Penguins/NHL
DETROIT 5 – PITTSBURGH 4 OT If the Detroit Red Wings (32-24-13, 77 pts) sneak into the playoffs, many are going to remember this one. In a game that had just about everything, Daniel Alfredsson had the heroics, scoring the overtime winner off a 3-on-1 opportunity on a shot that went off Rob Scuderi and into the back of the net with 0.4 seconds left to give the Red Wings a crucial and thrilling 5-4 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins (45-19-5, 95 pts).
The game had a number of twists and turns:
Pittsburgh fell behind 2-0 and it was typical Penguin hockey as the Red Wings were frustrating the Penguins and it led to undisciplined play from their top guns. Of note James Neal took a deliberate cross check to the face of forward Luke Glendening that could very well lead to a suspension.
The Penguins looked flustered in the second period but out of nowhere stormed back on goals from Lee Stempniak and Evgeni Malkin 25 seconds apart and Malkin would add another to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead going into the second intermission.
Tomas Tatar would tie the game at 3-3 with 10:01 left in the third period and Todd Bertuzzi put the Red Wings up 4-3, 2:18 later.
When I say this game had everything it had everything as Craig Adams scored for the first time in 65 games, burying a great feed in front from Brandon Sutter to tie the game at 4-4 with 5:43 left in regulation.
Moments later the Detroit Red Wings tried to hand Pittsburgh the game as long-time NHL veteran forward David Legwand received a 5 Minute Major for Butt Ending Evgeni Malkin with 3:46 left in the third period.
The Penguins failed to score on the power play in regulation and the Red Wings killed off the remaining minutes of the penalty in overtime. Pittsburgh managed five shots on the 5 Minute Major.
“When you have the opportunity win on a 5 Minute Major, you’ve got to finish the game,” Sidney Crosby said.
