5 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's game in this thread.

Detroit at Pittsburgh

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Pavel Datsyuk skated this morning the Wings' optional skate. He stayed on the ice after with the Black Aces which could indicate that he won't suit up for Game 4. - TSN

Forward Tomas Holmstrom and defenseman Brian Rafalski didn’t practice Wednesday. They’re a little banged up and needed a day of rest, but are expected to be available tonight. - Detroit News

Pittsburgh has won Game 4 in three consecutive series after losing it in each of previous three. The Penguins penalty kill has been strong, despite their 2-1 decifit in the series. Pittsburgh has only allowed one power-play goal in past six games. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

[safir8100]

My prediction is that Draper will play today. A 4-Stanley-ring defensive guy who can kill penalties and take faceoffs is needed. Wonder who will be taken off? I want Leino to stay but I guess at this point it might be him...or possibly Maltby?

[DropThePuck]

wow ... reminiscent of an "Anything you can do I can do better......I can do anything better than you" ... the Pens do it again ... and by the same score to even up the series.

2 - Helm, D. (18:19 in 1st), Stuart, B. (00:46 in 2nd)
4 - Malkin, E. (PPG, 02:39 in 1st), Staal, J. (SHG, 08:35 in 2nd), Crosby, S. (10:34 in 2nd), Kennedy, T. (14:12 in 2nd)

Detroit had delivered one of its patented knockout blows in the first minute of the second period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

But the Pittsburgh Penguins refused to buckle, something that did not happen in the first two games of this series -- a pair of two-goal losses to the defending champions. Instead, Pittsburgh showed championship character by fighting back -- led by inspiring performances from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin -- to take a series-changing 4-2 victory at Mellon Arena.
...
"That team can really pass and take advantage of their opportunities," Detroit goalie Chris Osgood said. "I'm probably going to make the highlight reel for a while on that third (goal). Not that I like it; but what can I say, they were great goals. They are great players and they're trying their best to help their team."

<NHL.com recap>



Chris Kunitz #14 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles for the puck against Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Four of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 4, 2009 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)


A fan holds a sign over Detroit Red Wings left wing Johan Franzen, of Sweden, in the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)


Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins bends over backwards as he saves a shot on goal by the Detroit Red Wings during Game Four of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 4, 2009 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)


Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, right, scores against Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood (30) in the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
(AP Photo/Bruce Bennett, Pool)


Goaltender Chris Osgood #30 and Henrick Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings defends the goal against an attacking Maxime Talbot #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period during Game Four of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 4, 2009 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

Kunie!

Bylsma obviously expects Detroit to crash the net hard in Game 4, because he had another drill in which the Penguins lined up four players in front of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. There was plenty of traffic and lots of screens, all designed to get Fleury used to having his vision screened even more -- and work through it.

The Red Wings, on the other hand, practiced the last two days on taking hard shots from down low, firing high, low, whatever, directly in front of the helpless backup goaltenders for Detroit -- almost like they were trying to drive the puck through the net and not just over the goal line. Also, there was countless faceoff practice. Countless.

NHL.com link

[DropThePuck]

Babcock agreed that Zetterberg and Johan Franzen didn't have much jump Thursday and said he'd change the team's off-day routine to give his players more rest. Babcock had them practice on the previous off day, Wednesday, and regretted it.

"We're obviously not doing that [today] because it didn't work," Babcock said. "And that's how scientific that decision is being made."

<LA Times link>