Well, it took three games, but we finally have ourselves a series. The Pens stepped up as they returned to the friendly confines of The Igloo and responded with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings. Maybe this will be enough to shut up some of the NHL media about how Detroit is the best team ever and the Pens' dynasty is over before it even got started. Pittsburgh came out tonight playing the way they should have from the drop of the first puck. Granted home ice played into their success, but they were simply better. All the little things I said they were doing wrong after Game 2, well they were doing them all right tonight, and it paid off.
Here are the rest of my thoughts on Game 3:
- Sid was simply a beast tonight. He had played well in Detroit, but he was on another level tonight. He showed why he is hands down the best hockey player on the planet.
- Darryl Sydor looked really rusty tonight, but that is pretty understandable. He got better as the game went along and as much as I love Kris Letang, he will probably be a steadying presence on the blue line for the remainder of the Finals.
- Where would Detroit be without Johan Franzen? He has been their most effective offensive player since getting back into the Red Wings lineup.
- Brooks Orpik was out of his mind tonight. He brought a level of physicality that Detroit just can't match. Especially in the third when he was hitting everything in a white jersey.
- Gary Roberts was back to being Gary Roberts.
- I could go on for hours about how much I love the way Tyler Kennedy plays hockey. If you're lucky, someday I will.
- Chris Osgood may have a pair of victories in the Finals, but tonight Marc-Andre Fleury became the first goalie in the Finals to win a game.
The Conn Five
- Henrik Zetterberg
- Sidney Crosby
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Chris Osgood
- Johan Franzen
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