AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 03
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Thirty-Four and Three-Tenths Seconds
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
34.3 seconds…that’s what separated the Detroit Red Wings and their fans from partying at Joe Louis Arena on Monday night. But that’s when Pittsburgh’s Max Talbot shoved, hacked and chopped the puck past Chris Osgood to tie the game at three and send the game into overtime. Actually, make that OT X3.
Petr Sykora then scored 3,003 seconds into overtime to send the series back to Pittsburgh for a game six. The game-winner came as Detroit’s Jiri Hudler was sitting in the sin-bin serving a 4-minute high sticking call. Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar assisted on the goal.
Pittsburgh had been held to just 18 shots in regulation by the stout Red Wing’s defense and was outshot 24-14 in the two and a half overtime frames…13-2 in the first OT alone. But Marc-Andre Fleury was equal to each volley fired at him and he gave his team all the time they needed to extend the Stanley Cup Finals to another game.
Marian Hossa helped the Pittsburgh cause with a goal and an assist. Pascal Dupuis had a helper on the goal.
Detroit had spotted Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead early on goals by Hossa and Adam Hall. Detroit’s Darren Helm scored in the second then Pavel Datsyuk and Brian Rafalski tied the game then put their team on top 3-2 with just over half a period to hold it.
They almost made it.
Now instead of gulping champagne from the cup, the Red Wings will have to motor their way back to western Pennsylvania for a game six Wednesday night…with the fat lady, the fork and the bugler in tow.
Twenty-Six Days
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made an offer to former Sharks coach Ron Wilson to be their man behind the bench according to TSN. Of all of the available bench bosses that have head coaching experience in the NHL, Wilson is the best of the lot, IMHO, and the Leafs just got a whole lot better if indeed they have landed him.
It took Toronto a whopping 26 days to take care of this business after parting ways with Paul Maurice. A few weeks back, Colorado went 13 days between seeing Joel Quenneville depart and naming Tony Granato has head coach.
Meanwhile, the Thrashers are into day 230 of the great coaching quest of ’07-’08.
But The Wait May Soon Be Over
If indeed the Thrashers are waiting for John Anderson to complete his duties with the Wolves, then that wait may be nearing an end soon. Chicago has taken a two games to none lead on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins following Sunday’s 4-2 win.
Games three and four will be played in northeastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday and Friday with a game five to be played on Saturday, if necessary.
