Media Blitz begins for Evgeni Malkin
Regardless of the outcome of the next two games, the Pittsburgh Penguins have begun a media blitz for Evgeni Malkin to get serious Conn Smythe Trophy consideration. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the award can go to a player on the winning team or the losing team. Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was the 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, despite the Anaheim Ducks losing to the New Jersey Devils in seven games during the Cup Finals. 2003 was also the last year that the home team won every game in the Stanley Cup Finals. 2009 Top Candidates 1. PIT Evgeni Malkin (14g-21a-35pts-+2) – The playoffs points leader has
Pressure turns to Fleury in game 3
Game 2 Post-Game Notebook Unable to tie the series at 1-1, the series shifts back to Pittsburgh Tuesday night as the Penguins will be in a must win situation like they were last year. Despite only scoring two goals through the first two games of the series, the Penguins were upbeat following the game and believe this series is far from over. For the second straight night, the inability to capitalize on prime scoring chances haunted the Penguins. The chances are there for the Penguins, averaging 32 shots in two games Red Wings team speed causing Penguins problems Evaluating the first two games of the series, the most noticeable difference between the Red Wings and Penguins is the team speed
Pittsburgh must make the most of their “golden opportunities” as Red Wings take game 1
Detroit leads series, 1-0 New year, same result as Chris Osgood made 31 saves and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena to take a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. While result of of game 1 was the same as last year, a Red Wings win, the Penguins were a much different team last night than the one that the hockey world saw last year in game 1. Pittsburgh outshot the Red Wings 32-30 and they were able to generate a number of scoring chances. “Last time we played them, it took them a couple games to get going. They were very good tonight. They were very competitive,” Detroit
Zetterberg tops the list of Elite performers in game 1
Game 1 Top Performers 1. DET Henrik Zetterberg, C, – Matching up against Sidney Crosby, Henrik Zetterberg was able to neutralize Crosby and slow down the games top player. Zetterberg had an assist in the game and was 75% on draws, winning 15 of 20. Zetterberg’s dominance in the face-off circle led to Johan Franzen’s game winning goal as Zetterberg beat Sidney Crosby on a face-off in the offensive zone. Crosby was 30% on draws and Jordan Staal was 31.6% in the face off in the face-off circle. An area where the Penguins must improve in game 2. 2. DET Chris Osgood, G, – Chris Osgood made 31 saves and made key stops at key moments. Pittsburg had a number
Hawks get to Osgood in game 3 win
The blue paint in front of each goal line has been prime real estate in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And no teams value it more than the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, a fact that was never more apparent than in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. In a 4-3 overtime victory, the Blackhawks scored on a stuff, two deflections and another shot from close range. The Red Wings impeded the vision of the goaltender on each of their goals, which were scored by defensemen on shots from the point. “It’s kind of the same old thing, especially when you get this far – every goalie stands on his head,” Blackhawks grinder Andrew Ladd told Inside Pittsburgh Sports