(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The puck ends up on the back of Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood as defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (5), of Sweden, tries to cover it up as they play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period of Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup finals hockey series in Detroit, Saturday, May 30, 2009. Osgood stopped 31 of 32 shots to beat the Penguins 3-1.
Shooting wise the Penguins actually out-shot the Red Wings 32-30. But on this night, they just couldn't get it by Osgood. Take Evgeni Malkin's clear breakaway while the score was tied 1-1. Osgood got a piece of his glove on it. Or Sidney Crosby throwing a puck off the post that somehow lands on the sprawled out Osgood's back. Henrik Zetterberg either directly covered that puck or shoved it under Osgood with his own hands. No penalty was called on the play.
For the Red Wings part, they never straight up put a puck past Marc-Andre Fleury. The first goal scored off a super strong deflection on the end boards that ricocheted in off the back of Fleury's leg. Sure you can credit Brad Stuart's hard shot and the angle he used, but this is hockey, not pinball. Using the boards to your advantage is a part of hockey but having them so springy pucks can basically score themselves is boarding on ridiculous.
As said, the goal is to take one of the first two road games, if the Pens are strong on Sunday and capture Game 2 they're in a good position and Detroit's home ice is gone. So that's gotta be the goal now, just get that first goal.
by Hooks Orpik
