Final
Red Wings blank Penguins in Stanley Cup rematch
Feb 9, 2009 - 3:21 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings made sure their second Stanley Cup Finals rematch with the Pittsburgh Penguins did not turn into another shootout.Ty Conklin recorded 25 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and Pavel Datsyuk scored twice as the Red Wings blanked the Penguins, 3-0, on Sunday.
Former Penguin Marian Hossa added his 30th goal of the season for the Red Wings, who beat Pittsburgh in six games in last year's Final.
Hossa, who rejected a long-term contract offer from Pittsburgh to take a one-year deal from Detroit, was booed mercilessly by the Mellon Arena crowd in his first game back there.
"These are great hockey fans, and they show you their emotions," Hossa said. "Once or twice in your career you've got these games, so basically you try to enjoy it because this doesn't happen often. Try to use their energy to your advantage. That's what I tried to do."
Detroit extended its winning streak to four games following a season-high five-game losing streak and gained a split of the season series with the Penguins.
"I think we played really well defensively tonight," Hossa said. "We showed we can be better in our zone. We worked on it, and obviously (Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) had some really good chances, but Conklin was strong for us tonight."
In the earlier meeting in Detroit on December 11, Pittsburgh won a wild affair, rallying from a three-goal deficit for a 7-6 victory in overtime. Jordan Staal had a hat trick for the Penguins, all in the third period.
In Sunday's contest, however, the Red Wings did what they do best - they clamped down defensively and limited scoring chances.
"It's nice to get shutouts," Conklin said. "It's more of a reflection of how the team's playing. I think all the shutouts have been pretty outstanding defensive games by us. I don't think tonight was any different."
Conklin stopped seven shots in the first, eight in the second and 10 in the third for his 10th career shutout.
Detroit finally cashed in midway through the second period when Pittsburgh netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, who had trouble with rebounds, allowed a juicy one.
Henrik Zetterberg flipped a soft shot from the right circle on goal that Fleury kicked aside. However, he put the puck in the slot, where Datsyuk swiped it into an open net for his 21st goal of the season with 9:52 left in the period.
"When you score the first goal it's a different game," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. "We got beat by individual efforts. The result wasn't on our side. That's the type of game that could go both ways. The first goal is crucial."
Hossa ripped a backhander past Fleury with 8:51 left in the contest, and Datsyuk added his second with just over two minutes remaining.
Playing their second game in 24 hours following Saturday's 8-3 drubbing of Edmonton, the Red Wings were sluggish in the first period.
However, they came out of the period unscathed after killing off four power plays and improved to 22-0-3 this season when leading after the second period.
"I thought we did a good job in our own zone," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We kept them on the outside. They've got a lot of speed up front. When we have the puck in their end we try to hang onto it and make them play defense. But I thought we did a much better job in our own zone coming back and forwards coming back hard to push them outside and not give them too many shots."
The loss denied the Penguins their first three-game winning streak since a season-high six-game run from November 1-15.
"Our intent was there, our effort was there, but we have to expect that from here on in, so I don't think that's something that we have to key on too much," Crosby said. "Effort's got to be there, there's no question, but we've got to find ways to win."
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DETROIT 0 1 2 3
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: DET - (PP) PAVEL DATSYUK 21 (HENRIK ZETTERBERG, BRIAN
RAFALSKI) 10:08
3RD PRD: DET - MARIAN HOSSA 30 (VALTTERI FILPPULA, ANDREAS LILJA)
11:09
DET - PAVEL DATSYUK 22 (NICKLAS LIDSTROM) 17:48
POWER-PLAY
Feb 8 2:55 PM - NHL
DETROIT 3
PITTSBURGH 0
3RD PRD: DET - PAVEL DATSYUK 22 (NICKLAS LIDSTROM) 17:48
Red Wings 3, Penguins 0 3rd - 2:12Feb 8 2:52 PM - NHL
DETROIT 2
PITTSBURGH 0
3RD PRD: DET - MARIAN HOSSA 30 (VALTTERI FILPPULA, ANDREAS LILJA)
11:09
Red Wings 2, Penguins 0 3rd - 8:51Feb 8 2:42 PM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DETROIT 0 1 1
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: DET - (PP) PAVEL DATSYUK 21 (HENRIK ZETTERBERG, BRIAN
RAFALSKI) 10:08
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DET 6 14 20
PIT 7 8 15
GOA
Feb 8 2:03 PM - NHL
DETROIT 1
PITTSBURGH 0
2ND PRD: DET - (PP) PAVEL DATSYUK 21 (HENRIK ZETTERBERG, BRIAN
RAFALSKI) 10:08
Red Wings 1, Penguins 0 2nd - 9:52Feb 8 1:46 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DETROIT 0 0
PITTSBURGH 0 0 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NONE
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DET 6 6
PIT 7 7
GOALIES: DET - TY CONKLIN
PIT - MARC-ANDRE FLEURY
Feb 8 1:13 PM
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