Detroit Wins Game 2: Takes 2-0 Lead in Series
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By Reg Dunlop
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Once again the Penguins came out very tentatively. For a good portion of the first period the Pens were whiffing on passes and dump-ins, not skating hard, putting no pressure on the Detroit defense and generally looking uncomfortable. Again, they did warm up and start playing the Penguin game we know and love. At one 
point the Penguins were being outshot something like 7-2. By the end of the first period the Pens had outshot the Wings 11-7 with a 1-0 lead. Things seemed to being going in the right direction for Pittsburgh. The second period seemed to be much the same way. They started slow and got better as the period went on. It would be nice to see the Pens come out of the gate strong. It is going to be very difficult to beat the Red Wings four times if the team does not play hard for 60 minutes.
The Pens had plenty of scoring chances. They just need to finish on those opportunities a bit more frequently. Both Crosby and Guerin hit posts. A number of shots were directed right into Osgood’s chest. They missed the net on countless chances. The good news is that they were creating some very good chances. The bad news is that they (so far) are not finishing the chances they generate. This was similar to how they started in the Philly series. I feel good that the Pens will start to score on more of their chances as the series progresses.
In this game, Detroit played more of puck control game. They had possession for extended periods of time. They also had a lot of presence in front of our net. The Pens did a great job in game one of not allowing the Wings to set up in our zone. Detroit was more effective tonight. The Penguins will have to work harder to prevent Detroit from controlling the game in Pittsburgh’s zone.
Notes:
- Again the officiating was non-existent. I am not trying to say that the refs were giving Detroit favoritism. The lack of officiating went both ways. They just called nothing all night. Interesting to see how the officiating is going for the finals. Is this some kind of league mandate…to “let them play”.
- One thing about the “no call” officiating is that it makes for long stretches of exciting play.
- I hate to keep harping on this topic, but I am gonna. The Pens defensive system is too soft at their own blue line. They continually allow the oppostion to come deep into the zone without a challenge. This is leading to scoring opportunities for Detroit. A perfect example is Abdelkader’s goal in the third period. He went easily into our zone on a one on three break. That does not make sense in my world.
- You have to give credit to Zetterberg for playing tough defense on Sid. Here is to getting the last change at home.
- The Pens drastically improved their face-off efficiency. They went from an unacceptable 29% to 53% tonight. So good news there.
- By no means am I blaming the loss on Fleury, but another bad goal in this game. This is the Stanley Cup Finals. It is time to shine, no more bad goals.
- I love what Malkin did at the end of the game. Sticking up for Talbot, as he was being mobbed by two Wings, and engaging Zetterberg in a fight should send a message to the rest of the Penguins. They had better come out Tuesday with more fire.
Now the Pens come home to even this series up. Let’s go Pens!
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By Hungovergoalie20, June 1, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
The pens are in great shape all we got to do is capitalize on our chances and Fleury needs to go out monday and get drunk as hell and be hungover for tuesday game thatt is the secret to goaltending I’ve seen it with my own eyes Pens in 7
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Couldn’t hurt!
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Your own (bloodshot) eyes, eh Fleury is seeing enough RED!
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By Stealth, June 1, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
[Reg says: I love what Malkin did at the end of the game. Sticking up for Talbot, as he was being mobbed by two Wings, and engaging Zetterberg in a fight should send a message to the rest of the Penguins. They had better come out Tuesday with more fire.]
Supporting a teammate is fine and is what you should do, but you ignoring the fact that Talbot did in fact spear, or appear to spear, Osgood after the whistle at the end of a game is pretty weak… You would have more credibility had you said that it was out of line, which it was… I can only imagine the posts here had Maltby done the same thing to Fleury… The outrage here would be off the scale… All Talbot accomplished was to stoke the fires of the Redwings even more, and give them more motivation, and they hardly need it… It was just stupid, period…
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True,if a team thinks someone is taking liberties with their goaltender, it is only natural to come to his aide aka “the mobbing”. But Ozzie was cool about it, he said Talbot could have taken out his spleen if he had wanted to. But I disagee with Malkin’s motives. He seemed to be nothing but frustrated. But at least Z got his first 5 minute fighting penalty in his career!
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Stealth, it may be the difference between Pens fans and Cap fans. Malkin went after him and no one really has to much of a big deal to make of it. These two teams (and I know it’s argumentative) are the two best in hockey two years in a row.
What Malkin’s motive were or what Zetterberg was thinking or Talbot for that matter isn’t ready reading material. Even Babcock has taken back that quote that he went headhunting. Last year this series was pretty professional on both sides (including the fans) and I think both teams don’t feel the series is over by any means. One of the announcers said it – it’s like watching an all-star game. Without Ovechkin, of course!
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Slick, if A.O. were playing, the ratings would be a lot higher!!
As for Malkin, if he had no agenda in going after Zetterberg, than all he had to do was pull him off of Talbot and tie him up… Now, I haven’t gone back to look at it again, but from what I saw once, and from what I’ve read since then, he hit him with an elbow and then commenced to try and put a big time beat down on him… For what? Coming to the defense of his goaltender who just got sticked in the ribs? No, Malkin had an agenda and a target, and in the end, he got away with it… Everybody can say what they want now, and play it all down, but I know what I saw…
That said, it’s water under the bridge… Game 3 in 90 minutes, and it should be a Helluva game…
Good luck to your boys tonight… As you know, I’m a huge fan of game seven’s (even though they have been brutal to the CAPS the last couple of seasons), so I’d like to see something good out of the Pens tonight… One game at a time…
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By 1hotwing, June 1, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
LoL, well are baseball team is better too. But I don’t need to have class when I’m dealing with low life losers such as yourselvs. I don’t care where u think I’m from, as long as you know where you dinner hangs (IN THE D). Maybe Hossa will bring the cup to the steel city so u can see what it looks like.
