Ann 22008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Game 4 REVIEW
June 1st 2008 23:23
Red Wings show off their defensive prowess as they fly out of Pittsburgh with a 2-1 win.
The Penguins scored the first goal of the game on their first powerplay but it didn't matter. Zetterberg and Datsyuk didn't score (though Datsyuk had one assist) but it didn't matter. No. What mattered were the last ten minutes of the game where the Wings successfully killed off a 5-on-3 (the Pens had only one shot on goal in that sequence) and managed to survive three consecutive icings in a 2-1 game. Those dying minutes where Lidstrom decided to simply dump the puck behind the Penguins' net instead of going for the empty-netter defined the winners of this game – the cool, calm, collected Red Wings.
The game was barely three minutes old when the Penguins opened the scoring. Marian Hossa beat an out-of-position Osgood on the short side and suddenly, everyone in the Igloo thought it was possible – the Penguins were going to win. Five minutes later, Niklas Lidstrom gave a cold shower to the crowd by firing a perfect shot from the blue line. Fleury hadn't seen a thing. From then on, the Wings did exactly what they were supposed to do in the last game – they tightened up and waited for their chance. Problem is, the Penguins started to play the same way. Consequently, the second period was more like watching a chess match than anything. Finally, Detroit scored early in the third (backhand by Jiri Hudler) and put their zone into a complete lockdown. To their credit, the Penguins tried everything they could, but the Wings could count on the machine that is Henrik Zetterberg. The Swedish half of the Euro-twins showed why he is the frontrunner to the Selke Trophy awarded to the best defensive forward. He single-handedly (well, the defense helped out too) destroyed the Pens powerplay and was Babcock's man of trust in tough defensive situations.
So now, the Igloo's curse (or charm, depends on how you look at it) has been lifted. The Penguins have no choice but to win tomorrow. The Wings are one game closer to win their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years and Nicklas Lidstrom might be the first European captain to raise the NHL's holy grail. Don Cherry, eat your heart out!
The Penguins scored the first goal of the game on their first powerplay but it didn't matter. Zetterberg and Datsyuk didn't score (though Datsyuk had one assist) but it didn't matter. No. What mattered were the last ten minutes of the game where the Wings successfully killed off a 5-on-3 (the Pens had only one shot on goal in that sequence) and managed to survive three consecutive icings in a 2-1 game. Those dying minutes where Lidstrom decided to simply dump the puck behind the Penguins' net instead of going for the empty-netter defined the winners of this game – the cool, calm, collected Red Wings.
The game was barely three minutes old when the Penguins opened the scoring. Marian Hossa beat an out-of-position Osgood on the short side and suddenly, everyone in the Igloo thought it was possible – the Penguins were going to win. Five minutes later, Niklas Lidstrom gave a cold shower to the crowd by firing a perfect shot from the blue line. Fleury hadn't seen a thing. From then on, the Wings did exactly what they were supposed to do in the last game – they tightened up and waited for their chance. Problem is, the Penguins started to play the same way. Consequently, the second period was more like watching a chess match than anything. Finally, Detroit scored early in the third (backhand by Jiri Hudler) and put their zone into a complete lockdown. To their credit, the Penguins tried everything they could, but the Wings could count on the machine that is Henrik Zetterberg. The Swedish half of the Euro-twins showed why he is the frontrunner to the Selke Trophy awarded to the best defensive forward. He single-handedly (well, the defense helped out too) destroyed the Pens powerplay and was Babcock's man of trust in tough defensive situations.
So now, the Igloo's curse (or charm, depends on how you look at it) has been lifted. The Penguins have no choice but to win tomorrow. The Wings are one game closer to win their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years and Nicklas Lidstrom might be the first European captain to raise the NHL's holy grail. Don Cherry, eat your heart out!
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