The Detroit Red Wings (AFP Photo / Claus Andersen / Getty Images)
Penguins torn apart in Detroit
Published 07 June, 2009, 09:03
The Detroit Red Wings have gone 3-2 up in the Stanley Cup Finals, after destroying the Pittsburgh Penguins on home ice 5-0.
The first period saw some tight hockey, but it was the Red Wings, who went ahead after the Pens net-minder failed to cope with a rather simple effort from Daniel Cleary.
The game was almost done in the second 20 minutes, as the highflying Red Wings scored 4 times.
Valtteri Filppula had made it 2-0 for the hosts. The Red Wings then showed some killer instincts in power play, scoring twice, with Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski putting their names on the scoreboard.
Henrik Zetterberg settled the final score at 5-0.
The leader of Penguin’s attacks, Evgeny Malkin, looked washed out throughout the whole game. While another Russian – Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk – was finally back in action after an injury, and delivered two assists.
Going into the match, coach Mike Babcock wasn't sure how much he'd use Datsyuk.
"We wouldn't go with him at 50%, but in the morning skate or practice, you never know what adrenaline is going to do. I watched him in the morning skate and he doesn't look like Pavel, but saying that, I'm excited and we're excited that he's going," said Babcock.
The Detroit Red Wings are just one victory away from claiming the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, which will be a repeat of their achievements in 1997 and 1998.
The Penguins will now try to save the series in a home game, scheduled on June 9.
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