Tonight is the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Detroit leads the series 3-1 with wins in Game 1 (4-0), Game 2 (3-0), and Game 4 (2-1). Pittsburgh won the third game 3-2.
On the cusp of elimination, Pittsburgh faces a must-win situation here. They simply have to have their best game of the series. Some keys to the game for Pittsburgh:
Sidney Crosby. Tonight’s the night for the Kid to really stand out. The Pens need him to be at his best.
Composure. The Penguins need to keep their heads no matter what happens tonight. If they lose their composure, they lose the game. If they keep it, they have a chance to win.
Evgeni Malkin. If this guy is anything less than a neutral force, the Penguins lose. If he can find it within himself to return to even half form, their chances increase. However, if he is just dead weight and the mistake machine he’s been, they’re in trouble.
It doesn’t look like Pittsburgh will have any lineup changes tonight, though rookie defenseman Alex Goligoski was recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate apparently in order to fill Kris Letang’s spot in the luxury box. I’m sure the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins appreciate that as they are in the AHL Finals at the moment.
Joe Louis Arena will be packed to the rafters tonight, but there is only one guest the Wings will be thinking about: Lord Stanley’s Cup. The prospect of hoisting that particular chalice should motivate the Wings to play their best game of the season.
Some keys to the game for Detroit:
Be the storm. Megan pointed out to me the other day that we’re always talking about how the Wings will need to weather the storm at the start of games. She made a good point: why can’t the Wings be the storm? If the Wings come out flying tonight and are able to carry it through the game, it will be very hard for the Pens to stop them.
Eurotwins. This is one of those games where your best players really need to be your best players. Although the stats may not indicate it, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have had a great series so far. A big performance tonight would be a fitting cap to it all.
Chris Osgood. In my mind, Osgood has been one of the best, if not the best, stories of the playoffs. The Wings will need him to be stellar again tonight.
The only lineup change tonight should be Tomas Holmstrom’s return from a hamstring injury. If he does make it back, Darren McCarty will be out.
This should be a great game, folks. I can’t see Pittsburgh laying down so we should get some exciting hockey as long as the Wings don’t take things for granted. Given their track record in that regard, I don’t think we’ll have a problem there.
I can’t wait.
If the wings pull it off I would like to have the Hockey Writers Association give some consideration to Kronner for Con Smythe. The guy is leading the wings in assists with 13 (a franchise record tying number). Leads all defensemen in points (13), and leads all defenseman in +/- and is 2nd overall w/ a +15 (only 1 behind leader Z). All that and he has been delivering thunderous hits and eating up min. Really what more does the guy have to do? Possibly the lack of goal scoring will undo his chances but I think he deserves some votes.
With that said. I give it realistically to Dats. Many people are shouting for Ozzy and Z, but man, so many games I’ve seen Dats carry a play; deliver a hit; or kill crucial penalties. There was a point in which I would watch old vids of Dats playing in the Russian leagues and he was go nuts when he scored. He showed so much passion and I would never see that when he played in the NHL. This always concerned me until now. He’s been an animal playing in this year’s playoff (see the clip of him throwing punches at Gary Roberts (i think). Attaboy Mr. Byng)
Yeah, I don’t suppose there’s room on the Conn Smythe for three or four names, huh? For me it’d be especially hard to give it to only Hank or Pavel, because while they be great players byu themselves, when together they are just something else entirely. Maybe this year the P in MVP could stand for “pair” instead of “player.” I’m pretty sure it’ll be either Hank or Oz who get it, with Oz being the most probable to me. In a way, though, I almost think Dom has been most valuable to the Wings’ success these playoffs. Few would disagree that Dom can at times be, to put it nicely, a bit of a distraction, even when not playing. But when he struggled and it came time to make a change, he didn’t sulk or bitch or moan about it; he accepted his role quietly and graciously, accepted that it was Osgood’s time, and Oz himself credits Dom with helping him feel more relaxed and at ease playing out there. There’s no trophy for it, but it takes little things like an old vet doing the classy thing and stepping aside at the right time, as much as it is big goals and huge 5-on-3 PKs to win the Cup.
Everybody’s saying Ozzie or Z because they earned it… I agree w/ Kronner needing some consideration, but man has Z stepped up his game. His defense on that 5 on 3 sealed it for him imo…
You can argue for so many guys though because the Wings have such a great team, but I think Z is playing like he wants his first cup more than anyone else.
First, they gotta win tonight. Go Wings!