We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Game One & Two Blog

Written by: Tyler Bodman on 31st May 2009

Game One & Two Blog | read this item

If for some reason you want to read my blog from last night you can find it here

Now today wasn’t quite as an exciting day for us. Unless of course you count going to morning skate exciting.

Jesse fake texted on his phone so that he could video tape the Penguins playing soccer in the hallway.

We hung out at the hotel to get some work done after the morning skate. The skate, by the way, was optional and most players sat it out. The black aces were all out as well as a few of the low minute guys. Still no sign of Datsyuk for the Wings.

Marc-Andre Fleury decided he wasn’t going to talk to us. That’s fine we didn’t want to talk to him anyway (It wasn’t just us he spurned, he didn’t talk to anyone).

For those of you who enjoy the dinner aspect here we go if you don’t then skip till you see the bold type face.

I’m going to start with our buffet breakfast. It was kinda like the Golden Griddle only way better. Except for the fact there was no sign of any ketchup for my omelet. I also downed two things of chocolate milk, a yogurt parfait some turkey bacon and sausage, coffee, apple juice and water.

For dinner it was mexican. Some how with one of the messiest foods I can eat, fajitas, I didn’t spill anything on myself today. Jesse left me with two Russian reporters and one Czech reporter for about 20 minutes while he took a “phone call.”

For dessert we had some banana shaped pastry that was covered in cinnamon and brown sugar. I also had the best and worst flan I’ve ever had. Figure out why.

5:30 – Rink arrival
Well here we are at the rink, only two and a half hours before game time. We’re going to do some writing and I have to check out the hats. Be back soon.

7:00 – Chillin and illing in the media workroom
Well I picked up two hats. Kinda disappointed with the selection. I prefer fullback but there weren’t any. Matt, the white hat looks sick and the beige one wasn’t beige it was cream. It still wasn’t as nice though.

Jesse just pointed out to me that the there were new kick plates installed at the Joe two years ago. Which makes sense seeing as though Osgood said that the boards have become more lively in the past two years. For more on that read my story.

7:45
Well we have different seats tonight. Not sure if it’s a good or bad thing. We’re now beside TSN and ESPN but we’re more in the corner but we have arm rests and backs to our seats. Last night we were on a bench.

A girl just walked up to her seat wearing a shirt with “Beat Pittsburgh…. Again” on it. Pretty clever stuff.
Un-clever stuff two people just walked to their seats wearing Leaf’s jersey’s, oh wait…. They are Cujo and Clark I guess that’s ok. Still a bit odd.

8:10
Gotta love the Kid Rock music that pumps before the game. I’m not sure who the guy is that is doing the history thing. But he sounds like the big guy from Green Mile.

Five minutes till puck drop we’ll see who comes faster tonight. One would think the youth of the Penguins would help them recover faster than the aging Wings.

8:15
Certainly seems like there are fewer Penguins’ fans here tonight. It also looks like the Penguins have decided to go back to the more normal 12 forwards and six defencemen tonight. Dupuis is in and Boucher is out.

8:20
So I get the octopus and everything but is there one designated guy that throws it out cause there’s only ever one that i’ve noticed. If you know let me know.

Game time

12:53
Red Wings are controlling the play they are out shooting the Pens 6-1. They have done a good job at keeping the Pens to the outside and breaking up any opportunities.

9:10
Fleury looks shaky again tonight.

The Penguins keep trying the stretch pass but there’s a Wing players there every time. Shots are 7-2 and the chippiness of the first game isn’t here right now.

6:18
Penguins get a partial break and Fedotenko misses the net. The only time the Pens have looks remotely dangerous is when the get the puck down low and are able to play their cycle game. If they want to win this game they’re going to have to start making smarter, crisper passes.

3:10
Penguins score the first goal of the game on the power play. A scramble in front of the net and the puck bounced to Malkin. He shot it on net and Osgood make the original save buck knocked the puck into his own net. Shots are now 9-7 in favour of Pittsburgh.

They’re cycling down low now.

End of the first

The Penguins really poured it on late in the period. A lot had to do with the penalty to Kronwall.

The Wings need to get back to what they were doing and that was preventing the Penguins from cycling down low. The Pens are just too strong along the boards. If they can do that they should have a problem coming back and winning this game.

15:43
Fleury keeps trying to cheat on plays and it’s going to burn him. Well they scored as i was writing this at 15:39 actually. A slapshot from the point that Helm may have gotten a stick on things are all knotted at ones.

14:44
Fleury makes a huge save on a two-on-one play. The Wings have turned things right around on the Pens. The building is getting loud again. Shots are 14-13 Wings.

11:45
Malkin tries to go in one-four loses the puck and promptly takes a interference penalty. The Wings could seal the game here.

9:31
Wings score on another scramble in front of the net hafter Pascal Dupuis dropped or broke his stick and skated away from the play. Filppula made a nice play to get his back hand in the top-corner. It’s all Detroit right now.

4:48
Malkin has been the Penguins best player all night long. The Crosby line has been buzzing their last couple of shifts. And, Darren Helm has been a force for the Wings the entire game. Pretty impressive for a kid who spent the season in the AHL.

End of two
The score is 2-1 in favour of the Wings and the shots are 23-20 for them as well. The Pens seem to be very hesitant in throwing checks which is allowing the Wings to walk out from the corners for scoring chances.

Third Period

18:21
Penguins have one of their best scoring chances as Crosby walks out from the behind the net and hits the post. His rebound shot may have gone in but a veteran move by Zetterberg to keep the lead.

17:13
Just when it looked like the Penguins may tie it up a harmless looking 0ne-on-three turned into a two goal lead for the Wings. Fleury was not expecting the soft shot by Abdelkader, his second goal of the playoffs and of the finals.

Heading to the locker room now check in with you later Pens are outshooting the Wings 29-26 with 2:38 to go.

Topics: Detroit Red Wings, Game 1, Game 2, Game One, Game Two, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup finals