes that Pitts has the puck & a chance to score.
I think the calls have been pretty even so far. Refs missed a too many men, but they also missed what should have been one on us in game 2 which led directly to a goal. A few others here & there but all in all I think a pretty well officiated series. Win or lose, I have no beefs w/ the refs.
Finally, & please understand this is not griping. Just something I think is interesting. It's kind of like a mental passing of the torch, as the focus of the broadcasters seems to be on the Pens. From questions about what Pittsburgh has to do to accomplish something to little things like when it was 1-1 in game 4 at the end of the first, they only showed the highlite of Malkin's goal & not Helm's as they went to commercial.
Asking a Q about game 4 to Cleary after the first period of game 5 when the Wings were up. Just stuff like that. The foucs on this series is pretty much on Pittsburgh. I'm fine w/ it. We've had our time & I can understand the league wanting a new champ w/ a Canadian or American centerpiece.
So now I hope we can detour the networks plans for another year. Win or lose Pens fans, most of ya's seem pretty decent from what I can gather. I think your team will have another 10-15 years w/ a legit shot at the Cup. Obviously ya won't win it every year, but you'll be in the mix. For those of ya's not old enough to remember Mario's years, make sure ya enjoy it. When Crosby's 35 & has 3 Cups or whatever, watching him go for 4 isn't the same as the first few.
As for the Wings, I appreciate the effort of the players & the way Mr Illitch tries to make sure we've always got a competative team to root for. Yea I'd like to win but if we don't it'll be cuz a better team got us. No shame in that.
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6-07-2009 @ 12:48AM
Puck said...
Hopefully the Penguins will score first Tuesday and make a game of it; otherwise look out, I'm sure the Red Wings will relish the challenge of clinching the Cup in a hostile environment. To bad the Pens leaders are so young and immature, plus I think the addition of Datsyuk's world class finesse is an added frustration to Pittsburgh's power game. I'm glad Detroit gave up thuggery after the Bob Probert era, all of hockey's better off for it. Though I'm glad they didn't suspend Malkin after the instigation earlier in the series, but I think that opened the door for some of tonight's stupidity. Once the Wings figured out the passing lanes around the InThePen fore-checking the game was history, what do they do now if they can't pressure with a strong fore-check?
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6-07-2009 @ 1:49AM
dnnsha2 said...
Pittsburgh Penguins doesn't deserve to win a Stanley Cup. They show no class with their cheap hits. Captain Crosby should be ashamed of himself not to speak of the coach himself. At least the refs showed up for this game to penalize them. The Penguins have alot to learn.
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6-07-2009 @ 5:46AM
Al said...
NBC's "Star Cam" hasn't seen much action, since Crosby and Malkin are the main attraction. Maybe NBC just can't decide which Red Wing to focus on. I find that the most talked about team is the underdog. What is the point of talking about how the team that is expected to win is going to do it.
I think Datsyuk's return plus Lidstrom healing up will put the Pen's out in the cold. I know both teams are banged up at this point but playing without one of the best forward, if not the best forward in the NHL, makes it a little tougher.
GO WINGS!
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6-07-2009 @ 7:27AM
Laun Weisel said...
Way to go RED WINGS excellent game! Continue forth to the next exciting game. Then there will be celebrating.
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6-07-2009 @ 9:48AM
toyfull1 said...
wow, all the insightful comments almost makes me feel bad for calling ALL pens fans towel waving dbags ...GO WINGS
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6-07-2009 @ 9:54AM
kfogs1957 said...
From a Pens Fan, that was a good old fashioned Bi*%h slappin'. %-0 and it wasn't even that close, extremely poor effort. The outcome had nothing to do with th Refs, yes the first call on Kunitz was poor, but it had nothing to do with the outcome. As for Crosby's slash on Zetterberg, clearly he was frustrated, but I don't recall seeing that type of post from detroit fans when hoss slashed Crosby from behine last game, Perhaps some perspective is in order folks. Great effort by Detroit, Pens were mentally outplayed.
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6-07-2009 @ 10:14AM
Steel Wheel said...
Once again this has been a true enjoyment to see. Detroit my home state team and Pittsburgh my adopted city since the tender age of 9. Although I'm not a Guins fan I am a die hard Steelers fan and know the Burgh and it's fans very well. I AM also a diehard Wings fan since '80 so there will be no mistake who I am rooting for in this. That all said I have to make a brief observation on the classless antics of the so-called leaders of the Guins. I think the difference between Wings Cap Lidstrom and Guins Cap Crosby is the composure (or maturity). You would never see Nik take a stupid penalty like that slash on Zee. But that isn't the only time Crosby has done that. And Malkin is acting like a spoiled little brat. C'mon, Pittsburgh, we're better than that.
Go Wings, Go Stillers!!
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6-07-2009 @ 10:16AM
shummey327 said...
It's F@#kin funny how when the Pens win the refs sided for the Pens and the Redwings fans are whinning. Now listen to their bitch ass mouths now. Detriot didn't win that game. we gave it you. You guys are nothin but classless bitches.Learn sportmanship you idiots. Go Detroit Lions
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