PITTSBURGH, Pa – Jiri Hudler’s third period goal withstood a pair of Pittsburgh power play chances and a desperate last few seconds as the Detroit Red Wings put a stranglehold on the Stanley Cup Finals series. With the win the Red Wings took a 3-1 lead over the Penguins and will have a chance to wrap up their eleventh Stanley Cup in franchise history when they host Pittsburgh on Monday night for Game 5.
Initially it appeared the game was going to be a barn-burner as each team collected a goal within the first 7:06 of play. But Detroit took charge of
Photo courtesy of the NHL and Detroit Red Wings
When Pittsburgh did threaten it was when they were on the power play. Detroit wound up shorthanded six times on the evening as the officials cracked down on hits from behind and obstruction tactics during the course of the evening. But even an uncharacteristically undisciplined Red Wings club would not give the Penguins enough chances to knot the game. The Penguins even had a 5-on-3 advantage midway through the third period for 1:36. Pittsburgh had several excellent chances to score during the two-man advantage but the Red Wings held them without a shot during the opportunity.
Detroit’s defense was so suffocating the Penguins could only get six shots on goal during the last period despite over three minutes of man
Photo courtesy of the NHL and Detroit Red Wings
“That (play defense) was the one thing we wanted to do a little better today,” said Detroit winger Henrik Zetterberg. “We want(ed) to have a little bit more poise in our own end. We wanted to make some good decisions down there. I think we did. They got opportunity to tie up the game with the five-on-three in the end there. We played good. We tried to keep them outside and tried to be in the shooting lanes and when they got a puck through, “Ozzie” made a save.”
Pittsburgh appeared to be on their way to tying the series as they came out the gate with a jump and took a 1-0 lead on Marian Hossa’s score with Dallas Drake in the penalty box for roughing. Hossa picked up the goal at the 2:51 mark of the game when he faked a move behind the net and deftly slipped the puck past Detroit netminder Chris Osgood’s extended glove into the near side of the net.
Nicklas Lidstrom tied the game a few minutes later when he snuck a slap shot past a screened and helpless Fleury just seconds after Pittsburgh’s Pascal Dupuis left the penalty box after serving his penalty time for a cross-checking infraction. The play was setup by a masterful screen by Daniel Cleary who was playing on the first line in place of the injured Tomas Holmstrom.
After the first period goals the game tightened up and Detroit maintained control of the puck for much of the rest of the game as they outshot Pittsburgh by a 30-23 margin.
“We missed the net a few times and there was a couple pucks laying on the crease (during the five-on-three) we just didn’t put in,” said Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. “I think if we went back, we’d try to hit the net and generate more from that. But we got set up there for a while, and just couldn’t put it in. We played pretty well here. Tonight could have gone either way. We know we have to even play better, but it’s nice to know that we’re right there and we play our game. There’s no choice now. I mean, we’ve got to win to stay (in).”
Hudler’s game-winning goal came after several poor plays and failed attempts to clear the puck by the Penguins. Detroit’s Brad Stuart stopped the initial clearing attempt by Pittsburgh and sent the puck behind
Photo courtesy of the NHL and Detroit Red Wings
“We had a few (breakdowns), once or twice we could have brought the puck out,” said Pittsburgh Head Coach Michel Therrien. “(Detroit) is a good team and they find a way to win. Good teams find a way to win. Their fourth line scored the winning goal. So what are you going to say?”
Game Notes
A moment of silence was held prior to tonight’s game in memory of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luc Bourdon, who lost his life Thursday in New Brunswick. Bourdon, 21, was selected by the Canucks in the first round (10th overall) of the 2005 Entry Draft. He starred for Val D’Or, Moncton and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning World Junior Championship teams in 2006 and 2007 and appeared in 27 games with the Canucks in 2007-08.
The loss broke several Pittsburgh streaks including a 9-0 record at home during the playoffs and was the first time the team had lost in 12 games during the playoffs when they had scored the first goal. The loss at home was Fleury’s first in 20 starts and it was the Penguins first home loss since the San Jose Sharks beat the Penguins in a shootout on February.
Holmstrom was a game-time scratch. The Detroit winger was replaced in the Red Wings lineup by Darren McCarty but is expected to be back for Game 5 in Detroit on Monday night.
Stuart extended his point streak (1-5-6) to five games with his assist on the game-winning goal by Hudler.
Of the 29 teams to lead a Stanley Cup Finals series by a 3-1 margin, 28 of them have gone on to win. The only team that did not was the 1942 Detroit Red Wings who lost four games in a row to the Toronto Maple Leafs that year after taking a 3-0 lead.
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