Posts Tagged Marc Andre Fleury
Hero’s Abundant for Pittsburgh
Both benches of beard-bearing brutes played nearly six periods of bombastic hockey on Monday night. It looked like the Red Wings would clinch the league championship with mere minutes remaining on the clock and a one goal lead. Yet, In a crazy turn of events, the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to hold on to their Stanley Cup hopes for one more game thanks to the help of three hero’s:
Hero 1: Maxim Talbot pounded the puck past Chris Osgood with 34.4 seconds left in the game. Talbots’ goal eventually forced the game into triple over time because both teams went scoreless in the first two OT periods.
Hero 2: Marc-Andre Fleury faced 58 shots from the potent Red Wing’s offense and stopped 55 of those shots. The Penguins surely wouldn’t still be in this if not for the outstanding, brilliant efforts of their young goalie.
Of Fleury, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said in the New York Times that: “…he was the difference. He held us in there, allowed us to keep battling and holding on. So a big part of that win goes to him.”
Hero 3: Petr Sykora scored his first goal of the series at a pivotal time after predicting he would score.
“It was just between the periods, something stupid I said,” Sykora said in the New York Times. “I said, Guys, I’m just going to get one. So don’t worry about the game. I’m going to get a goal.’”
DETROIT – JUNE 02: Adam Hall #28 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and teammates celebrate after Petr Sykora scored the game winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings during game five of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 2, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 4-3 in triple overtime to set the series at 3-2 Red Wings. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) Found on Yahoo Sports
Add comment June 4, 2008
Unbelievable!
Game Five: Third Period
Talbot pounded in the game tying goal with 34.3 seconds remaining in the third! He keeps the Penguins very dim playoff hopes alive with the game tied at three going into overtime.
The fans at the Joe were silenced by the goal.
The Wing’s were trailing 2-1 going into the third period. Pavel Datsyuk finally got one past Fleury, but he was denied by the cross bar. Fans were jumping, but were disappointed to learn that the puck bounced off the under side of the cross bar.
Datsyuk finally put one in the net to tie the game at three on a power play goal.
Rafalski earned the go-ahead goal when he drove the puck past Fleury. The Penguins were looking lackluster in the middle of the third. The fans were pumped at the Joe because the score finally reflected the shot count. Until Talbot ruined their victory, at least for a little while longer that is.
It’s do or die for the Penguins now. Nothing beats Stanley Cup-sudden death OT!
(Both Gonchar and Malone were returned to the ice for period three).
Add comment June 3, 2008
Helm Answers
Game Five: Second Period
Less than two minutes into the second period the Penguins already had three solid scoring chances. Talbot and Staal opened with shots and Crosby followed up shortly after with a shot of his own which he sent it just wide of the net.
The Wings were quickly infused with new life as Kirk Maltby grabbed the puck just before it went off sides and passed it to Darren Helm who slipped it in the net to cut the wings deficit in half.
Half way into the second Tyler Kennedy had a great wrap around chance but the Detroit defense was all over him.
Marc-Andre Fleury robbed Mikael Samuelsson hard core on a Red Wing’s two-on-one created by Orpik failing to keep the puck on sides.
The Penguins were a bit roughed up int he second period with two players being escortd to the locker room.: Sergei Gonchar, who tripped into the boards head on after with momentum from the back check. He was escorted to the locker room looking groggy. Also, Pittsburgh Left Wing Ryan Malone dropped to the ice as he took a shot to the face. He was escorted to the locker room, with blood gushing from his face.
The period ended with a lot of hope for Detroit to come back, yet, Pittsburgh is fighting hard. There is a lot of action on both ends of the ice.
Yahoo reports shots at 20 for Detroit and 14 for Pittsburgh.
Add comment June 3, 2008
The Cup Changes Everything — The Final Round
Is anyone really surprised to see the Wings and the Penguins in the finals?
The Story in Pittsburgh: With the help of Marc-Andre Fleury the young Penguins were able to overcome the Flyers for the first time in the teams’ past four post-season meetings. Center Max Talbot said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “I think it’s about time the Penguins won a series against the Flyers. It’s been a long time.”
The Story in Detroit: Dallas proved to be a pesky foe in the last games of the Western Conference final coming back to win two games, but Detroit was finally able to put them away 4-1 in game six. According to Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Osgood were key in the victory as were the the third-line and fourth-line guys. So, an overall team effort from the Wings.
It looks like the teams are evenly matched and both are hungry for the cup, so it should be a great competition! Game one starts on Saturday at 8:00 in Detroit.
1 comment May 21, 2008
The Cup Changes Everything – Round Two
The Avalanche, Rangers and Sharks all find themselves down two games and battling to hang onto their playoff hopes tonight. Before the games start I will share a few quick thoughts:
On the Red Wings vs. Avalanche series: If the Avs have any hope of advancing (which they pretty much don’t) They need Forsberg to play (I don’t care if he is on his death bed!) and Theodore to stop goals. It seems so simple, yet, so impossible. The Wings are looking hot, scoring goals, drawing penalties, scoring short handed, playing defense–basically they are playing hockey. Something the woebegone Avalanche could aim for. Sadly, apart from Cody McCormick’s scrap with McCarty, neither team is doing much to rekindle the rivalry.
On the Rangers vs. Penguins Series: Both teams fought hard on Sunday afternoon but the Ranger’s simply couldn’t get the puck in the net (before the whistle that is). Expect more physical play, and energy from the young Penguin’s team. Lundqvist was good on Sunday, but his team needs to help him out. As for Fleury, I’m still not convinced that he is a Cup caliber goalie, but he has proven himself so far.
On the Sharks vs. Stars Series: I expect the Sharks will come back now that they have had a chance to feel out the Stars. I’ll be honest though, I have been so busy following the other games I haven’t watched any of this series.
Add comment April 29, 2008
