GAME DAY: SCP '09, FRIDAY JUNE 12, STANLEY CUP FINAL--PITTSBURGH AT DETROIT, 800 PM ET

Pittsburgh at Detroit

GAME SEVEN, 2009 STANLEY CUP FINALS

8:00 PM ET, June 12, 2009
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

NBC/CBC/RDS

Penguins-Red Wings Preview

MORE FROM ESPN, INCLUDING VIDEO PREVIEW:
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=290612005

DETROIT (ESPN/AP) -- Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Osgood and Kirk Maltby spread out like a perfectly shaped triangle in the Detroit Red Wings dressing room and tried to explain how Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals is really like any other game.

When that seemingly unbelievable message comes from guys who have championship rings that nearly cover a whole hand it begins to sound plausible.

"It's hard to really mentally sell it to yourself that it's just another game, but it is," Maltby said Thursday.

Lidstrom, Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom and Kris Draper are going for their fifth title in 12 seasons Friday night in Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Osgood is on the verge of a fourth ring, third as the Red Wings starting goalie.

Detroit had a shot for its second straight Cup on Tuesday night in Game 6, but fell 2-1 in Pittsburgh. The Red Wings have one more chance to secure it, and they will try at home where they are 11-1 in the playoffs -- 3-0 in this series.

"It's no different," said Osgood, 15-7 with a 2.00 goals-against average in the playoffs. "Game 7 is just another game to win the Cup. That was our Game 7 in Pittsburgh.

"It makes no difference if it's Game 4, 5, 6, or 7. If you can win the Cup, you've got the exact same type of game. The only difference is they have a chance now, too."

That depends on whom you ask.
The home team won each of the first six games. The Penguins went 1-2 at Joe Louis Arena in last year's finals and have been outscored 11-2 in three losses in this series.

Given the chance to practice in Detroit on Thursday, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma decided the upside wasn't enough to sacrifice another day at home. The Penguins skated one last time in Pittsburgh before flying to Detroit.

"I didn't think a seventh time or an eighth time ... was going to show us one thing about the boards that we didn't already know," Bylsma said. "I thought staying home would give us a better chance to be more focused and more prepared in our routine."

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby has been bottled up by forward Henrik Zetterberg, who hits the ice pretty much every time Crosby does, and hasn't scored a goal in six finals games in Detroit.

Crosby and teammate Evgeni Malkin, who led the NHL with 113 points in the regular season, went pointless in the Game 6 win. That was Pittsburgh's first postseason victory since the dynamic duo joined the team in which neither star got on the score sheet.

The Penguins can't expect to dethrone the Red Wings in Detroit if Crosby and Malkin are blanked again.

"I'd always like to score more," said Crosby, who has a goal and two assists in the series. "I look back, and on some of the chances I've had just didn't really get a whole lot of luck. Now is not the time to think about what could have been. The only way I'm looking at here is it's a great opportunity, and I've got to try to go out there and play my best game in the playoffs.

"No matter what's happened before, whether I had one goal or 10, doesn't really matter."

History strongly favors the Red Wings heading into the final game of the season.

Home teams are 12-2 in championship Game 7s and have won 80 of the 128 playoff series that have gone the distance (62.5 percent).

While the Red Wings have a wealth of overall experience and lots of practice in hoisting the Cup, compared to the Penguins -- whose championships came well before this group was in Pittsburgh -- they haven't played a finals Game 7 with Detroit.

Defenseman Brian Rafalski, a Michigan native, went through it twice with New Jersey. He was on the short end in 2001 against Colorado, and came out on top two years later against Anaheim, which was coached by current Red Wings bench boss Mike Babc0ck.

The Red Wings are 12-7 overall in Game 7s, but haven't played one in the finals since 1964 and haven't hosted a decisive game with the Cup on the line since 1955 -- a 3-1 victory over Montreal.

"I am sure there will be some butterflies early on, especially here in the room before you hit the ice," captain Lidstrom said. "Once you start playing, you are so focused on what you have to do and your assignments out there. I think that will go away."

