PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The Penguins' Gary Roberts can't get the puck past Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday at Mellon Arena.
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review
It ended, fittingly, with the Penguins fighting until after the final buzzer and with the crowd standing and cheering and chanting, "Let's Go Pens!"
This team deserved that.
And the Detroit Red Wings deserved the Stanley Cup.
Two games into the series, you could see the Penguins were playing a superior opponent. Four games in, they were faced with the prospect of having to stage a monstrous comeback just to force a seventh game.
Give them immense credit for nearly pulling it off.
"They had no die in them," said Detroit forward Kris Draper. "No quit."
The Penguins' Marian Hossa watches the puck roll along the goal line behind Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood in the final seconds during third-period action between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final at the Mellon Arena.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
The dream finally melted Wednesday night at Mellon Arena, as Detroit skated off with a 3-2 victory and the Stanley Cup -- its fourth in 11 years.
The Red Wings are the NHL's gold standard.
The Penguins got the silver medal, and there is no shame in that.
Not after the way they poured their hearts into a never-to-be-forgotten Game 5.
Not after the way they tore through the Eastern Conference bracket by winning 12 of 14 games, then took the Red Wings to the precipice of Game 7.
Truly, it was a magical season.
That will become clear after a short cooling off period.
"Everyone left everything out there," said team captain Sidney Crosby. "We did everything we could."
Crosby appreciated the crowd's gesture at the end of the game and their amazing support through the playoffs.
"We don't take it for granted, but we don't expect anything different," he said. "They're a great group, and it's been a good ride."
A glance at the post-game locker room showed these Penguins for what they are -- passionate, stand-up guys who care deeply about winning.
And losing.
Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury shakes hands with Detroit goalie Chris Osgood after Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday at Mellon Arena.
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury didn't hide after giving up two bad goals. He stood and faced reporters. Crosby spoke through watery red eyes when somebody asked about Fleury.
"Without him, we wouldn't be here," Crosby said. "He's got nothing to hang his head about."
What will Crosby take from this experience?
"Probably this feeling," he said, as teammate Ryan Malone sat slumped in the locker next to him, unable to bring himself to speak. "It's not a good feeling at all. It's not something you want to experience."
Down 3-1, the Penguins staged a furious rally, pulling to within 3-2 on Marian Hossa's goal with 1:27 left. They nearly forced overtime on a Crosby backhander which trickled past the post as time expired. Hossa's tip attempt would not have counted.
In the end, maybe the relatively painless run through the East didn't have the Penguins adequately prepared for the Big Red Machine. It was a quantum leap in competition, and it took two games for the Penguins to find their footing.
Fleury stole Game 5 but probably gave one back last night -- although the critical first goal wasn't his fault, and he had nothing to do with another 5-on-3 meltdown, either.
Detroit's first goal, just 5:03 into the game, was set up by an ill-advised penalty against veteran defenseman Darryl Sydor, who interfered with Kirk Maltby in the neutral zone.
Maltby's barely a threat with the puck in the slot, never mind without it 80 feet away.
Ryan Malone and Sidney Crosby sit in their locker after the Detroit Red Wings beat the Penguins in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final at Mellon Arena, June 4, 2008.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
Still, the Penguins had their chance to tie it on a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage midway through the first. The instant Draper was whistled for a hit from behind on Sergei Gonchar, giving the Penguins a two-man advantage for 1:33, you could feel the series riding on the outcome.
The Penguins' failure in a similar situation in Game 4 had cost them dearly. Maybe that's why an unspoken undercurrent of "Oh no!" laced the cheers as Maltby skated to the penalty box.
Sure enough, Crosby lost the faceoff in the Detroit zone -- he would lose eight of nine in the first period -- and the Penguins took 33 seconds merely to set up. A few near-misses later, they officially squandered their big chance. And probably the series.
"That's a young team," said veteran Detroit winger Darren McCarty. "We've been in that position, and they'll learn from it. Their resiliency is top-notch. They'll be back."
Do you doubt him?
Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com.
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