Pens' arrival better late than never

By Mike Prisuta
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, May 29, 2008



Penguins center Evgeni Malkin celebrates Sidney Crosby's second-period goal against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final at Mellon Arena, May 28, 2008. The Penguins won, 3-2, and cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

Now, they can breathe.

Now, it's a series.

For more than 10 minutes Wednesday night, the Penguins seemed intent on turning the Stanley Cup final into a self-obstructing prophecy.

Hours after coach Michel Therrien had once again raised the subject of obstruction following the morning skate, the Penguins found themselves tied with the Detroit Red Wings, 0-0, but being outshot, 9-1, more than halfway through the first period of what for the Penguins was a pivotal Game 3.

The Pens' profound problems in generating any offense in this series already had been personified at that point by Sidney Crosby, who for some reason opted to attempt a pass rather than let one rip from the top of the face-off circle to goaltender Chris Osgood's right halfway through the period.

Not long after that, the light finally went on.

All it took was a mistake by the Red Wings, an unforced error on a Brad Stuart-to-Henrik Zetterberg breakout pass.

The puck hit Zetterberg's skate and then Stuart's skate after Marian Hossa had shot it.

Crosby collected it and did the rest, and suddenly the Penguins were the Penguins again.



Penguins center Evgeni Malkin checks the Detroit Red Wings' Brad Stuart in the first period of Game 3 in the Stanley Cup final at Mellon Arena, May 28, 2008. The Penguins won, 3-2, and cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

Therrien, when he wasn't discussing obstruction, confirmed they'd been less than that in explaining why he replaced rookie defenseman Kris Letang with veteran Darryl Sydor.

The Penguins, Therrien said, could use Sydor's experience "on the ice and on the bench."

Sydor wasn't on the ice when Crosby finally got a puck past Osgood at 17:25 of the first, but the bench was just dandy thereafter.

And on the ice, the Penguins were something to behold.

They hit, skated, shot, cycled, trapped and willed their way past the Red Wings, who, as it turns out, are not the Red Army, 3-2.

The Penguins played the type of hockey that had them deserving of victory in about 95 percent of their wins, in Therrien's estimation, prior to the Cup final.

In the process, they proved to themselves, and perhaps to the Red Wings, that they belong in this series.

There was legitimate doubt heading into Game 3 based on how docile the Penguins had been in Detroit, relatively speaking.



The Penguins' Gary Roberts checks Detroit's Brian Rafalski into the boards during the second period of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night at Mellon Arena. The Penguins won, 3-2, and cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review

But that doubt was body-checked into oblivion in a much-needed Mellon Arena confirmation that included:

• Gary Roberts playing with centers Jordan Staal, Adam Hall, Crosby and Malkin, and dominating whenever called upon.

• Defensemen such as Sergei Gonchar, Ryan Whitney and even Hal Gill stepping up into the rush and forcing the offensive issue.

• Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury remaining upright upon taking the ice and standing tall long enough to make the timely saves that were necessary until the Penguins found their legs.

• Defenseman Brooks Orpik crushing everything in red and white that came near him.



Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury makes a save on Detroit's Jiri Hudler during the second period of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night at Mellon Arena. The Penguins won, 3-2, and cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review

The stat of the night?

The Penguins knocked Tomas Holmstrom's helmet off three times in the first two periods.

That's playoff hockey.

By finally playing some the Penguins finally got to Osgood.

If they can get him moving side to side a little more often or become a little more accurate with the shots they're suddenly willing to take, they'll have a chance to light him up Saturday night.

For now, the chance to even the series in Game 4 is more than enough.


Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.