Red Wings-Penguins: Series Tied at Two Games Apiece Heading Back to Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals has just about been a mirror image so far. The Red Wings took games one and two this year and last year.

The Penguins bounced back to win game three this year just like last year. Pittsburgh was looking to change things in game four this year after they lost game four last year.

Pittsburgh strikes first in the first period after Red Wing’s Niklas Kronwall gets sent to the box for tripping Evgeni Malkin. Malkin scores the power-play goal to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead not even three minutes in to the period. Once again Detroit continues to struggle to killing power-plays on the road in the post season.

The Red Wings tie the game with less than two minutes before the first intermission. Detroit’s Darren Helm scores to tie the game at 1-1 after one period. The goal seems to take all the momentum from Pittsburgh.

Not even a minute in to the second period Detroit takes the lead. The Red Wings take control of the puck from the moment it drops and just 46 seconds in to the period Brad Stuart scores to make it 2-1 in favor of Detroit.

Things looked like they were going to fall apart for Pittsburgh after two back to back penalties gives the Red Wings two straight power plays. After the second penalty by Brooks Orpik for tripping Valtteri Filppula everything changed for the Penguins.

With Orpik in the box Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal scores his first goal of the finals. The shorthanded goal ties the game for the Penguins at 2-2 nearly midway though the second period.

Two minutes later the Penguins super star Sidney Crosby scores his first goal of the finals. The goal gives Pittsburgh the lead once more at 3-2.

The Penguins add to their lead before the second intermission on Tyler Kennedy’s first goal of the Stanley Cup Finals as well. The goal gives the Penguins a 4-2 lead.

With no scoring in the third period the Penguins are able to tie the series at 2-2. In goal for the Penguins Marc-Andre Fleury played well enough for Pittsburgh to get the win. Fleury was bombarded with shots all night and saved 37 of the 39 shots he faced.

Detroit’s goaltender Chris Osgood struggled in goal at times once again. Osgood saves 27 of the 31 shots he faced. The Red Wings net minder cannot wait to get back to the motor city where he was nearly unbeatable in goal.

In last year’s Stanley Cup Final game four went to the Red Wings. Giving Detroit a 3-1 lead last year. The win by the Penguins is the first deviation from last year’s final. A strange thing in this series is the fact score for every game being the same. With both games being a 3-1 score in Detroit and both games being 4-2 score in Pittsburgh.

It’s now a three game series with game five Saturday in Detroit. Last year game five went to the Penguins in overtime as they forced a game six. This time the Penguins will hope to win in six or force a game seven.