Claus Andersen / Getty Images / AFP
Red Wings fly high in Stanley Cup finals
Published 01 June, 2009, 08:48
A lone goal from Evgeny Malkin was not enough for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Stanley Cup finals as the Penguins now trail 2-0 in the series against Detroit.
The Pens’ Russian star opened the scoring in power play late in the first period. Malkin could’ve doubled the score at the start of the second – the forward received a good pass from Maxime Talbot – but the Red Wings net minder Chris Osgood handled his shot with a trapper.
After that the Red Wings locked the visitors in their half and started attacking fiercely, leaving Pittsburg little chance to cope with the pressure.
The score was leveled on the 25 minute mark after a shot from the blue line by Jonathan Ericsson. The Swedish defender had his appendix removed four days before the game, but was so eager to play in his first ever NHL finals.
Detroit went into the second break leading 2-1, with Valtteri Filppula putting his name on the scoreboard.
Sidney Crosby had a chance to put the Penguins back into the game in the third at 20 minutes, but his shot hit the post and his rebound was blocked.
Justin Abdelkader scored his second goal of the final series – and his second goal in the NHL carrier – to see Game Two finishing with the same score as Game One, 3-1.
The Red Wings are now just two wins away from taking the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, which will be the repeat of their achievements in 1997 and 1998.
The series now moves to Pittsburgh, with Game Three scheduled for June 3.
discuss it