Ruslan Fedotenko is hardly a star for the Penguins, but his voice carries a little farther these days. In 2004, Fedotenko scored both goals for Tampa Bay in Game 7 and helped the Lightning complete a comeback from a 3-2 series deficit against Calgary and win the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh is trying to repeat the feat.

"I will have my moment, and I will talk to the team before the game," Fedotenko said. "We won at home. We forced Game 7, and it gave us the opportunity to play for the Cup, gave us a chance to win. Right now we'll take that.

"We've been successful in probably the first 10 minutes in each game. I feel like we've come out pretty strong ... but I feel like we need to find a way to put in 60 minutes of that. I'm sure if we do that, we'll have a chance to win."

That opportunity was lost in Game 5 when the series was tied 2-2. The Penguins started well, but failed to score on an early power play. That was the jump that propelled the Red Wings to the 5-0 victory that put them one win away from their 12th Stanley Cup title.

That is the only game in the series decided by more than two goals.

"We wanted to finish them off early, but the two teams have been so even and playing so well at home that there haven't been big differences between the two teams," Lidstrom said. "In a way it might be fitting that the top two teams are playing a Game 7."

Go Wings!

Well Pragues knows who I'm cheering for.

voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

I have been so off on my predictions on this goddamned playoffs, the big Red machine is the only team I predicted to win that is doing what it's told!

Go Wings, but shame on them for letting Pittsburgh even get a sniff!

I'll say it again... tonight will be a shoot-out! 8-7 Wings in OT with Hossa netting the winner.

Heh heh.

It could happen...

ElliottRules wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

unfortunately we still have the awards show to suffer through yet, and its not even in Toronto, Bettman must have had something to do with that. :gg:

You can tag along with me and predict the Pens while you still can haha. If I'm right I look pretty darn good. I know I know it's beyond a long shot but there's still hope.

SensFan71 wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

unfortunately we still have the awards show to suffer through yet, and its not even in Toronto, Bettman must have had something to do with that. :gg:

Vegas baby, Vegas!

shabbs wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

unfortunately we still have the awards show to suffer through yet, and its not even in Toronto, Bettman must have had something to do with that. :gg:

Vegas baby, Vegas!

what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, wonder if Pronger is going, his wife might not like that

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

Hear, hear!

In this order:

1. Heatley trade
2. Draft
3. Sens development camp
4. Hockey Canada (jr) development camp
5. Training camp
6. Pre-season
7. Season openers (at home and abroad)

As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Well Pragues knows who I'm cheering for.

You're cheering for a triple-OT victory, with with Malkin dipsy-doodling around Hossa for the winner.

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

Hear, hear!

In this order:

1. Heatley trade
2. Draft
3. Sens development camp
4. Hockey Canada (jr) development camp
5. Training camp
6. Pre-season
7. Season openers (at home and abroad)

As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Heh. Heatley's $4M bonus may cause an issue with a trade before July 1st...

SensFan71 wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

unfortunately we still have the awards show to suffer through yet, and its not even in Toronto, Bettman must have had something to do with that. :gg:

I have *never* ever watched one of those. What's the point?

wprager wrote:As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Indeed!

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

unfortunately we still have the awards show to suffer through yet, and its not even in Toronto, Bettman must have had something to do with that. :gg:

I have *never* ever watched one of those. What's the point?

my wife likes to see hockey players in suits, well, certain ones anyway, but I told her Fisher and Spezza are not nominated for anything, so they won't be there, that got her disappointed.

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

Hear, hear!

In this order:

1. Heatley trade
2. Draft
3. Sens development camp
4. Hockey Canada (jr) development camp
5. Training camp
6. Pre-season
7. Season openers (at home and abroad)

As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Heh. Heatley's $4M bonus may cause an issue with a trade before July 1st...

In Murray we trust for that one, he is a wily old negotiator that will find a way still to get the best return.

shabbs wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

I agree SF71. Can we get to the draft and trades already!! Wings will win tonight.

unfortunately we still have the awards show to suffer through yet, and its not even in Toronto, Bettman must have had something to do with that. :gg:

Vegas baby, Vegas!

Well, what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas. Why do they have to show it in Prime Time.

SensFan71 wrote:

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

Hear, hear!

