Another big Cleary goal gets the Wings started

Jun 7, 2009 - 3:35 PM By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER Associated Press Writer

DETROIT (AP) -- Dan Cleary has been scoring big goals at big times all postseason.

His goal with 6:28 left in the first opened the scoring and got the Red Wings rolling toward their 5-0 Game 5 victory Saturday night.

Cleary had the series-winning score with 3 minutes left in Game 7 against Anaheim in the second round, a key goal in the deciding game against Chicago in the conference finals and has continued to roll, scoring a career-high nine goals this postseason to go with six assists. He also is a team-best plus-18 in the playoffs.

After the game, he was focused on heading to Pittsburgh for a potential Cup-winning Game 6.

"We'll allow ourselves to enjoy this right now, forget about it and get ready to get prepared because it's gonna be a tough game on Tuesday, and we need to play even better," he said.

And to think Cleary was close to not extending his career when the NHL emerged from the lockout four years ago.

The Wings gave him a shot, and the right wing hasn't disappointed, helping the Wings win the Stanley Cup a year ago and within one win of back-to-back titles.

The 30-year-old also enjoys a standing as Newfoundland's most famous hockey son.

A year ago, he became the first player from the Canadian province to have his name engraved on the Cup.

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HOME COOKING: The Red Wings haven't lost a home playoff game for more than a month - on May 3 in Game 2 of their second-round series against Anaheim - and are 11-1 overall during the postseason.

A potential Game 7 win Friday night, should the series go that far, would equal the single-season playoff record for home victories.

Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby said winning at Joe Louis Arena isn't impossible.

"We won in Game 5 last year in overtime and we won a regular-season game here, so I think we're pretty confident we can do a job here," he said.

The home teams have won all five games in the Cup finals this year, only the third time that's happened since 1978.

The Penguins certainly hope that trend continues Tuesday night at Mellon Arena.

"We didn't do it tonight, but get ourselves back in it here with a big win at home," Crosby said.

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D-DAY REMEMBRANCE: Before the national anthem was performed Saturday, Red Wings public address announcer Budd Lynch urged the 20,000-plus in attendance to remember the sacrifices of the American and British forces on the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion of Normandy in World War II that led to victory in Europe.

Lynch served with the Essex Scottish Regiment during the war and lost an arm in a rocket attack. He later joined the Wings as a broadcaster and continues in his longtime role as the team's PA announcer.

He was shown on an overhead video screen during a break in the action and was treated to a lengthy standing ovation.

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WHAT'S THE 2-2-1-1-1? Of the four major U.S. sports leagues, the NHL is the only one that uses the 2-2-1-1-1 format to decide its championship.

That's two games at home to start the series for the team with the better regular season record, followed by two at the other's team home arena, then alternating for the remaining three games.

The NBA finals and World Series are 2-3-2 formats.

Some of the participants in this year's Stanley Cup finals are fine with the 2-2-1-1-1.

"I like what we do in the National League. My times in the finals I think it has been real good. ... I like the way the schedule's set up. I think when you're like Pittsburgh and us and you're so close, it's been really easy that way travel-wise," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "You know, even on an off-day they're going to be at their place, we're going to be here. I think it's been excellent that way."

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom sees the NHL method as more equitable.

"I prefer the way we have it right now, splitting the first four games and then every other game," he said. "I think that's the most fair way to do, too, than doing 2-3-2. If you have three home games in a row and you steal one of the first two games, you have a big advantage. That's why I prefer the way we have it."

Penguins defenseman Hal Gill takes a more practical approach.

"There are a lot of ways to look at it, but we've got to win a game," he said. "That's the bottom line."

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PITTSBURGH'S FIRST FAN: Luke Ravenstahl was a preteen when Mario Lemieux captained the Penguins to Stanley Cup titles in 1991 and 1992.

Now the 29-year-old mayor of Pennsylvania's second-largest city, Ravenstahl shares a peer relationship with the hockey star he idolized as a kid.

"(We have) a good relationship. It's a positive one. I certainly respect him," Ravenstahl said of Lemieux, the Pittsburgh owner. "It's difficult to find words to describe what an icon he is here in Pittsburgh."

Two years ago, Ravenstahl found himself sitting across the negotiating table from Lemieux, urging the No. 7 scorer in NHL history not to move the franchise to Kansas City, Las Vegas or elsewhere.

Luckily for Pens fans, not only is the team not leaving, they'll have a brand-new place in which to watch Sidney Crosby and company in a couple of years. Mellon Arena will be replaced by Consol Energy Center, which is being built across the street.

"My relationship both as a fan but also as a mayor has been one that appreciates what the Penguins mean to this city, and of course, we're really excited that we played a role in making sure that they're staying here and will be here really forever," Ravenstahl said.

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ONE-TIMERS: The second period was the key to victory for the second game in a row. Detroit scored three times in 6:42 Saturday, equaling Pittsburgh's trifecta of second-period goals in a 5:37 span in Game 4. ... Penguins backup goalie Mathieu Garon entered Game 5 at the end of the second period. It was his first postseason appearance this spring. The 31-year-old last played in a playoff game after the 2003-2004 season. ... Three different Red Wings rookies have scored goals in the Cup finals, including Justin Abdelkader in Games 1 and 2, Jonathan Ericsson in Game 2 and Darren Helm in Game 4. The last team to have as many as three rookies score in the Cup finals was the Boston Bruins against the Edmonton Oilers in 1988. ... Penguins captain Sidney Crosby again showed his feisty side, getting a two-minute penalty for slashing at Detroit left wing Henrik Zetterberg's legs in the second period. Earlier in the series, Crosby had a run-in with Wings left wing Kirk Maltby. ... The Penguins hadn't been shut out since Game 5 of their opening-round series against Philadelphia. ... In the 19 previous Cup finals tied at 2 games apiece, the team that won Game 5 has hoisted the Cup 14 times.

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AP Hockey Writer Ira Podell contributed to this report.