In The Face-Off Circle: A game-by-game look at the face-off matchups in the Stanley Cup Final
Saturday was a rather forgettable night for the Pittsburgh Penguins, to say the least, as they were on the receiving end of a 5-0 rout at Joe Louis Arena, falling behind the Red Wings, 3-2, in the Stanley Cup Final. While Detroit didn't win the majority of the face-offs in game 5, it managed to take advantage and capitalize on the ones it did win, especially in the second period as the Penguins were in the process of self destructing with a series of penalties.
Saturday's game marked the return of MVP finalist Pavel Datsyuk to the Red Wings' lineup, while he recorded a pair of assists in just over 17 minutes of ice-time. A 56 percent face-off man during the regular season, Datsyuk stepped into the circle five times on Saturday, all on the power play, winning three of them. His biggest, most important win of the night proved to be at the 8:19 mark of the second period with the Wings already leading, 3-0.
After Evgeni Malkin was sent off for elbowing Johan Franzen, Datsyuk went up against Jordan Staal toward the tail end of the power play, winning the draw back to Nicklas Lidstrom to give the Wings possession. Lidstrom quickly sent it back to Datsyuk, who then found a wide open Brian Rafalski at the point as he fired a shot through a screen, essentially ending any chance the Penguins had on Saturday night.
Here's a quick look at who Datsyuk went up against in his return:
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-- With Datsyuk and Kris Draper returning to the lineup in games 4 and 5 respectively, Darren Helm saw his face-off opportunities drop slightly on Saturday, as he only took six draws, winning just one. He's still been one of Detroit's best options in the series, winning 61 percent.
-- Staal has had a disastrous series when it comes to winning draws, as he entered play on Saturday with a 16-for-64 mark. He never took a face-off in the first period, and finished the night 5-for-9, his best showing of the series. Though, one of his losses, as pointed out above, led to the back-breaking goal for the Penguins as Rafalski gave the Wings what turned out to be an insurmountable 4-0 lead just halfway through the second period.
-- Through the first five games, Franzen is currently the most efficient man in the circle, winning seven of his nine draws. As for the rest of the top players in the series:
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-- The two most frequent matchups in the series have been Crosby vs. Henrik Zetterberg (43 times) and Staal vs. Helm (30 times). Crosby currently has a slight edge over Zetterberg (22-for-43), while Helm has dominated Staal (20-for-30).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-08-2009 @ 12:52AM
Chase said...
There were so many B.S. calls in that game you need a dvr and a note pad to make sure you got them all..... and the call that got it all rolling was the goalie interference. which was ridiculous i might add...... if 2 men colide into the goalie u cannot single the one out and say you are at fault
That's like if i check a player of the opposing team into my goalie and then the ref calls interference on him........
its quite obvious that the Red Wings are quite capable of capitalizing on a Power Play. but for it being the Stanley Cup and the refs saying they were going "to let them play" every game in Detroit seems to b extremely one sided due in large part to the referee's. game one zetterburg covers the puck up on osgoods back game 2 he dives inside the net and the puck bounces off his chest no shit they wont score ur laying in the goal zetterburg!?!??!
im surpised the refs didn't just turn their heads when hossa checked their backup goalie into the boards. like he couldn't have swerved to the right
and of course the penalties only got more obvious as the game went on. Pittsburgh is frustrated every time they come to Detroit they are targeted for penalties while Detroit is off doing there moving interference's and small shit that they get away with.
bottom line is Pittsburgh got shafted big time thanks to the refs
(Detroit's first goal was legit though a very nice screened shot)
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6-08-2009 @ 8:52AM
Taylors said...
Whining again, no calls have gone both ways. Blame the Pens for there imaturity in trying to take out their frustration and lack of team hockey skills on the Red Wing players instead of the task at hand. The so called old veterans are showing what it takes to play in the face of adversity. They played poorly in Pittsburgh but bounce back as a veteran team should, by playing the game the right way. Every team that goes up against Detroit with the notion that they can just bully them leaves a loser.
6-08-2009 @ 12:27PM
Chase said...
Taylor
it still doesnt change the fact that the refs are generally in favor of the home team, games 1 2 and 5 for detroit game 3 or 4 one of them the penguins had too many men on the ice and they didnt call it. it may just be one penalty but one penalty kill or Power play goal could completely shift the momentum of the game for a team.
i remember in one of the replay segments crosby and some other guy were skating and the guy started to pump his arms to sprint and nailed crosby right in the face with an elbow. so dont act like the Red Wings are all high and mighty they do a lot of crap that is wrong but they get away with it.
6-08-2009 @ 5:14AM
thetrutheh said...
so how many pens got suspended from their goon tactics from game 5. none, and why not. so typical of bettman. so much for rules.
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6-08-2009 @ 4:34PM
mike said...
Chase Look at all the no calls in games 3 & 4 at mellonhead arena. They all even out in the end.
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6-08-2009 @ 7:24PM
vtman said...
chase, chase, bitter aren't we? Oh and one goal was all that was needed. quit whinning you wuss.
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6-08-2009 @ 7:48PM
#1 Steeler Fan! said...
Why is it when Pens fans make a statement and observation of the game, it is called whining, but when the Wings fans do the same thing it is not. What Chase said is absolutely true, the refs seem to favor the home team more than the visiting team. It has been a part of hockey and just about every sport there is. Granted the Penguins made some terrible decisions and took unnecessary penalties. But that doesn't mean the Wings didn't commit some of the same ones and weren't called for them. It's part of hockey get used to it. Also no need for name calling, we are all allowed to our opinion, that is what makes this country free.
6-09-2009 @ 8:46AM
mvbrown30 said...
all will be told tonight,cindy crysbee and co are at home tonight.so lets kick some arsssss.
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6-09-2009 @ 10:38AM
RMS said...
Look, the refs are not the problem with the NHL, they have blown a few calls just like every game. That's part of the game! The problem with the NHL is the media and Bettman.
The league has done everything in their power to put the cup in their poster boy's hands (Crosby and Malkin). Including stacking the schedule against older legs in the name of "TV" (Bulls#!t!!!), not suspending Malkin for multiple reasons at the end of GM2, and not following-up to the crap at the end of GM5.
The NBC "Nothing But Crosby" channel has done no justice to the sport either. Even after the butt whooping in GM5, NBC could not give credit to Ossy and his great pay in the playoffs. They only find reason to fault Ossy and redirect the credit of the shutout.
What a joke this has become! Shame on the league and NBC.
Even if the Pens win this year, they (league and NBC) have taken the pride away from them winning it.
GO NHL and GO FIND A NEW JOB BETTMAN!!!
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6-09-2009 @ 11:02PM
Chase said...
woooo game 7 and once again several miss penalties on home ice... shocker ??? lol
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