Pens Force Game 7

In an unusual fashion, the veteran Red Wings have a chance to eliminate the pesky Penguins and clinch their 12th Stanley Cup in team history but were unable to do so. The Wings had their chances to tie and even win this game as Zetterberg hit a post early, and Cleary missed on a breakaway in the final minute. I will admit that Detroit was outplayed for the first 2 periods, but also proved they can beat this Pittsburgh team with only 20 minutes of solid effort. Ozzie played huge, and kept his team in this, while I'm still waiting for Triple H (Hossa/Hudler/Holmstrom) to break out of their scoring drought. I'd be fine with a goal from each of them in game 7 to make up for it.

The officiating was horrible again tonight, and I am starting to wonder why I'm surprised. 2 bullshit penalties against Detroit early as Hank was checked into Fleury for a weak goaltender interference call, and Flipula's tripping penalty as he and Bill Guerin both collided at the blue line. OK, fine, make those calls but be consistent and call it both ways. Pittsburgh didn't score, but the physical toll of 2 big penalty kills early, as well as the momentum shift caused by the man advantage leaves the visiting team with even more of a hole to climb out of.

You can't tell me the NHL wasn't drooling over the possibility of a Stanley Cup Final going 7 games, and it was apparent in the fact the home team went 50 minutes before getting a penalty and even then Bill McCreary was hesitant to call a cross check from behind by Malkin. The only reason Detroit saw a second PP was because Draper took an errant high stick to the face that was so obvious Guerin was halfway to the box already. The part that burns me the most was the non calls. Mainly the stick in between the legs of Lidstrom that prevented him from getting a loose puck, and lead to the eventual game winner. CBC replayed the hook to Nick's junk and even he CBC announcers commented that 90% of the time that would be a penalty. Lucky for the Pens this was that rare 10% and it gave them a chance in game 7.