In this order:

1. Heatley trade
2. Draft
3. Sens development camp
4. Hockey Canada (jr) development camp
5. Training camp
6. Pre-season
7. Season openers (at home and abroad)

As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Heh. Heatley's $4M bonus may cause an issue with a trade before July 1st...

In Murray we trust for that one, he is a wily old negotiator that will find a way still to get the best return.

Is there *any* reason why a bonus has to be paid after July 1st, though? As long as it is paid in the year it is counted against the cap, it shouldn't matter. Emery's buy-out was lump-summed, why couldn't similar rules apply? Again, it makes sens for the deal to happen before the draft for very, very obvious reasons, and I don't think some artificial date will stand in the way of that happening.

wprager wrote:Is there *any* reason why a bonus has to be paid after July 1st, though? As long as it is paid in the year it is counted against the cap, it shouldn't matter. Emery's buy-out was lump-summed, why couldn't similar rules apply? Again, it makes sens for the deal to happen before the draft for very, very obvious reasons, and I don't think some artificial date will stand in the way of that happening.

This is a bonus for next year's salary... so it only kicks in on July 1st.

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

Hear, hear!

In this order:

1. Heatley trade
2. Draft
3. Sens development camp
4. Hockey Canada (jr) development camp
5. Training camp
6. Pre-season
7. Season openers (at home and abroad)

As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Heh. Heatley's $4M bonus may cause an issue with a trade before July 1st...

In Murray we trust for that one, he is a wily old negotiator that will find a way still to get the best return.

Is there *any* reason why a bonus has to be paid after July 1st, though? As long as it is paid in the year it is counted against the cap, it shouldn't matter. Emery's buy-out was lump-summed, why couldn't similar rules apply? Again, it makes sens for the deal to happen before the draft for very, very obvious reasons, and I don't think some artificial date will stand in the way of that happening.

well again I am not an expert on this one, but apparently this quote on quote 4M bonus was built into this salary, so I am guessing that means he must be paid that after July 1st, which I am really confusing myself on this, but a couple of people have pointed out this is like the McCabe situation a couple of years back.

Getting back to the game tonight...

Sykora is out with a broken foot, Satan is in.

BOOO PENGUINS.

you can't spell Crosby without C-R-Y

SensFan71 wrote:

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:voted for the Wings, let's get this over already and get to the real exciting stuff, the off season and the draft.

Hear, hear!

In this order:

1. Heatley trade
2. Draft
3. Sens development camp
4. Hockey Canada (jr) development camp
5. Training camp
6. Pre-season
7. Season openers (at home and abroad)

As Shabbs would say, get those beers on ice.

Heh. Heatley's $4M bonus may cause an issue with a trade before July 1st...

In Murray we trust for that one, he is a wily old negotiator that will find a way still to get the best return.

Is there *any* reason why a bonus has to be paid after July 1st, though? As long as it is paid in the year it is counted against the cap, it shouldn't matter. Emery's buy-out was lump-summed, why couldn't similar rules apply? Again, it makes sens for the deal to happen before the draft for very, very obvious reasons, and I don't think some artificial date will stand in the way of that happening.

well again I am not an expert on this one, but apparently this quote on quote 4M bonus was built into this salary, so I am guessing that means he must be paid that after July 1st, which I am really confusing myself on this, but a couple of people have pointed out this is like the McCabe situation a couple of years back.

There is a big, big difference with McCabe. McCabe didn't want out of Toronto. Toronto wanted him gone. So whoever got him wasn't necessarily getting a happy camper joyful about getting a fresh start. Also, McCabe was overpaid for waht he used to bring, and very overpaid for what he was actually bringing. Heatley could actually be worth his contract if he plays like he has the last 4 years (last year was the anomaly, in other words).

The contest tonight is the 87th playoff game played this year.

Is the pressure on the Penguins?

Or on the Wings?

How many goals tonight?

Which players are the 'difference makers'?

davetherave wrote:The contest tonight is the 87th playoff game played this year.

Is the pressure on the Penguins?

Or on the Wings?

How many goals tonight?

Which players are the 'difference makers'?

You tell us...

davetherave wrote:The contest tonight is the 87th playoff game played this year.

