Red Wings @ Penguins: Stanley Cup Finals 2009 Game Six

The Stanley Cup is in the building. Detroit really wants to win this one, even though it's not at home. Anyone can win a single game and to let it go to game seven could be a mistake. The Penguins need to persevere and keep the momentum up in order to take this series to game seven. The crowd chants Fleury, Fleury, Fleury as the game is about to start. Can Marc-Andre Fleury rebound after being pulled last game?

First Period

It's back and forth to start, and Chris Osgood makes a smart save. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby step on the ice together and as things continue back and forth, Henrik Zetterberg gets a goalie interference call after being bounced into Fleury by Jordon Staal.

Bill Guerin pushes hard and gets shoved into Osgood's right post-knocking the net off. The faceoff is inside. Miklas Lidstrom clears the puck. Pavel Datsyuk resumes play with Zetterberg. Zetterberg has the puck stolen and the Penguins get a good scoring opportunity that fails to deliver.

Pittsburgh has the momentum. Brian Rafalski lets Guerin through and he gets an outside shot that Osgood stops.

Johan Franzen nails Crosby. Still Pittsburgh keeps the pressure on. Staal makes Brad Stuart look foolish along the boards. The Staal-Cooke-Kennedy line puts a ton of pressure on, but their defensemen can't hold the point. Detroit gets a chance but fails to get a shot off. Lidstrom gets smoked. Crosby turns over the puck on a delayed call. Valtteri Filppula interfered with Guerin and goes to the box.

Crosby shoots through traffic but Osgood kicks it out. Datsyuk sets up a gimme to Zetterberg, but Fleury slides across and makes it look easy.

The Red Wings survive the Penguins early push and nothing is decided this period. Detroit was on their heels through much of the period despite a few golden opportunities Fleury snagged or were passed up on.

Detroit 0 Pittsburgh 0

Period Stars: Guerin, Osgood, Fleury
Period Goofs: Gonchar, Rafalski, Eaton

Second Period

There is already a sense that the first fluke may decide the game yet a fluke it is not. A solid defensive clear from Rob Scuderi sees Staal get his own rebound to put the first puck in the net.

Osgood gets Detroit an equipment malfunction rest.

Fleury stops an outside Franzen shot that he puts back into play, but the whistle is blown.

On a Penguins rush, Osgood makes a good save. Pittsburgh has continued the pressure from the first period. They're playing desperate. Osgood is playing well, but is also going down (butterfly) and staying down - leaving the top of the net open a lot.

The pace of the game is actually increasing to a reasonable level for hockey. The Penguins are forcing their will and playing the Detroit, 'do it when the ref isn't looking' game that Scotty Bowman taught them so well.

The Red Wings turn the tables on the Penguins and gets some sustained pressure on Fleury - but no real scoring opportunities.

As time passes the game resumes a back and forth nature. Petr Sykora stops Franzen from having a scoring chance, but Franzen is persistent and Fleury makes a solid save. Malkin turns the puck over as he crosses into the offensive zone with support. Marian Hossa skates up with support and gives the puck away instead of getting involved. Max Talbot hits Jonathan Ericsson. Tomas Holmstrom works hard to get the puck to Zetterberg who ignores an open Datsyuk and hits the post. Hossa tries a hit in the neutral zone and gets dropped.

Detroit 0 Pittsburgh 1

Period Stars: Staal, Scuderi, Sykora, Helm, Osgood, Datsyuk
Period Goofs: Lidstrom, Hossa

Third Period

Detroit comes out strong, but Zetterberg puts the puck in the side of the net.

This period has the feel of a second period - as if there's more to come. The Penguins are ruling the neutral zone, but everything is back and forth, while no on is taking chances.

Tyler Kennedy takes an innocent whack at the puck beside Osgood and it flips over and in. This occurred because Lidstrom could not contain Talbot who passed the puck to Kennedy. Cleary shows some frustration but nothing comes of it.

After a nice restful commercial break, Kris Draper picks up a rebound Fleury was screened on, and no Penguin Defensemen took Draper. Detroit gets a few more chances and Fleury scrambles to make the saves and the play - as his defensemen are pylons.

Staal and Crosby kill a penalty themselves.

Datsyuk walks through two Penguins but his shot bounces off another Penguin skate. Maltby misses a few hits he attempted and then fails when trying to steal the puck.

Guerin high-sticks Draper and is called. Fleury makes a highlight save. Detroit is in control now but Datsyuk has trouble getting shots through traffic. Guerin makes a rush after the penalty expires and Osgood comes way out of the net to make the save. The Penguins go in for the kill but he holds the puck while his teammates offer no support.

Pittsburgh are on their heels, and when they do get a rush, Osgood covers up. Stuart will only make safe plays to his defense partner and seems afraid to do anything else. Hossa hogs the puck and turns it over giving Pittsburgh a rush, but the pass to Crosby is lost.

Orpik gives the puck away and Cleary gets a breakaway only to see Fleury stand on his head. Now Detroit looks desperate and are falling and leaping to make plays that can not be made. Datsyuk makes a rush, and Franzen does everything other than shove Fleury into the net, but he can't make it happen. Fleury does get buried in a pileup. Detroit waited too long for the pressure, and Talbot clears the puck for the win.

Detroit 1 Pittsburgh 2

Period Stars: Talbot, Draper, Fleury, Datsyuk, Rafalski, Osgood
Period Goofs: Lidstrom, Maltby, Kronwall

Post Game

Where is Osgood, and who is this solid goalie in the Detroit net?

Again we see Osgood play his best hockey in a loss. Detroit gets to take this home - but any team game win a single game. It's up in the air now folks!

Game Stars: Fleury, Talbot, Osgood, Datsyuk