Pens Survive Late Fireworks, Stay Alive

Why not make it seven?

When there's hockey being played as urgently, breathlessly, and brilliantly as Tuesday night's Game 6, and you're given the gift of more, you don't ask why. You just accept it and offer gratitude to the two teams who made it possible. Forget Saturday's anti-climax, a 5-0 win for the Red Wings over the Penguins that again had Detroit looking epic and Pittsburgh embodying the lamb. Forget what you've known through six games.

These two teams deserve the most poignant of climaxes to the thrilling narrative they've written thus far.

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The Penguins were content to keep the game rough and methodical to even the series, and it worked in bottling up the Red Wing forwards through the game's first half; Detroit only had 12 shots through the first two periods and struggled to find a rhythm. Yet time eroded that Pittsburgh wall, and Detroit found increasingly more daylight as the game wore on.

With that, things started getting interesting.

After Jordan Staal put a rebound past Chris Osgood in the second period, giving Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead, the teams began punching and counter-punching, the ice tilting to and fro like a seesaw. Pittsburgh stayed relatively in control into the third, widening the gap to 2-0 through intermittent Red Wing attacks, but then Detroit dropped anchor in the Penguins zone.

Kris Draper cut the deficit back to one, and it's not hard to imagine doubts creeping into the minds of the Pittsburgh players, or at least their fans. These are the Red Wings, after all, that epic, seemingly unbeatable unit. And after being bested for almost the entire game, they were going to simply turn it on late just because they could and put the Penguins back in their place.

Latest NHL Images

Two Detroit Red Wings fans wear their team's red colors as they stand among a sea of white shirted Pittsburgh Penguins fans before the start of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals hockey series in Pittsburgh, June 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury waves to the crowd after the Penguins 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

Pittsburgh Penguins players mob goalie Mar-Andre Fleury as they celebrate after the Pengiuns defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey series in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 9, 2009. The series is now tied 3-3. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

Reuters

Pittsburgh Penguins players celebrate around goalie Mar-Andre Fleury (top C) ater the Pengiuns defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey series in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 9, 2009. The series is now tied 3-3. REUTERS/Jason Cohn (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

Reuters

Detroit Red Wings' Darren Helm, Chris Osgood, Kris Draper, from left, and teammates skate off the ice after a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is congratulated by Kris Letang, right, after the Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The win by the Penguins evened the series at 3-3. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Penguins players Sidney Crosby (R) celebrates with goalie Mar-Andre Fleury (L) ater the Pengiuns defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey series in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 9, 2009. The series is now tied 3-3. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

Reuters

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, left, and teammate Kris Letang celebrate the Penguins' 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

Reuters

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury celebrates with Maxime Talbot after the Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

At times, the Penguins made it easy for Detroit to do it, with a fortunate bounce or shot off the post (sorry, Mr. Zetterberg) saving the Penguins' lead. But that's OK, nothing wrong with a little luck sometimes.

And there was certainly nothing wrong with Marc-Andre Fleury on this night, who was always there even when the luck wasn't. Under an increasing barrage in the game's final minutes, Fleury withstood, answering questions about how he would respond after being pulled from Game 5. He was simply phenomenal on Tuesday night, putting the team on his back when most were looking at Sidney Crosby to bear the yeoman's work.

But now there are other questions that Fleury has to answer, namely whether or not he can play similarly in Detroit, where he's allowed 11 goals in three losses this series. After the Game 6 victory, Crosby seemed confident that Fleury would throw away all memories of past experiences at Joe Louis Arena and find liberation in the fact that this game, the seventh one, is All. That. Matters.

Whether Fleury finds comfort in that remains to be seen, but it's true. He and his teammates have earned the right to erase the slate and get one more definitive chance. The Red Wings have earned the right to have that one last definitive chance take place in the comforts of their home.

We fans? We haven't done anything to earn this Game 7, but we'll all take it anyway, won't we?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

6-09-2009 @ 11:09PM

John said...

Wings are quitters and will be beatdown in game 7 on their home ice 7-1 signed a ex wing fan

6-09-2009 @ 11:14PM

Barb said...

