GDT: Wings vs. Penguins [Game #3]

by Christy on May 28, 2008 4:54 PM CDT in Events

Tonight is the defining game of the series. Detroit can go up 3-0 and with the high odds of winning the Cup. Or the Penguins could win it at home and get right back in this series, 2-1.

Johan Franzen played Monday night and will be in the line-up again tonight. He is doing fine after the Gary Roberts hit to the head. As in Game #2, Darren McCarty and Chris Chelios are healthy scratches.

The Penguins have pulled Kris Letang, who got owned by Valtteri Filppula on the third goal, in favor of veteran Darryl Sydor. Otherwise, their line-up remains the same as Game #2.

I will be stopping by the thread throughout the game so be sure to leave a comment, complaint, or note of joy in the comment thread!

The Wings game starts at 8pm and will be shown on Versus and CBC. Go Wings!

PS. Joe Hass has joined Winging It In Motown as my co-blogger so you should see some comments and posts from him this week. He is a very opinionated Wings fan so I look forward to reading his comments on the action and signings this series and into the off-season.

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BOOOOOO

BOOO TO CO-BLOGGERS.

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 6:46 PM CDT reply actions

Best wishes to the Red Wings tonight...

Hi Christy, let’s see if your Red Wings can break the Penguins home winning streak tonight! Frank already knows that I’m rooting for Detroit much to do with Pittsburgh knocking out the Rangers in the second round.

As I complimented your blog a while back when Nicklas Lidstrom signed his new contract extension, great job as always with your site. I’ll be by during the game should I see some people posting.

Paul

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 7:13 PM CDT reply actions

Go Wings!

Thanks for the compliment and stopping by. Hope to see you later in the game!

by Christy on May 28, 2008 7:19 PM CDT reply actions

That was a big save early!

Anytime, Christy. I just added your blog to my list of those I signed up on [been on my blog roll for a while though. :) ]

Wow, what a big stop Ozzie made during that first Pittsburgh power play. It was perfect timing on when that was done and what it meant in getting him into the game.

I am curious to see how much the Red Wings maintain puck possession here as they did in the first two games.

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 7:36 PM CDT reply actions

Big Save

You are definitely right, that was a huge save by Chris Osgood to keep both teams tied at zero.

While I’d obviously like to have the Wings up by one right now, we are looking decent for being on the road with the Penguins trying to throw everything at us.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Great puck movement by the second powerplay

Only good chance was Samuelsson’s shot along the ice, almost sneaked through the five hole.

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

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by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 7:48 PM CDT reply actions

Nice shot, not so nice power play.

Definitely agree that Sammy’s shot was our best and only decent power play opportunity. Put we were making quick, crisp passes.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions

HOLY CRAP

Screw me, game over.

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

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by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 7:52 PM CDT reply actions

That sucked.

Well, it’s just one goal. Admittedly, both teams are undefeated (I believe) when they score the first goal. But we still have two periods left in the game to tie it up.

Hopefully this intermission will quiet the crowd just a tad and Babcock will calm down our boys. And we can come out in the second, kill the penalty, and then play the game like we have in the last two games.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions

First period thoughts

I think the Red Wings still played very well despite the Penguins scoring the first goal. Sooner or later, Pittsburgh had to score one on Ozzie. Expecting him to pitch a third shutout in a row is asking way too much. Detroit controlled the puck early, tested Fleury a number of times and twice came real close to scoring first.

The goal was a soft one, but it was a result of the Penguins crashing the net. Hossa had three huge chances to score late in the period, but missed open nets each time. Ryan Malone earlier had missed the left post on a big scoring chance prior to their first shot of the game. Speaking of them crashing the net…

They cannot crash the net TOO hard where they interfere with the goaltender (Osgood). The first time Hossa missed an open net, there were two Penguins players inside the crease that the same time there. Hossa’s second miss was just that, barely a miss. Pittsburgh has the momentum to end the first period.

Streaks are made to be broken, Adam. Just because Pittsburgh scored first, it doesn’t mean they’ll automatically win tonight. The Penguins have a must-win scenario looking at them right in their face. That is why it was ultra important for the Red Wings to take both Game 1 and Game 2 at home. My thoughts would be winning the first two, dropping the third and then winning the fourth is a likely, yet good Plan B scenario for the Wings.

Hey Christy, I don’t know if you’ve been to this site, but I have written hockey articles at ArmchairGM.com… you should see one that was done nearly a week ago where I was interviewed and I answered some questions in previewing the series. And yes, I predicted the Red Wings to win in six.

Resident Interview (5/23/08)

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 8:10 PM CDT reply actions

Nice first period review.

I have visited ArmchairGM.com, but don’t visit the site regularly. Thanks for the link! I’ll be sure to check it out after the game.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Awesome.

Thanks, Christy. Tough second goal to give up. I guess it is fair to say that Sidney Crosby was bound to score sooner or later. Too much time left for Red Wings fans to give up on Game 3.

Sounds great. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the article… I paid some serious attention to the duo of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, too.

Uh oh, now the “Osgood” chants have started at the Igloo. I think we kind of expected that, LOL.

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Ozzie chants

Yeah I’m not surprised either that we’re hearing the Osgood mocking chants. You knew the Pens would do that as soon as they got the chance to do so.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Very true...

You hit the nail on the head there. I do wonder for Game 5 (if there is one) what chants they’d have for Marc-Andre Fleury. I don’t really remember hearing anything during the first two games (I think Detroit fans were more concerned about “Lets Go Wings!” chants than anything else).