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By Penguin871, June 1, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
You kind of got to hand it to Letsgowings for having class. Isn’t there a thing that says keep the comments above a Philadelphia persons intelligence level when you first log in, that is there to keep people with the intelligence level of 24 year old baseball fan away?
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By 1hotwing, June 1, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Class is what I go to every day. In the real world, you can be a chump like KULT, or a man like me. Go ahead and listen to McGuire. His hockey knowledge has gotten him real far. Those who can’t coach teach, and thoes who can’t teach become a commentator. Gud luck and SK8 or Die man.
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Your Momma baby’s daddy is a lug nut in a GM plant and you are probably a 7 to 8 year college student and graduated from some space cadet school in the Detroit Burbs. You should think about taking spelling 101 – and get a haircut – shave that goat-tee and for GAWD’s sake get a real job.
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I think he’s the one they dumped here and not only for being a baseball fan – seem’s like he couldn’t post without the profanity. If he’s upset now wait until he find’s out his dad is working for the new auto czar and may force them to actually work for a living now!
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By 1hotwing, June 1, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
I’m from HOCKEYTOWN chump. But if i was from philadelphia I would kill myself. Cuz I’d be that much closer to you, and that hord of losers you call a team.
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By 1hotwing, June 1, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
Hey Pen871,
You are a retard, and you should be euthanized. That was one of the dumbist things I’ve ever heard. Quit crying and take this ass woopin like a man. You know where you dinner hangs. HOCKEYTOWN chumps, respect it!
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Personally, I projected this series to be a pretty good one and I won’t change that until it’s over. McGuire must have said 10 times that – you’re not in trouble until you’ve lost one at home. But until we show we can score more than one goal a game and get a win this could end up a total blow-out.
That being that they will actually play the games on the ice and the Penguins will show up in the Igloo tomorrow no matter what some simpleton poster says who pretends to be (1hotwing) like he’s a charter member of the Village People. I expect a Penguin win on Tuesday but even so, we all know that winning 4 out of 5 is a tall order. The Red Wings are for sure a good team. The team shows far more class than you do by the way (1hotwing). Are you from Philadelphia?
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Village people, I like that.
Tall order? History would certainly suggest that the series is over, the last time being 1971. But it could happen.
But you’ll forgive me if I don’t think anyone can beat this Wings team 4 games out of 5.
Good luck to all the Penz fans who show class.
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By PENZRGR8, June 1, 2009 @ 10:40 am
@ASlick
Sounds like a plan to me. I work with someone who is very pessamistic. However, he was during the Washington series. So, no change there.
I did tell him, maybe he should by a Red Wing Jersey.
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I hope the Penguins don’t have that attitude, if they did, we would have never beat Washington. The Pens play better with their backs against the wall.
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I like to see them get their backs off the wall and get out in front of the net myself!
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By A Slick, June 1, 2009 @ 9:30 am
@ PENZRGR8
Fleury is doing okay – surely nothing special. When the team averages 1-goal a game Fluery has to shut them out.
Nice work place you have. May I suggest a light coat of red food coloring on their phone ear hole!
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By A Slick, June 1, 2009 @ 9:23 am
@ letsgowings
It isn’t an “automatic” 1 game suspension – nice try, however. So far the Red Wings have handled it. But, as usual, it takes 4 games to get the CUP.
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I should have said “automatic upon League review”.
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By PENZRGR8, June 1, 2009 @ 8:46 am
I think Fleury was playing pretty well, until he let in the softy. They had a lot of chances that he stopped. Of course, when you lose, you tend to only focus on that.
Scuderi also seems to be having a tough time. Hopefully, just a rough game.
I saw a lot of improvements from Game 1 to Game 2. Here is to many more improvements for Game 3. Everyone here at my job has given up. However, I have not. (Fairweather fans)
GO PENZ!
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By McLovin, June 1, 2009 @ 7:45 am
That was turned over within 5 minutes after the game when Colin Campbell determined Zetteberg was the instigator and that he just didn’t know how to finish what he started.
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By KICKIT00, June 1, 2009 @ 7:45 am
I agree with the tentativeness again. However, the end of the first, we were on fire. I didn’t want the period to end.
First game two flukey goals and second game no call on Hossa. I think the game would have went different if they made the call. Oh well!
On to game three. If we win both these games we are back in the series.
No use in making excuses. We need to play 60 minutes.
MALKIN RULES! Malkin wasn’t instigating, he was taking care of business. Awesome to see.
LET’S GO PENS!
I BELIEVE!
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By letsgowings, June 1, 2009 @ 6:29 am
I hope the NHL ignores the automatic 1 game suspension rule for instigating within the last 5 minutes of a game. The Wings want Malkin to play. Give us your best. We can handle it.
Go Wings!
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By Penguin871, June 1, 2009 @ 12:06 am
The lack of officiating favors the slower older Detroit defense. All they do is clutch, grab and interfere all game. It’s no wonder the Stanley Cup TV rating have gone in the dumper this season. If the NHL is ever going to become a real league and get a real TV contract they ‘re going to have to do away with all the old school referees like Bill McCreary and while they are at it, how about some young TV color guys that aren’t cast-away crappy coaches!
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