Detroit 3 - Pittsburgh 1
It was a game with good speed, hard hits and ugly goals.
The Pittsburgh Penguins came into game one hoping to silence the critics and to prove that they belong in this series with the Detroit Red Wings. Mission Accomplished.
Unlike game one of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final between these two teams where Detroit dominated the play and blanked the Penguins in a 4-0 victory, the Penguins played a much better all around game.
The tempo in the first period was high as Pittsburgh and Detroit traded scoring chances and each team refused to be pushed around by the other. Sidney Crosby even got involved in the physicality of the game – lowering his shoulder into Henrik Zetterberg’s head at centre ice.
Chris Osgood Playoff Performer
Chris Osgood was his usual self in game one; he was seemingly shaky at times as he turning the puck over a few times while misplaying it around his net but in the end was solid. Quite possibly the leagues most underrated goaltender did his job of keeping the puck out of the net at key times, with help from his defense. The Penguins threw everything they had at Osgood, including a clear-cut breakaway from centre ice by Gino Malkin that Osgood deflected with his catching hand. Pittsburgh crashed the net and crowded the crease as they tried desperately to put the puck in Detroit’s net.
At the end of it all, Pittsburgh was only able to capitalize on one of Detroit’s mistakes – a glaring giveaway at the blue line by Brad Stuart resulting in 2004 game 7 Stanley Cup hero, Ruslan Fedotenko burying his own rebound.
Stuart opened the scoring for Detroit – a lucky goal that bounced off the end boards and banked off Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s leg and in. The score would be tied 1-1 after the first period.
The second period was a completely different story all together. The Penguins came out of the gate for the second with renewed confidence and a spring in their step. The play favored the Penguins for most of the period, as they were out shooting Detroit 11-2 at one point, but failed to score on their chances – including 2 power plays. As the second period went on, the Red Wings settled into their game and started creating chances of their own which resulted in another goal going off Fleury’s leg and in. The last minute goal would be credited to Johan Franzen and would take the wind right out of the Penguins’ sails heading into the third.
Before last night’s game, the Red Wings were a sparkling 9-0 when leading after two periods, and watching the third period closely it was obvious why. Detroit’s ability to absolutely shut down their opposition in their own end is remarkable. The Red Wings collapse 5 players in front of their own net, suffocating the opposing forwards, and made life very frustrating for Crosby and crew. Justin Abdelkader’s early third period goal would be all Detroit needed to hang on.
Zetterberg Covering The Puck In Crease
Zetterberg’s defensive play of grabbing the puck with his hand and putting it underneath Osgood during a goal crease scramble was obvious and should have been called for a penalty shot. Regardless if the puck lies on the ice or on the goalies back, no player can place their hand on the puck in the goalies crease, Crosby knew this and pleading with referee Mark Joannette to no avail. Even if the penalty shot was awarded and should Crosby have scored, the game still would have ended in Detroit’s favor. Their control of the game in the third period was amazing to watch and should concern the Penguins as they try to even the series in game two.
2009 Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Stats:
Shots on goal: Pittsburgh 32 – Detroit 30
Power Play: Pittsburgh 0/2 – Detroit 0/1
Faceoffs Won: Pittsburgh 16 – Detroit 39
Ice-time Leaders: Pittsburgh, Sergei Gonchar 23:21 - Detroit, Nicklas Lidstrom 24:07
Pittsburgh and Detroit will play game two just 21 hours after game one wrapped up.