Is the pressure on the Penguins?

Or on the Wings?

How many goals tonight?

Which players are the 'difference makers'?

anyone thing that 87th game of the playoffs and Sid's number might be a bad sign for Detroit fans? ugh, I hope the Pens don't win :gg:

87 will score 71 seconds in...

And 71... he always scores...

shabbs wrote:And 71... he always scores...

damn that guy lol, hey just seeing that made me think of the Tampa Bay Devil Ray highlights last night, anyone see that young couple making out in front of the 3 nuns? I think they are going to hell for that one lol.

shabbs wrote:

davetherave wrote:The contest tonight is the 87th playoff game played this year.

Is the pressure on the Penguins?

Or on the Wings?

How many goals tonight?

Which players are the 'difference makers'?

You tell us...

Hmm...thinking about those.

As is Pingu...

Here's what the Detroit News thinks:

YOU CAN EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Dave Dye, The Detroit News, June 12 2009

So who's going to be the Game 7 hero?

Toss out the stars -- Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk for the Red Wings, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the Penguins -- because it's often a lesser-known player who swoops in to steal the spotlight at moments like this.

"You don't know who it's going to be, but it's going to be somebody," Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski said. "Everybody has to be ready."

Here are three of these less-likely potential heroes for both teams:

Red Wings

Tomas Holmstrom: Nobody is more due for a dirty goal than "Homer," the king of the net-front presence. He hasn't scored in the last 18 games, not since April 23. Going back to the regular season, he has two goals in 39 games.
Jiri Hudler: "Happy" hasn't been quite so happy lately. He doesn't have a goal in the last 11 games after scoring four in the first 11 playoff games. But he's still dangerous, especially on the power play, and he has had a knack for scoring some big ones at key times.
Darren Helm: It would cap a marvelous playoff run for the fast-skating rookie. He scored the clincher to eliminate Chicago in the conference final. He provides constant energy and has been as dangerous as anybody in recent weeks.

Penguins

Maxime Talbot: Could lightning strike twice at Joe Louis Arena? It was Talbot who scored in the final minute of Game 5 last year to help delay the Wings' Stanley Cup celebration. He also scored twice in Game 3 this year at Pittsburgh.
Pascal Dupuis: He doesn't have a point in 15 games during these playoffs, but there's something that stands out about this checking-line player's resume: He has appeared in two Game 7s during his career and has three goals.
Rob Scuderi: OK, he's obviously not a scoring defenseman by any stretch of the imagination, but he does so many little things for this club. He could just flip a puck toward the net and let the hockey gods take over. We've seen that stuff happen before in these situations.

davetherave wrote:Hmm...thinking about those.

Me too.

shabbs wrote:

davetherave wrote:Hmm...thinking about those.

Me too.

Enough thinking. It'll be Detroit going away. Osgood will stand on his head early in the first and Detroit will escape with a 1-0 lead after 20, on a double minor to Malkin (holding and unsportsmanlike for arguing). The Pens will get their own chance on a powerplay midway through the second but, again, Osgood will frustrate them leading to an interference call on, you guessed it, Malkin, as he crashes the crease during a goalmouth scramble. Now, this is where it gets real interesting. Fleury witholds the barrage and, just as after the penalty expires, Malkin is sent in on a clear breakaway. Osgood stops him and Malkin smashes his stick on the cross-bar out of frustration. That earns him another penalty, this time a delayed call, and as he scrambles back without a stick the Wings score again. Just before the end of the second Detroit pops in another goal that just rips the hearts out of the Penguins that still have theirs. It's complete domination in the third as the Penguins appear to be playing like boys against men. Detroit pops in a couple more, but no-one is really counting any more. The only number that matters is 12 -- the 12th time that the Red Wings win the Cup.

Osgood gets the 1st star and the Conn Smythe trophy. Poems and songs are written. Doves are released into the night skies. Yadda-yadda, you can fill in the rest of the blanks.

you didnt leave any blanks out there prags i think you have everything wrapped up in a nice little package

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:

davetherave wrote:Hmm...thinking about those.

Me too.

