Red Wings Destroy Penguins in Game 5
June 7, 2009 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Detroit Red Wings, NHL Playoffs, Pittsburgh Penguins
I needed a full night’s rest to write about the events that took place during Game 5 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. I thought the Detroit Red Wings might play an excellent home game, especially with Pavel Datsyuk back in the lineup, but I was not prepared for the bloodbath that I witnessed.
Critics had been questioning Detroit’s play recently with some even referring to them as “shaky” but they showed everyone that they are solid and they sent the Pittsburgh Penguins a clear message – they intend to keep Lord Stanley.
The Penguins were held scoreless in three periods while the Red Wings scored five times. I think it goes without saying that Pens netminder, Marc-Andre Fleury, looked pretty shaky between the pipes (he was eventually replaced by backup, Mathieu Garon) while his counterpart, Chris Osgood, looked solid and secured a shutout.
I’ve got to say that I was a little disappointed in both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for their conduct as the game progressed. With the team suffering, Malkin took a nasty elbowing call in the second period and then Crosby incurred a slashing penalty.
Crosby was clearly frustrated and I get that but you can’t retaliate by hitting a guy in the back of the leg when you’re the team’s leader. After that, the Penguins got themselves in all kinds of penalty trouble with six calls against them in the third period alone. When you’re wearing that “C” or even the “A” and your team is down, it’s time for you to rally and bring your guys together. They really showed a lack of class, maturity and experience last night.
Game 6 takes place on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 8pm ET. If the Red Wings win, they will have succeeded in winning the Stanley Cup two years in a row.
images: Zuma Press
