Posted on June 7th, 2009 by DJ
Penguins C Sidney Crosby admitted superstition played a role in the club’s decision to switch hotels from the Westin, Downtown, to the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, for their return trip to Detroit. “I think a lot of hockey players are guilty of that,” Crosby said. “Why not? It’s a good change.”
Good company
Crosby and C Evgeni Malkin each went into Game 5 having played 46 playoff games. Crosby was averaging 1.37 points per game; Malkin 1.33. That put them just ahead of Hall of Famer Mark Messier (1.25) in the all-time top five. The only players ahead of Crosby and Malkin are Wayne Gretzky (1.84) and Mario Lemieux (1.61).
PittsburghLive.com
Posted on June 7th, 2009 by DJ
Posted on June 7th, 2009 by DJ
Posted on June 7th, 2009 by DJ
QUICK ANALYSIS
Different year, same scenario. Just like last season, the Stanley Cup Final heads back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 with Detroit holding a 3-2 series advantage over the Penguins after the Red Wings pulled off a 5-0 victory in Game 5.
The Penguins started the game strong and were dominating in the early going, but the Red Wings took the punches and held Pittsburgh off the score sheet. Detroit had a 2-0 lead in the second period when its top-ranked power play took over. The Red Wings scored three man-advantage goals in the second period to build a 5-0 advantage.
The Penguins have been a resilient club all season and this loss will really test their mental toughness. Pittsburgh wants to put this loss behind it as quickly as possible and turn its attention to Game 6 in Pittsburgh Tuesday night.
The Red Wings have pushed the Penguins to the brink of extinction. Pittsburgh hasn’t quit all season long and they won’t now with their championship hopes on the line. The Penguins will need to respond to the challenge. It’s do or die.
Posted on June 7th, 2009 by DJ
If you believe that a team is not in trouble in a series until it loses a game at home, then the Pittsburgh Penguins are in fine shape heading back to Mellon Arena for Game 6 Tuesday night.
That, obviously, is not the case — considering the Penguins are down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final and coming off a 5-0 shellacking by the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night.