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions

And

And some of their own Ozzie chants! :D

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Re: Ozzie chants in Detroit.

DUH! Stupid me, how did I fail to acknowledge that is beyond me. My bad, LOL.

Well, I’m sure in Detroit, they’re chanting his name right now after every save he makes.

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions

At least Franzen got one

I want this win so bad…. I’m nervous enough, at least with a 3-0 series lead I could really start relaxing!

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 8:57 PM CDT reply actions

Series Lead

A 3-0 series lead would certainly help with that. Unfortunately, a 2-1 series lead doesn’t give ya that kind of confidence. That’s for sure. We’re only down by one so this game certainly is over. Obviously, it’d be a lot more comforting if we were up but what can you do.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Second period thoughts...

Not much on my mind here, but obviously Pittsburgh for the first time in this series had controlled play for any portion of a game. Sidney Crosby was too wide open and uncovered to be allowed to get to a rebound with ease and put home that second goal for Pittsburgh.

Osgood like his team has still not played a bad game here. Cutting the Penguins lead in half late in the period was big and gives Detroit a chance to pull even at some point in the third period. It should be a hell of a third period, that’s for sure…

I know Adam might’ve heard me mention this last game or during Game 1. I know it has been played frequently, but in such a rare instance, I do for that Dockers commercial. Just love it. Maybe it’s the effective message or more so that great classic hit that is used for it. “California Soul” by Marlena Shaw. Really makes you want to go take your date for a night on the town in San Francisco right now!

Okay, I better stick to hockey now, LOL.

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

Haha. Let's stick to Detroit hockey.

I do like the song for the Dockers commercial, but I am tired of seeing that commercial every two seconds. Maybe that’s part of the reason why I switched to CBC after the first period.

The Wings aren’t looking bad. We’re finally seeing the Penguins team from previous rounds and then you add in the home crowd factor and there you go. It’s still a one goal game with over 14 minutes left. Still plenty of time to tie it up.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions

You're right about the Penguins tonight.

I wish I had your luxury, Christy. Being that I’m in New York City’s nearby northern suburbs and nowhere close to the Canadian border (Montreal is 300+ miles from here), I cannot get anything from CBC unless it is from NHL Center Ice. I assume you get their Windsor station.

Adam Hall’s goal just may have put the Penguins right back in the series. Not to say it’s a backbreaker, but it was huge for them.

And just as I type this, Mikael Samuelsson (the ex-Ranger and Penguin) just scored… now a one-goal game again, how about that!

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Love CBC.

I absolutely love being able to tune into CBC and yep, I get it from the Windsor station.

This next power play for Detroit is huge. We need to tie it up right now. Let’s go boys!

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

California Soullllllllllll

by Linix129 on May 28, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

listen the whole song...

...it makes you also want to take your convertible for a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway besides a date in San Francisco. :)

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

SHIT

WTF IS THAT? You can clearly see Lilja hadn’t touched the puck when Roberts hit him and that lead to the goal. Holy *, son of a *.

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

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by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

Haha.

My first thought on that goal? “I can’t say I’m surprised that Lilja was on the ice when the Pens scored.”

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

It kills me inside that DISH doesn’t have NBC in High-Def.

by Linix129 on May 28, 2008 9:31 PM CDT reply actions

HD = Awesome

HD does make hockey so much better.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

I second that.

Couldn’t agree more!

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Bad goal by Fluery

PLEASE get another!

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 9:34 PM CDT reply actions

Second that.

I second that comment!

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions

What does Samuelsson's goal do?

Seriously, Samuelsson’s goal has put the Penguins and their fans on their heels again. (nods)

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT reply actions

PP

If we don’t score here it is game over.

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 9:41 PM CDT reply actions

wow

worst PP ever, GAME OVER. :(

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 9:45 PM CDT reply actions

We did nothing.

We established nothing on that power play. Ugh.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions

If we lose game four

We will lose the series.

NHL BLOG: http://nhlhockeycentral.blogspot.com/

Please check it out, I love to write.

by adamgreuel on May 28, 2008 9:50 PM CDT reply actions

I disagree.

Sure it’ll be discouraging to lose both on the road, but we do have the home ice advantage. And our boys have been able to win on the road before so I’m not going to put it past them. This is the Stanley Cup Finals, I didn’t expect it to be easy.

by Christy on May 28, 2008 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Just remember Adam, the Wings have home ice advantage.

by Linix129 on May 28, 2008 9:55 PM CDT reply actions

Plenty to hang your hat on...

Well, the Penguins earned their Game 3 win tonight. As much as I am pulling for Detroit and disappointed with the outcome, Pittsburgh got the job done and credit is due. People were wondering when Sidney Crosby was going to make an impact in this series and he did tonight.

Again, the Red Wings by no means played poorly one iota. People may think the Penguins were in it all the way in Games 1 and 2, but here, I think the Red Wings had a true shot here until the very end. That’s the difference. Detroit just didn’t dominate as they did in the previous two games (shots, defensive strangehold, etc.). Ozzie played well too, except that he should’ve played the post tighter on Adam Hall’s goal though.

And no Adam, the Red Wings won’t lose if they don’t get a win in Game 4. That’s crazy. It only ties the series. Remember, Detroit has home ice for the series, and these two games in Pittsburgh won’t determine the ultimate fate.

Alrighty guys, nice to chat with you all. And Christy, feel free to drop me a line at ArmchairGM if you’re a member and dig my preview keys of the series. Great blog site and keep up the great work!

by cityhockeyfever on May 28, 2008 9:56 PM CDT reply actions