YOU WISH!!!!

6-09-2009 @ 11:23PM

Kris said...

Well, the cup is on it's way to Detroit. Then possibly back to Pittsburgh. That's the thing about game 7, it could go one way or the other. The one thing we know for sure is after Friday it's about 3 months until we get more hockey. So enjoy the last game of '08-'09.

6-09-2009 @ 11:26PM

kfogs1957 said...

This is the best the game has to offer, and regardless of who wins, both teams and their fan bases should be proud. Hockey is the best spectator sport there is, and this playoff season proves it. 28 teams wish they were in this position, one game for everything. This is the best!

6-09-2009 @ 11:30PM

#1 Steeler Fan! said...

You said it kfogs, it has been so exciting. As a Pens fan, of course I am rooting for them, but no matter who wins, it has been one tough series. My hats off to all the fans whether it be Pens or Wings fans. It sure would be nice to see that cup in Pittsburgh again, it has been so long. Mario has done so much for the city by keeping the Pens in Pittsburgh, it would be nice to see him win a cup as an owner.

6-09-2009 @ 11:38PM

redbeacon51 said...

I must say SERIOUSLY? What happened to the refs. Now before you go on bout wings fans whining cuz they lost let me continue, there have been so many missed calls in this series (going both ways) its been absolutly ridiculous. I think the part that got me the mostwas the Nothing But Crosby (NBC) announcers admitted there were severalblatant missed fouls by the refs. when pitts biased announcers stick up for the wings you know there's something up. But like I said it has been horribky reffed throughout the series and as much as I hate it the wings missed several key chances that shoulda been put away. The penguins were very lucky tonight it coulda been a very different scoreline and it shoulda been. But I stand by an earlier comment, "when i grow old and can no longer see i wanna be a refferee". its the story of this final.

6-09-2009 @ 11:48PM

The NBC announcers are clearly cheering for the wings. As an impartial Kings fan I am getting very sick of them. As for the refs, there should be non calls, this is the finals. Let them play.

6-10-2009 @ 12:55PM

Joe said...

So redbeacon,
I am a little confused. So you like when the NBC announcers talk about the Pens when they are pointing out missed calls, but you don't like them talking about the Pens? See the confusion here? And you were right when you said the score could have been different, no Osgood and Pens would have won by way more than 1 goal, so think that means the Wings were lucky....OH & "when you grow older and can no longer see" - you mean just when you get older, RIGHT? Cause you already can't see.....LMAO

6-09-2009 @ 11:50PM

dannknee said...

I'm fine w/ the officiating. I wish it was this way more often during the season. Problem is then people take dives & such. Notice how no one's diving now?

I'm happy we've got a great series. I'm for the Wings but it takes two teams to make a great series. Win or lose I tip my hat to the Pens & I'm pretty happy w/ the Wings too.

So far I like what I see. Except for the one throwaway game either team could have won the other 5 w/ a bounce here or there. Can't ask for much more than that.

I like our chances. I'm sure the Pens fans do too.

Enjoy it everyone.

6-10-2009 @ 12:26AM

alan said...

Game 6 - an example of the priority of marketing over the purity of the sport. Officials giving pittsburgh that extra help to get to a game seven. The officiating was horrible. A two handed slash on a breakaway and no call. So many missed calls against pittsburgh. instead of marketing Crosby ad nauseum, why not focus on producing a product with integrity. The great sport of hockey will do the rest.

6-10-2009 @ 1:59AM

cuzo said...

detriot blew it.it's the pens year.i just started watching hockey last fall.the pens are a team on the rise and it's gonna start with detriot.gooooooooooooo peennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnssssssssssssssssssss.

6-10-2009 @ 5:11AM

you can't be serious, its clearly penguins,who they favor. but w/e course nothing's wrong with the reffing now, pens won, officiaings been great hasn't it. how bout when the wings win is it so great then. any w/e it was nice to see malkin finally called out on his dirty classless playing, both him and crosby are dirty classless players and despite what ever their past statistics look like I wouldn't want them on my team anyway. But despite everything else the cup is staying home where it belongs.

