QUICK ANALYSIS

After falling behind two games to Detroit in the Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins knew that Game 3 would be a “must win” as they wanted to avoid trailing 3-0 in the series. Pittsburgh stepped up in the critical contest to pull off a 4-2 victory and pulled closer to the Red Wings.

The Penguins started the game strong with heavy pressure in the early parts of the first period and took an early 1-0 lead. The opening period tilted back and forth and ended in a 2-2 draw.

In the second period, the Red Wings transition game and puck pursuit cornered the Penguins in their own zone. Pittsburgh struggled with the long change but survived with the score remaining tied.

Pittsburgh’s hopes came down to the final 20 minutes of the third period. The Penguins played with desperation and dominated the final period, outshooting Detroit, 10-3. Sergei Gonchar scored the biggest goal of the season for Pittsburgh on a power play and the Penguins held on for the win.

There is still a lot of work to be done. The Penguins know the Red Wings are going to come hard in Game 4 and Pittsburgh wants to even this series at 2-2 when they head back to Detroit.

Thoughts, observations and comments from the Penguins’ 4-2 Game 3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Penguins were 2 for 3 on the power play, an impressive feat against the Detroit Red Wings, who rarely take penalties – which is precisely why it was so vital for the Penguins to capitalize on the chances they get.

“Overall, on the power play we did a lot of good things,” defenseman Kris Letang said. “We put the puck at the net, we stayed at the net and we got two goals out of it.”

Sidney Crosby was held without a goal for the third straight game in the Stanley Cup Final Tuesday night. But for Crosby Game 3 against the Red Wings was all about cutting the series deficit in half, not piling on to his stats.

With a 4-2 victory in Game 3, Crosby considers it mission accomplished.

Crosby, who logged an industrious 22:19 of ice time for the game on a team-leading 25 shifts, did pick up his first point of the series when he was credited with the secondary assist on Sergei Gonchar’s game-winner with 9:31 remaining in the third. He also won 63 percent (12 of 19) of his faceoffs.

YAY!!