Cup Review

Basically, the Penguins needed to sweep their two games at home to stand a chance.

And they did.

We have the momentum (hockey playoffs are all about momentum) and we're heading back to Detroit, where we outshot the Red Wings in the first two games of the season.

A few observations:

1. Fleury has been amazing thus far. He needs to keep that up now that the show goes on the road.
2. The Pens played better in Game 2 than they played in Game 3. I will take the win. The important thing is that they built on their Game 3 success in Game 4.
3. Game 4 was a huge step forward. As Laszlo said, the Pens start to open up holes and outskate their opponents when they realize they can hang with them. They realized that tonight.
4. That having been said, the Kennedy goal -- and the open passing lanes that followed -- would not have happened had the Pens not scored those two quick goals and had the Detroit defensemen guessing.
5. Detroit is still a very, very good hockey team. If you think that they're ratttled (even though they looked very rattled in the third period), you're wrong. They'll come back strong in Game 5 and the Pens need to be ready.
6. Osgood is also outstanding. We haven't broken him. We haven't gotten in his head. We need to continue to attack him the same way we did tonight.
7. The penalty calls will continue to be uneven and inconsistent. It's the Stanley Cup Final. We just need to learn to live with it and move on. The Red Wings have, despite what they've said to the media.
8. Game 5 is going to be a fight. They're going to bring it, we're going to bring it. I can't wait.
9. This Detroit team still scares the hell out of me, but I think the Pens have proven they can hang with -- and, at some points dominate -- this very talented squad. Hopefully, we can continue to take the puck to them, even if we don't have control over the last shift.
10. If we win Game 5, we take control of the series and put the pressure on them. I'm not saying they'll fold, I'm just saying that they're not used to being on the wrong side of a series. The more uncomfortable they are, the more we benefit. They're not as stone-cold professional as Pierre McGuire would have you believe. Just watching Mike Babcock's body language during Game 4 tells us that.
11. These teams are too evenly matched. Special teams could be the difference. Our penalty kill has been lights out and our power play has been extremely effective, whereas Detroit has struggled in both areas. Pens fans should pray for tons of whistles the rest of the series.