6-10-2009 @ 9:34AM

shummey327 said...

Why is it when the Red Wings win, us Penguin fans are whiners but when the Penguins win the refs blew the game. I am just tired of you damn Red Wing fans. For once shut up. There fan been Pens fans here who have said positive things about your team because we are true fans and we know alot about hockey. Only thing I read about you guys are a bunch of bandwagon idiots who cry when we in.

Now, those NBC announcer are horrible. The are all routing for the Red Wings. I am actually tired for listening to them. They all should be takin off and be replaced by annoucers that are not favoring one team. Good Luck Pens

6-10-2009 @ 10:42AM

When did malkin and crosby start playing for the red wings. that's what the NBC announcers are talking about the most, your tired of listening to them? they made the comment after the scoreless first period, not how Osgood was outstanding in net but how many chances malkin and crosby had.

but Fine you want something positive here bout crosby then yes he has talent, yes he's a rising star, yes he will be amazing when he hits his prime. But untill his maturity levl matches that of his skill, I really don't care how good he is

6-10-2009 @ 1:10PM

wstreps said...

The NHL should have put a rule in place years ago to prevent teams from stocking up on European players . The league has always been a marketing disaster and to have a team that's basically a bland European all star squad play for the title every year is not only silly , it`s dull .

If the Pens lose game seven it will be another dead end finish for hockey. If the Pens win maybe they can try to build around what ever star quality Sidney Crosby has.

6-10-2009 @ 1:21PM

euvic said...

Maybe when you pens fans learn the game of hockey we can have an intelligent conversation about the game. The blatant "no-calls" slashing, elbowing, cross-checking by the pens is an embarrassment for the game. Your lack of class, just like your team, was shown to the nation last year when you didn't have the class to applaud the stanley cup being hoisted in your building last year!

6-10-2009 @ 2:20PM

darci said...

hey eudic, did you even watch game 6 last year? I was at that game and everyone in the building (and we sell out every game, unlike Detroit) was standing and cheering when the cup was hoisted. And if YOU knew anything about hockey and weren't such a wingfag, you would see the blatant non calls are going "both" ways. And I highly doubt someone with an IQ of 75 should talk about others becoming "intelligent" - BTW speaking of no class - our no class town was just ranked #1 most livable city.

6-10-2009 @ 6:19PM

The officiating was fine. I don't care about the slant NBC has towards the Pens. I also can understand where the NHL would prefer to have a team w/ North American stars over European stars win. Being for Detroit I don't agree of course, but can understand the logic there.

The comment about how Pitts sells out & we don't though, needs a lil more detail. Ya see, the Pens only sell out when they're good. They almost lost their team & would have if it wasn't for Mario.

Detroit sold out for 18 years or something like that. Except for the final few years of the Norris owndership, even when we had bad teams, we did pretty well at the gate. Our string ended when we had a real good team. The reason is the economy. Plain & simple. For a few years there, the waiting list for the Wings would have made them the 6th most attended team in the league. We had a waiting list of about 16,000 people. There was even talk of a 2nd team in this market.

Michigan's economy is fair game for taking swipes. It totally blows chunks. The area's support of hockey is a lot stronger than Pittsburgh's. It's not like people quit liking the Wings. They simply can't afford a hockey game when their house is in foreclosure.

6-10-2009 @ 9:49PM

rwing said...

What's better than a "Stanley Cup Finals" game 7 in Hockeytown?? And the Wings will prove to ALL why they are the reigning Champs....and why "The Stanley Cup" will stay in Detroit for at least another year. And when Nicklas Lidstrom hoists his 5th Stanley Cup, it will match his uniform number--#5. Only this year, Hossa and Conklin will join us in the celebration!!!!! And what better day than the 12th to hoist our 5th Cup in 12 years. RED WINGS RULE!!!!

.......D-E-T-R-O-I-T R-E-D W-I-N-G-S.......
.."2009 S-T-A-N-L-E-Y C-U-P C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S"!!!!!