NHL - Sports Rumors

Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:37 am EDT

Wings-Penguins series could go seven games

By Joe Zedalis

Marc-Andre Fleury

Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins' season was ticking away. Champagne was being delivered to the Detroit Red Wings' locker room at Joe Louis Arena and the Stanley Cup had been polished to a blinding shine. In the first defining moment for a young team, Maxime Talbot — on the ice in place of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, brought the Penguins even with 34.3 seconds left in the third period by scoring a tenacious, second-effort goal.

Despite being short on defense after Sergei Gonchar crashed into the boards and was engulfed in back spasms, the Penguins mustered a magnificent effort. Backed by Fleury's 55-save performance they won on a triple-overtime goal by Petr Sykora, who had called his shot and turned words into deeds. It was stirring. Exciting. A great spectacle. And Wednesday night at Mellon Arena they must do it all again. Not the overtime part, necessarily. Just the part where they skate off triumphantly wrote Los Angeles Times columnist Helene Elliott.

Being good enough to push the finals to a seventh game at Detroit on Saturday will call for them to reach a level they've never approached before. Sort of like Fleury's performance in Game 5. It's not impossible that this series, seemingly so one-sided after the Red Wings started out with back-to-back shutouts, will go a full and fully dramatic seven games.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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58 Comments

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  1. justyn d
    25. Posted by justyn d Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    I'm saying that the Pens win the cup in 6. Seriously Pens fans, you get a couple lucky bounces in two games and suddenly your a match for Detroit. The Pens are a good team, and their time will come, but not this year, Detroit is simply a better team. It's Detroit's to win or lose, and has been basically the whole way, I'm just hoping they decide to win finally tonight.
  2. PensWin
    26. Posted by PensWin Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    I'm saying that the Pens win the cup in 6.
    justyn d posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2008 12:09 pm EDT
    Wait, what?
  3. CUP#12
    27. Posted by CUP#12 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    a drink tax??? wtf is that sheott?? i'm so sorry for that!!
  4. lyle s
    28. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    so the series heats up!!! good luck to both teams and their fans!!!!! cheers!!
  5. beer_man_beer_here
    29. Posted by beer_man_beer_here Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    I like the LA Kings in 5...
  6. beer_man_beer_here
    30. Posted by beer_man_beer_here Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Which is very possible because if all players on both teams fall ill, they give the cup to the worst team in the league...
  7. beer_man_beer_here
    31. Posted by beer_man_beer_here Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    I like Bell's Two Hearted Ale in 6...
    6 hours from now when I am at home drinking one...
  8. lyle s
    32. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    i disagree mr beer_man... la kings in 7(years) lol
  9. diehard_wings_fan134096
    33. Posted by diehard_wings_fan134096 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    ha ha......I like the lions to win the superbowl......in this millenium..
    oh wait this is hockey....LA KINGS IN 7!.....(centuries)..
  10. Dale
    34. Posted by Dale Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    The only good thing about Pittsburgh is the Penguins........Lets Go Pens, Lets Go Pens, Lets Go Pens!!!!
    Stomp the Red Army!
  11. Vibrating Pocket Buddy
    35. Posted by Vibrating Pocket Buddy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    I feel like feasting on some wings tonight. Somebody give Malkin a Prozac. And Therrien (probably mispelled) ought to send Laraque out for some discrete left hooks.
    The next two games to me will be as big as the U.S.A. defeating Russia in 1980. "Do You believe in miracles, yes!"
  12. The tackle
    36. Posted by The tackle Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    I love how detroit fans talk about not selling out because of a bad economy. What a joke. Passionate fans find a way. So i didnt read in the paper about how the economy changed from the last round to the finals...huh! How about that? Just so I get this right. waaaa we have a bad economy waaaa we cant afford to pay facre value and see the wings during the playoffs.....But we can find $700 dollars a ticket for finals. You are just spoiled fair weather fans/. You are all a joke and arrogant and pompous as your coach. Try not to uncork 200 bottles of champeign until AFTER you win this time!
    Lets Go PEns
  13. Max_Powers
    37. Posted by Max_Powers Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    Bell's 2-Hearted is way better than Iron City.
    Otherwise Pittsburgh Rules.
    Go Pens!!
  14. Vibrating Pocket Buddy
    38. Posted by Vibrating Pocket Buddy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    To Chuck D.: Wings fans are jaded, 3 cups in 11 years. We havent tasted chanpagne from the cup since 92. I think the boys will come out on fire. And kudos to Ryan Malone - the dude's got some bolders.
  15. PensWin
    39. Posted by PensWin Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    I guess if the Pens win the cup, they will have to put some grape juice in it for Crosby and Staal to drink. Who am I kidding, Jordan is a Staal brother -- he can drink like a pro! (And get arrested).
  16. Pete
    40. Posted by Pete Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:04 pm EDT

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    when the Pens win the cup, I'm gonna buy an import to celebrate
  17. The tackle
    41. Posted by The tackle Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    PcZ thats great! Thats the spirit kick em where it hurts. In the economy
    Lets go Pens
  18. The tackle
    42. Posted by The tackle Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    I might hire the chinese to build it in my back yard too
  19. pete070473
    43. Posted by pete070473 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    Which city should be called Hockeytown? (Keep in mine nicknames don't apply forever... do they even still manufacture cars in Motorcity??)
    Let's look at the TV ratings:
    In Pittsburgh for Game 5, a 35.4 rating and 52 percent share of turned-on TVs. Detroit checked in with a 29.6 rating and 46 share.
  20. CUP#12
    44. Posted by CUP#12 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    pete does your stat include cbc broadcast which most detroiters favor?as many as watched nbc more watched cbc.. put that in your pipe and smoke it up!! hockeytown is trademarked! detroits forever! let me see the pengwhines make it to the playoffs 17 years running.. no wait they just hope to be in pitsberg at least a couple of more..
    yes i can spell i just know how you "steel city" folk love the missing "h" and i figured why not change it alil bit more for added affect..
  21. John
    45. Posted by John Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    This from Wiki
    Game 1 of the opening round (2007 Playoffs) saw the Red Wings' 452–game home sellout streak (dating back to December 10, 1996) come to end with an announced crowd of 19,204.
    Don't talk about detroit not selling out "The Joe" Thats a 10.5 year sell out streak.
  22. willl
    46. Posted by willl Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    #16 - this has already been covered, dopey a$$ douche. you saw empty seats on tv because people get up from there seats to get beer and pi$$. 2008 attendance records as follows; Detroit 775,394 total attendance, 18,912 avg. Pittts 700,137 total attendance, 17,076 avg.
  23. willl
    47. Posted by willl Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    #55 - ****source espn
  24. comic_snoop
    48. Posted by comic_snoop Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    Who freaking cares witch team had higher attendence? It has absolutly nothing to do with anything.STOP talking about the f&cking attendence.
    G#d D%mn D*ouchebags
  25. Scott M
    49. Posted by Scott M Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    I have some 2-Hearted Ale left over from Monday, along with some Bud Light and Blue Light. It should be fun. I'll be on the edge of my seat in about 4 hours. Should be a good one...I hope a great one.
    Go Wings!!!

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