Penguins/NHL
Detroit leads series, 3-2
On the brink of elimination, Pittsburgh has all the motivation they need.
The Penguins know how it feels to see the opposition from celebrating a Stanley Cup Title on their home ice. The desperation and effort should be there from Pittsburgh but will it be enough.
The Red Wings come into game 6 with the idea that they have solved the Penguins and game 5 was a statement game.
The Red Wings are healthier than they have been all series and the addition of Pavel Datsyuk to the lineup has changed the mental makeup of the team.
Momentum is with Detroit but these playoffs have proven momentum doesn’t mean much. The pressure is with Pittsburgh as the Red Wings have the insurance of playing at home in game 7.
Morning Skate Update
* It appears Petr Sykora will be in the lineup tonight.
Sykora a healthy scratch for the past 14 games, skated with the Penguins 2nd power play unit.
11:12 a.m. – Bylsma indicated after the morning skate that Sykora will be a game time decision. Sykora will participate in warmups.
11:48 a.m. – Sykora had an extra jump in his step today and was seen joking around with players which has been a rare sight since his demotion. Sources tell us Sykora has been told by the coaching staff that he will be in the lineup.
We’re hearing that Sykora will replace Miroslav Satan but Pascal Dupuis is also under consideration to sit.
Read more for the latest updates
Red Wings lines at the morning skateDatsyuk – Zetterberg – Cleary
Franzen – Filppula – Hossa
Holmstrom – Helm – Samuelsson
Hudler – Draper – Maltby
* Mike Babcock will play Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk together for the second consecutive game. Dan Cleary who remains banged up will start the game on the top line.
Penguins Lines at the morning skateKunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Fedotenko – Malkin – Talbot
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Dupuis – Adams – Satan/Sykora
* Team officials tell me they would like to see Dan Bylsma use Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby together more often than he has during the playoffs. It’s something Dan Bylsma is not as high on as Michel Therrien was, who went to the Crosby/Malkin combination often when his team was struggling to score goals.
*There will be no changes on the backend. Hal Gill will remain in the lineup and there were no signs from today’s morning skate that Bylsma is considering dressing 7 defensemen.
