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Game Five Blog

Written by: Scott Vankoughnett on 6th June 2009

Game Five Blog | read this item

Well here we are back for game five. No one would have thought that the series would be tied at two after the first games here in Detroit.

But, we’re glad to be back. And I will once again be live blogging throughout the day to let you know what’s what.

It was a full practice for both teams this morning. Datsyuk is a definite go and he was practicing on a line with Franzen and Zetterberg.

Cleary, Rafalski and Abdelkader all opted out of the sakte for various reasons but will be available to play if Babcock so desires.

The goal for Jesse and I this morning was to get quotes for our stories. I know, good idea eh? Well, Jesse is working on a piece about faceoffs that should be just a delightful treat for everyone out there. As for me, I was out to talk about superstitions. Check back in a couple of hours for both stories.

It’s just before two now and we’re sitting in the media workroom in the hotel. It’s eerily quiet in here. Wouldn’t surprise me if we’re missing something right now. Well I just checked the schedule and there’s nothing there so maybe everyone is just out enjoying the beautiful day.

6:45p.m.
We’ve finally got the site all nice and updated for you.

We’ve been at the rink for about an hour now and the place is getting busy. Outside the Penguins’ fans are once again out numbering those of the Wings.

Jesse just went out to walk around and take some pictures so we may be able to get them up. Probably not though because he didn’t bring his camera cord.

Here’s where you can skip down to the bold type face again. I’m about to let you know what they’re feeding us today.

Once again we had the breakfast buffet. The coffee was unusually terrible this morning. I had some french toast and turkey bacon as well as a variety of fruit. Jesse opted for the same thing. Then he went back and got scrambled eggs. Then he went back and got a giant chocolate waffle. The guy is a food eating machine.

For dinner tonight it was a combination of sandwiches and salads. I had a very tasty turkey sandwich with swiss cheese, potato salad, real greek salad (which was loaded with black olives, yuck) some pasta and two chicken breasts. Jesse had the same minus the salads, add another sandwich then multiply by three.

For dessert we had a brownie, a giant cookie and I tried a cream puff. Yes we are both gluttons. But, Jesse more so.

Ok I’m heading outside to see what all the excitement is about. Apparently there’s a game tonight.

8:05p.m.
It’s nice to see that every game in Detroit has started on time. I’m not sure why they do it like this but we have 10 more minutes till puck drop. At least it gives time to all the stragglers to get to their seats.

With Datsyuk back in the line up it’ll be interesting to see what kind of match-ups coach Babcock goes for. Last game in Pittsburgh he didn’t really bother with them and both Crosby and Malkin got the better of them.

With the last change it should be easier for him to get his guys out against Sid and Geno.

8:10p.m.
Cue deep voiced guy from Green mile and cool start. Let’s get this started!

First Period
18:55
Datsyuk steps on for his first shift and the crowd goes nuts.

17:35
The Penguins get a couple of solid coring chances as they cycle the puck down low. It’s the Malkin, Talbot and Fedotenko line causing the havoc

12:48
Fleury makes a huge kick save. On the ensuing rush down the ice Kronwall gets called for clipping on Chris Kunitz. Penguins PP

9:47
Wings kill the penalty without any difficulties shots are just 3-3

8:10
Datsyuk must be feeling good, he just laid out Malkin at the Penguins net.

6:28
Datsyuk is the catalyst in a rush that set up Dan Cleary for the first goal of the game. It was loud in here before, now it’s nuts.

2:50
It’s been all Red Wings since the Cleary goal. There’s a Fleury fan getting the business pretty good right now by a section of Wings fans.

0:20
Kunitz gets called for shoving Wings’ goalie Chris Osgood. End of the first shots are 10-8 for Pittsburgh. Although you wouldn’t know it from the play.

Intermission
The Fleury fan and Wings fans got into it pretty good during the intermission. An usher came down and put an end to the nonsense before bombs were thrown.

Second Period
18:16
Filppula finishes a nice play that started in the far end with a long pass from Osgood. Hossa was waiting at the blueline and dished it to Filppula.

The Wings are dominating all aspects of this game right now. They are looking like the team from games one and two. The whole building is getting on Fleury’s case right now. The Fleury fan sinks a little lower in his seat.

14:07
Gonchar gets a penalty in the defensive zone 18 seconds later Kronwall walks out from behind the net a buries a dagger into the Penguins chances tonight.

13:12
Penguins are losing their cool as Malkin takes a stupid elbowing penalty against Johan Franzen.

11:34
Rafalski scores on another PP after Datsyuk won his first faceoff of the night. Penguins have to be thinking about pulling Fleury now. Score is 4-0 Wings shots are 18-12 and most of the Pens shots have come from the outside.

6:10
Kunitz tries to spark his team by getting into it with Helm but Helm is having non of it and it looks like the Wings are going to go back to the power play.

4:20
Hudler feeds a nice slap pass to Zetterberg and the Wings go up 5-0. Shots are 21-16. And that’s the game for Fleury. Mathieu Garon is going to see his first action in the Stanley Cup finals.

2:23
Crosby takes a selfish penalty, by slashing Zetterberg. And for the first time all night the entire building is able to get a chant in unison. “Crosby sucks” is reverberating throughout the building.

Things have really come unraveled here as Talbot takes a slashing penalty on Datsyuk’s bad foot. 5-on-3 for almost a full two min.

The second ends without a goal on the 5-on-3. Shots on goal after two are 23-16 in favour of the Wings.

Third Period
18:30
Drunk Wings’ fan gets the boot 30 seconds into the period. His buddy said “there’s a period of hockey left don’t judge me. He’ll be remembered.” At this point the buddy placed a six pack of Miller Lite on the now kicked out friends’ seat.

Oh and Hossa ran Garon… Pens PP

12:46
Malkin heads to the box for tripping. Not much really happening now. The Wings are on cruise. The Penguins are trying to get something to build on for Tuesday’s game back home in Pittsburgh.

Datsyuk has everything tonight except for his jump. But it’s hard to criticize a guy who’s missed the past seven games with a broken bone in his foot.

9:34
Crosby tries yet again to pull off a spin-o-rama pass play. It’s about the fifth one he’s tried in the series and it has yet to work for him. Shots are 28-18 Wings.

7:13
I have a hard time accepting people at a hockey game with a pair of binoculars. There is a man behind me to my right that has been watching the whole game with them. It’s just wrong.

Wings are still dominating. Fans desperately want Hossa to score on his former team.

5:23
We’re going to head down to the locker room soon. Let me know if anything exciting happens.

Topics: Detroit Red Wings, Game 5, Game Five, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup finals