Penguins-Red Wings, Game Two: Pittsburgh Is Still in It

Evengi Malkin opened up the scoring in the Sunday night game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings at 16:50, and that was the only goal of the period.

The Red Wings had the edge in the first half of the period, out shooting the Penguins 7-1, but Pittsburgh outshot the Wings 11-7 by the end of the first.

Jonathan Ericsson tied the score at 4:21 of the second and Valtteri Filppula  put Detroit up 2-1 at 10:29.

A pass from Sidney Crosby to Bill Guerin hit the post at the six-minute mark and a few minutes later the two combined again, but the puck went wide.

Pittsburgh had a great chance two minutes into the third, and Crosby thought the puck was over the line. Zetterberg’s hand was on the puck, but the officials said it didn’t go in. Justin Abdelkader’s  unassisted slap shot hit the mark and Detroit went ahead 3-1.

There were only two penalties meted out, however there were two questionable incidences that perhaps should have been called against Detroit. Pittsburgh had a couple of good chances late in the third and again the empty net was not scored on in the dying seconds.

A brawl broke out with twenty seconds left with helmets, gloves, sticks and fists flying everywhere. Four penalties were given out,  but there was only seconds left in the game. I think perhaps the Penguins played well enough to win, but again the breaks just didn’t fall their way.

The home-town advantage is going to have to prove an advantage if the Penguins are to get back in the series.