Bob Grove on Penguins Hotline said that the Penguins could not have picked a worse time to play their worst game of the playoffs. True, but we also have to give the Wings and their power play some credit.
Regardless, we all know that this game tonight was a fluke – the Penguins are a lot better than this.
The worst part about it is the Pens were absolutely dominant in the first five minutes tonight. If they score a quick goal, the game could have been completely different.
Malkin was flying early and Fedotenko had two glorious chances to score. Kennedy also had a great chance. But it wasn’t meant to be.
Also, Fleury can’t really be blamed for any of the goals tonight except for maybe the Cleary goal which opened up the score. But you can’t blame him for the loss.
The Penguins were uncharacteristically undisciplined, and the penalty kill was dreadful. The Wings aren’t the only team that would have beaten the Penguins tonight.
Detroit went three for nine on the power play and scored basically four power play goals tonight to put the game away – the Filppula goal that made it 2-0 came only five seconds after Kunitz’s goalie interference penalty.
This sort of thing happens in hockey, especially on the road. But the Pens are an excellent team and they have a ton of pride. They have to turn the page and get ready for Tuesday. This game tonight is history.
Beating Detroit in three straight games is pretty much impossible, but they did beat them two games in a row – there is no reason they can’t do that again.
They will respond. They must be much more disciplined, a lot sharper, and the penalty kill has to be a lot better, obviously. But this team has proven they can beat Detroit and they will be ready to play on Tuesday night.
Keep your head up. Pens in 7.
4 Comments
I agree and don’t doubt a victory in games six and seven. Call me an optimist, but I don’t think of it like that. I believe the Wings wasted their best effort on a game five win. They should have saved it for a series clinching game seven…too bad they wasted it!
http://www.everythingpittsburgh.net/blogs/EP.php/2009/06/06/don-t-doubt-us#more173
I fully expected the Pens to lose to Detroit at home in game 5 after what the Pens did to them in Pittsburgh. There was way too much talk of the Wings being tired and beaten by the media and practically everyone. They were insulted by such talk and had to make a statement.
Equally….the Pens embarrassed themselves in game 5 and will respond with a vengeance because of that. I don’t feel the Wings really so much won the game as the Pens GAVE them a win. Put another way….the Wings didn’t beat the Pens, the Pens beat themselves.
It’s now “statement time” for the Penguins.
The reason Pittsburgh will lose the Stanley Cup…again…is the coach. I’m not a hockey expert just a hockeytown gal who’s watched and learned….after every loss, the Penguin’s coach keeps saying…”‘we have to refocus, but nothing will change…we won’t change…just refocus..our formula works, no need to change that….etc etc….Well, do what you always did and get what you always got!!!! LOL
I will tell you what. the score does not reflect the kind of game the Penguins played last night. The team played their best game by far, in my opinion. I am getting tired of all the doubters. I am getting tired of hearing how impossible it is for us to win this. I am tired of hearing of all the depth of the Detroit Redwings. I am tired of hearing that we can’t win without Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby scoring. I will tell you what, it is game seven and anything can happen.
Look out Loretta!
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