Enough thinking. It'll be Detroit going away. Osgood will stand on his head early in the first and Detroit will escape with a 1-0 lead after 20, on a double minor to Malkin (holding and unsportsmanlike for arguing). The Pens will get their own chance on a powerplay midway through the second but, again, Osgood will frustrate them leading to an interference call on, you guessed it, Malkin, as he crashes the crease during a goalmouth scramble. Now, this is where it gets real interesting. Fleury witholds the barrage and, just as after the penalty expires, Malkin is sent in on a clear breakaway. Osgood stops him and Malkin smashes his stick on the cross-bar out of frustration. That earns him another penalty, this time a delayed call, and as he scrambles back without a stick the Wings score again. Just before the end of the second Detroit pops in another goal that just rips the hearts out of the Penguins that still have theirs. It's complete domination in the third as the Penguins appear to be playing like boys against men. Detroit pops in a couple more, but no-one is really counting any more. The only number that matters is 12 -- the 12th time that the Red Wings win the Cup.

Osgood gets the 1st star and the Conn Smythe trophy. Poems and songs are written. Doves are released into the night skies. Yadda-yadda, you can fill in the rest of the blanks.

8-7 Wings in OT. Hossa with the winner.

HOSSA = WIN.

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:

davetherave wrote:Hmm...thinking about those.

Me too.

Enough thinking. It'll be Detroit going away. Osgood will stand on his head early in the first and Detroit will escape with a 1-0 lead after 20, on a double minor to Malkin (holding and unsportsmanlike for arguing). The Pens will get their own chance on a powerplay midway through the second but, again, Osgood will frustrate them leading to an interference call on, you guessed it, Malkin, as he crashes the crease during a goalmouth scramble. Now, this is where it gets real interesting. Fleury witholds the barrage and, just as after the penalty expires, Malkin is sent in on a clear breakaway. Osgood stops him and Malkin smashes his stick on the cross-bar out of frustration. That earns him another penalty, this time a delayed call, and as he scrambles back without a stick the Wings score again. Just before the end of the second Detroit pops in another goal that just rips the hearts out of the Penguins that still have theirs. It's complete domination in the third as the Penguins appear to be playing like boys against men. Detroit pops in a couple more, but no-one is really counting any more. The only number that matters is 12 -- the 12th time that the Red Wings win the Cup.

Osgood gets the 1st star and the Conn Smythe trophy. Poems and songs are written. Doves are released into the night skies. Yadda-yadda, you can fill in the rest of the blanks.

8-7 Wings in OT. Hossa with the winner.

HOSSA = WIN.

Care to elaborate on that? A little? Add some detail.

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:you didnt leave any blanks out there prags i think you have everything wrapped up in a nice little package

Well, the model and color of the car that Osgood will get with the Smythe, which one of them will yell "I'm going to Disneyland!", the parade route. Plenty of blanks.

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:

davetherave wrote:Hmm...thinking about those.

Me too.

Enough thinking. It'll be Detroit going away. Osgood will stand on his head early in the first and Detroit will escape with a 1-0 lead after 20, on a double minor to Malkin (holding and unsportsmanlike for arguing). The Pens will get their own chance on a powerplay midway through the second but, again, Osgood will frustrate them leading to an interference call on, you guessed it, Malkin, as he crashes the crease during a goalmouth scramble. Now, this is where it gets real interesting. Fleury witholds the barrage and, just as after the penalty expires, Malkin is sent in on a clear breakaway. Osgood stops him and Malkin smashes his stick on the cross-bar out of frustration. That earns him another penalty, this time a delayed call, and as he scrambles back without a stick the Wings score again. Just before the end of the second Detroit pops in another goal that just rips the hearts out of the Penguins that still have theirs. It's complete domination in the third as the Penguins appear to be playing like boys against men. Detroit pops in a couple more, but no-one is really counting any more. The only number that matters is 12 -- the 12th time that the Red Wings win the Cup.

Osgood gets the 1st star and the Conn Smythe trophy. Poems and songs are written. Doves are released into the night skies. Yadda-yadda, you can fill in the rest of the blanks.

8-7 Wings in OT. Hossa with the winner.

HOSSA = WIN.

Care to elaborate on that? A little? Add some detail.

Nope.