Stanley Cup Finals Game 5
Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
As stated in the Stanley Cup Finals Game 4 Analysis, Pavel Datsyuk's return would energize the Red Wings. Energize is definitely an understatement as four second period goals helped the Red Wings to an impressive 5-0 win over the Penguins on Saturday night.
The Penguins started the game off strong getting many scoring opportunities and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. However, they were unable to cash in on the opportunities and the Red Wings got the first goal for the first time in this series since game 1.
Datsyuk Gets Two Assists
Datsyuk returned to the line-up after missing the previous eight games with a foot injury. While he didn’t look like the Datsyuk that can deke a defender right out of his jock strap, he did contribute to the scoring by getting two assists.
Datsyuk may not have displayed the athleticism that we are used to seeing, but he did manage to get a big hit on Evgeni Malkin early in the first period that set the tone for the rest of the game.
The first period ended with the Red Wings up 1-0, but it wasn’t until the second period when everything would fall apart for the Penguins.
Filppula, Kronwall, Rafalski and Zetterberg Score
The Red Wings had a horrendous second period in game 4 and game 5’s second period was no exception for the Penguins. Valtteri Filppula started the scoring early when Osgood made a pass from behind his net, to the opposite blue line to Marian Hossa.
Hossa made a nice pass to a streaking Filppula in the slot and Filppula put the puck through Marc-Andre Fleury’s legs and put the Red Wings up 2-0.
The Penguins would get into some penalty problems later in the second period. Many of the penalties were unnecessary slash and hacks showing that the young Penguins team had lost their composure. The Red Wings went 3 for 9 on the power-play after going 1 for 9 in games 1-4.
Nicklas Kronwall started the power-play scoring when he took a pass from Johan Franzen in the corner. He made a strong move towards the slot area and wristed a shot past Fleury to put the Red Wings in a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Red Wings would add two more goals, and Fleury would be replaced by Mathieu Garon, who made his first playoff appearance since 2004.
Osgood Records His 15th Playoff Shutout
Chris Osgood had another phenomenal game stopping 22 shots improving his playoff record to 15-6. According to ESPN.com, he is now third on the NHL career list for playoff shutouts. He even recorded an assist on Filppula's goal, which is his fifth career playoff point.
Osgood has to be one of the top contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy. He has kept his team in a position to win every game this playoff season. And he has done this without Datsyuk, Kris Draper and Nicklas Lidstrom for the entire playoffs.
Red Wings to Repeat as Stanley Cup Champions
Game 6 will not be played until Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. The extra day will no doubt help both teams as they have played 5 games in 8 nights. However, the Red Wings will benefit more from the rest than the Penguins will.
Datsyuk has re-energized this team and given them the confidence they need to finish off the Penguins. Both teams will go into game 6 ready for a battle, but the Red Wings will emerge victorious and claim Lord Stanley’s Cup for the second consecutive year.
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